Skip to main content
Cleveland Baseball Insider

Indians Starting Nine in Chicago Against the Cubs, Hernandez Placed on Paternity List

The Indians got a day off Monday to hopefully clear their minds and get ready for the final three weeks of the season as they look towards the playoffs. Tuesday night they start a short two-game set in Wrigley Field, the site of their epic 2016 World Series showdown with the Cubs as they look to break their six-game losing streak.
Indians Starting Nine in Chicago Against the Cubs, Hernandez Placed on Paternity List
Indians Starting Nine in Chicago Against the Cubs, Hernandez Placed on Paternity List

The Indians are in Wrigley Field for the first of two games on Tuesday against the team that beat them four years ago for a World Series title in the Cubs.

The club is in the midst of their longest losing streak since the 2015 season, and right now the tight grip they once had on the postseason slot they've owned for about the last month appears to be slipping away.

Tuesday the team announced some moves that pertained to the club's Major League roster, as well as a move in their alternate site in Lake County.

The club announced that starting second basemen Cesar Hernandez is heading to the team's paternity list, and the club called up infielder Yu Chang, to take his spot on the Major League roster. 

Indians Make Roster Moves, Shakeup at the Top of the Starting Nine

Hernandez has been struggling over the last 20 games, and his average sits at .266 with two homers and 13 RBI.

The coaching staff moved him out of the top spot in their lineup for the first game in Minnesota Friday, and the entire weekend he hit in the two-spot, with Frankie Lindor leading off and Jose Ramirez in the three-spot.

In Sunday's 7-5 loss in Minnesota, Hernandez did scratch out three hits in five plate appearances, which helped out his average. 

Chang has played in eight games, hitting .222 with no homers and one RBI, with two walks and four K's. 

Another roster move that pertained to the alternate site was that of reliever Dom Leone, who was sent packing with a "designated for assignment" label on Sunday. 

Leone, who was with St.Louis in 2019, carried an 8.38 ERA in 12 games, allowing nine earned runs in 9.2 innings. He struck out 16 and walked five. 

Back to the team's starting nine for Tuesday, the club will play Mike Freeman for Hernandez at second, and he'll hit in the two-spot. 

Josh Naylor Has Been Unfairly Cast as the Solution to the Indians Offensive Woes

Here's the entire starting nine for the Tribe: 

So with the club sitting with a six-game losing streak and the season basically falling apart, how did the team spend their off day in the "Windy City"?

Not exactly the healthiest way to spend an off day, but when you're struggling as bad as the Indians are, it's worth it to try just about anything. 

Also let's face it, the pizza and wings were probably amazing. 

To keep up with all of Cleveland Baseball Insiders’ coverage, click the "follow" button at the top right-hand corner of this page.

For more from Matt Loede, follow him on Twitter @MattLoede. Follow CBI on Twitter @IndiansonSI

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations


Published
Matt Loede
MATT LOEDE

Matt Loede has been a part of the Cleveland Sports Media for 26 years, with experience covering Major League Baseball, the NBA & NFL and even high school and college events. He has been a part of the daily media covering the Cleveland Indians since the opening of Jacobs/Progressive Field in 1994, and spent two and a half years covering the team for 92.3FM The Fan, and covers them daily for Associated Press Radio. You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattLoede

Share on XFollow MattLoede