Cleveland Indians’ 2015 Season: By the Numbers

Sep 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) receives congratulations from teammates after scoring in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Indians: By the Numbers

Baseball is a game of numbers, and quite frankly, it can be a lot to keep track of at times. The Cleveland Indians have had both good and bad numbers this season, although they’ve leaned more towards good over the last several weeks.

Both traditional and advanced metrics can both provide lots of insight into both player and team success, but instead, let’s take a look at eight numbers that aren’t necessarily statistics, but do provide an overview of the Cleveland Indians’ season:

Five

The Cleveland Indians’ currently have a 592-586 run differential, which means they have scored exactly five more runs than they have allowed. Using the Pythagorean W-L record, which is calculated using run differential instead of wins and losses, the Tribe should be at 73-71.

What does that mean for the Tribe? It means, according to the amount of runs they’ve earned and given up, they have almost the exact record they deserve. The Indians aren’t running into bad luck, or playing particularly better or worse than the stats say they should be. That’s pretty fascinating, given how good the rotation is and how “weak” the offense is accused of being. At 72-72, they only have one more loss than their run differential says they should have. Perhaps they quite the runaway winner that everyone projected them to be.

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Ten

The Cleveland Indians have tossed ten complete games this season. That’s pretty impressive, considering the next team on the list is the Toronto Blue Jays, who have only gone the distance seven times.

Cleveland certainly has cornered the market on effective starters. Corey Kluber is tied with Mark Buehrle and Madison Bumgarner for the lead, with four complete games each. But Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin each have a pair of them, and Cody Anderson and Trevor Bauer have notched one apiece. Considering how few starts Tomlin and Anderson have made, that’s extra impressive.

Of course, throwing a complete game doesn’t necessarily translate to a win – as Tomlin saw in his nine-inning effort Tuesday night – but it does give the team a very good chance. If the Indians can add some run support, the Tribe’s rotation can carry the team to the postseason.

Next: By the Numbers: 25 and 41