CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Indians and Rangers end their three-game series with a 1:10 p.m. game on Wednesday at Progressive Field. It's expected by that time the bullpen will have at least one new face and maybe more.
Following an 8-6 loss to the Rangers in 12 innings Tuesday night - a loss that wasted a ninth-inning, game-tying grand slam - manager Terry Francona said, "We're going to talk about it. It's nice to know that (Corey) Kluber is pitching Wednesday, but if something were to happen like a line drive or something - we'll talk about it."
Francona is a manager in need of innings. Andrew Miller is on the disabled list. He let Trevor Bauer throw 122 pitches Monday night and watched as he gave up a game-tying home on the last one. On Tuesday night, closer Cody Allen wasn't available after he threw 41 pitches on Monday night and he might not be available on Wednesday.
In Tuesday's game, Francona was forced to empty his bullpen. He received a decent start out of Mike Clevinger, 6 2/3 innings, but as welcomed as Brantley's slam in the ninth was, it extended the game and the bullpen even more.
To make matters worse, the Indians lost.
Nick Goody relieved Tyler Olson with two out in the 10th. Goody and Zach McAllister were the last two pitchers in the bullpen. Goody retired five of the first seven batters he faced with no damage. But Joey Gallo and Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit consecutive homers with one out in the 12th to take the lead and eventually the game.
If the Indians had tied the score again in the bottom of the 12th, they would have had to make an emergency trade with the Cubs to bring back catcher/reliever Chris Gimenez. That's the state of the Tribe's pen right now.
To say there is a lack of consistency, is being kind.
On Monday night, Jeff Beliveau came out of the pen to earn his first save in almost four years in a 7-5 win over Texas. On Tuesday night, however, he relieved Clevinger and was charged with three runs on two hits and didn't record an out.
A couple more things to consider. The Indians have a makeup doubleheader against Toronto scheduled for Thursday. They've already said they're calling up Adam Plutko to start one of those games.
After the doubleheader, it's on to New York for a three-game series against Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and the Yankees.
That's a daunting task for any team, but especially one whose bullpen has allowed 22 runs in the last six games.