Cleveland Indians: Several players looking for a fresh start in May

The Cleveland Indians had a successful month of April, but a few players are struggling and hoping for a better month of play in May.

The month of May is finally upon us and although the weather in Cleveland is a bit gloomy today, it is a great time to be a Cleveland Indians fan.

The Indians are in Detroit tonight to begin a four-game series, fresh off a fourth consecutive series victory. Making it five straight would put the Indians firmly in control of the American League Central moving forward.

April was a great month for the team, as a 14-10 record is much better than some may have expected after a slow start. But while players such as Francisco Lindor, Michael Brantley and Jose Ramirez are off to amazing starts, there are some still struggling.

Edwin Encarnacion is the main one that sticks out, as he is batting just .200 with four home runs through the first 24 games. He is not known as someone who dominates in April, so the new month gives him a chance at a fresh start.

It will start with being more efficient at the plate and improving upon an April in which he struck out 35 times. The power numbers will come if he can put the ball in play, so fans are hopefully chalking up his slow start to nothing more than getting adjusted to a new team.

Yan Gomes is another player looking for a fresh start in May. He is barely clinging to his starting catcher role, evident by the fact Roberto Perez is getting a second straight start tonight.

Gomes’ .176 batting average is not going to cut it, and his defense may be the only thing keeping him in the starting role. If Perez can start producing on offense, even at around the .240-.250 mark, it will be hard to keep him off the field.

But there is still time for Gomes to turn things around, as a big game or two should do wonders for his confidence.

The Indians have been a team carried by the pitching staff thus far in 2017, but a turnaround from the slow starters on offense would set the team apart as the clear favorite to win another AL pennant.

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An MLB season is six months long, so those who have disappointed up to this point have time to turn things around. However, there is plenty of talent in the organization eager for a chance to play if those currently holding the spots don’t produce, starting tonight.