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The headline on the Cleveland Indians official site suggests that after their current week of play that ends in the first days of September, their schedule is pretty easy. We all know that there are no easy games in Major League Baseball in September but the point is pretty clear. Still that easier road after this current trip might not matter unless they play well this week. They play the Atlanta Braves and then the Detroit Tigers. They have to act as if these are their final few games in order to succeed.
You really hate to draw a line in the sand and say that a baseball team has to do this if they plan to get that. Anything can happen in baseball, especially in September but this week is extra crucial. The Braves are a little banged up but still one of the best teams in the game. They need a couple of wins from them at least. That will set up the biggest series of the year perhaps as they have another chance to do damage to the Tigers’ lead in the American League Central.
There is no better or faster way to gain on a team than to beat them head to head and yet the Indians have repeatedly not done that very well this season. Their record against the Tigers in 2013 is a dismal 3 – 13. I don’t have to tell you what a difference it would have made in the current pennant race if the Indians would have been able to win even half of those ten games they lost head to head but I’ll do it anyway.
They would be one game out with a month of a so-called easy schedule ahead. Yeah, it’s a pretty big deal and this is their final chance to really make a dent. I’d say this week might even matter more than the entire final month, no matter how easy it turns out to be.
David Miller is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @davidmillerrant, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google
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