German_Force » ERA and 174 strikeouts

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis has been in this position before. That’s the positive.That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.Kipnis took fly balls in center field on Tuesday as he transitioned from playing second base after the Indians acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson in a trade last week from the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson’s arrival — he’s currently on the disabled list with a calf injury — has caused an infield shift. Jose Ramirez is moving from third to second Todd Gurley Jersey Elite , dispatching Kipnis into the outfield. The former All-Star made a similar move last September, but those were different circumstances as Kipnis was coming off the disabled list and the Indians were thin in the outfield because of injuries.This time, Kipnis is being moved to accommodate a star who may help the Indians reach the World Series. And Kipnis has struggled all season.“I’m not going to make it about me this year,” Kipnis said before starting Tuesday’s game against Kansas City at second. “I understand what he can bring to the table and I’m hoping he does it. I’m excited for this team and this organization. I understand where they’re coming from and I understand that I probably put us in this situation with not having the year I’m capable of having.“It’s a little bit of cause and effect. But I’ve got a job to do. I show up every day and work hard and if that means switching positions, I’m switching positions. I look forward to most challenges. I’m excited to get going.”Donaldson worked out with the Indians after playing one game for Triple-A Columbus. Donaldson was placed on the disabled list Monday so he could rehab in the minors, and he hit a grand slam in the Clippers’ final game.Donaldson will resume his rehab stint with Double-A Akron. The 2015 AL MVP is eligible to be activated on Sept. 11.Kipnis could get some playing time in center before Donaldson is ready. He played 11 of Cleveland’s final 12 regular-season games there last year and started all five playoff games in the outfield.“I actually have some legs under me,” said Kipnis, who is batting .226 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. “Having some kind of starting point to fall back on now is nice. We’re not just starting from eight years scratch or something like that. Do I love it? No. But I don’t have to love it. That’s the part. I’ve got a job to do. It’s OK as long as all of our goals are the same and that’s to win a World Series for this city and this organization Authentic Cooper Kupp Jersey , then you’re not really going to hear too many problems from me.”But unlike last year, Kipnis has to earn any playing time. Greg Allen has played in 70 games, and he’s better defensively than Kipnis.Indians manager Terry Francona explained to Kipnis that nothing will be given to him.“We feel like we’re a better team when Kip’s playing well,” Francona said. “I told him, ‘You have to be our best option out there. And I told Greg the same thing.’ It’s a little unsettling. It’s a guy — I’ve known Kip for six years now. He’s been a guy that we’ve depended on. Now, all of a sudden you’re having a conversation with him that’s probably not exactly what he wants to hear, so it’s not the funnest thing in the world.“But I think the best way to start those is by being honest.” The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox played the equivalent of two full baseball games on Friday evening as L.A. beat the American League champions, 2-1 in 18 innings in Game 3 of the World Series. L.A. is now down two games to one.Both teams have a quick turnaround following the seven-hour Cooper Kupp Jersey Elite , 20-minute game as the two sides square off Saturday at 8:09 p.m. ET.Fox will televise the game, with the MLB on Fox Pregame show starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. No postgame is scheduled on Fox or FS1, but MLB Tonight will have an hour-long postgame show on the MLB Network.Here's a quick glance at a few players and things to watch for Game 4. Who and What to WatchWho Starts for Boston?Nathan Eovaldi was going to get the ball for Game 4, but he just threw six-plus innings in relief (after pitching a frame in Games 1 and 2). He will be taking the night off.The Red Sox can send out one oftwo left-handers in Drew Pomeranz or Eduardo Rodriguez. However, Pomeranz has a 6.09 ERA, and Rodriguez has a 5.40 ERA in September after missing a month-and-a-half with an ankle injury. He also allowed five earned runs each in two of his September starts.Rodriguez is the stronger option of the two. Despite the rough end to his regular season, the 25-year-old had a 3.82 ERA and punched out 146 batters in 129.2 innings. He pitched on Friday, but Rodriguez was on the mound for a six-pitch strikeout only before exiting. Baseball analyst Peter Gammons noted that Rodriguez is still well-rested:Peter Gammons pgammoEduardo Rodriguez has thrown 9 pitches since Oct. 17Manager Alex Cora's best bet is to send out Rodriguez and see how long he can go. ESPN Fantasy Baseball writer Tristan H. Cockcroft backed Rodriguez over Pomeranz and noted how many innings he thought E-Rod could provide:Tristan H. Cockcroft SultanofStatIncidentally http://www.denverbroncosteamonline.com/phillip-lindsay-jersey , I鈥檇 be going with Eduardo Rodriguez tonight if I had my pick, with the hopes of getting maybe 3-4 innings. Asking Drew Pomeranz to provide that after so much time off seems like a bad idea.Pomeranz hasn't started a game since July 31 and hasn't pitched since September 30. That's a lot of time off, but the Sox may need to turn to him at some point, especially if this game goes to extra innings again. If he somehow recaptures his solid 2017 form (3.32 ERA and 174 strikeouts in 173.2 innings), then that will be a massive bonus for the Sox.Can Some Hitters Break From Their Slumps?Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts went hitless in eight Game 3 at-bats and now has just one hit and one intentional walk in 16 plate appearances.Boston second baseman Ian Kinsler is 1-for-10 with three strikeouts, and third baseman Rafael Devers is 1-for-9.Boston's biggest problem isn't the bats right now, though, as the team must figure out how to piece together a Game 4 win with their exhausted pitching staff.The L.A. side has some cold hitters Womens Phillip Lindsay Jersey , and that may be the team's biggest concern.Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson are both 1-for-10, Chris Taylor is hitless in nine at-bats and Matt Kemp and Enrique Hernandez each have just one hit. Only one Dodger with 10 or more World Series plate appearances is hitting above .231 (third baseman Justin Turner at .294).The Dodger bats may break out Saturday as the Red Sox figure out a way to navigate Game 4 under difficult circumstances. L.A. is still one of the best hitting teams in baseball, as the Dodgers were third in the league in OPS behind only the Red Sox and New York Yankees.L.A. was No. 1 in the National League in runs, homers, RBI and OPS, and that was with slugging shortstop Manny Machado a member of the Baltimore Orioles for the better part of four months.Look for some Dodgers to break out Saturday.