The Indians officially can not be stopped.
Carlos Carrasco helped the Indians win their eighth straight by tossing a complete-game shutout Saturday in a 6-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Carrasco was brilliant, striking out seven while giving up just four hits to improve to 3-2 with a 2.73 ERA this season despite battling a hamstring injury.
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The Indians boast one of the deepest and most talented rotations in MLB and finally have a lineup solid enough to help their pitching staff win games. In fact, the Indians have one of the most pleasant surprises in MLB this season: shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Lindor, 22, blasted two solo home runs Saturday — one an absolute moon shot into the right field seats. This was Lindor's first multi-hit game of his short career.
.@Indians strike first: @TheRealSlamtana, @Lindor12BC give Anibal Sanchez a proper welcome back to starting rotationhttps://t.co/47GzSrYsYZ
— SportsTime Ohio (@SportsTimeOhio) June 25, 2016
Having already swept the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays during this winning streak, the Indians have a chance to add the Tigers to the list on Sunday.
Player of the Day:
Jose Altuve helped keep the Houston Astros rolling Saturday by collecting four hits, three runs, a home run and three RBIs in a 13-5 win against the Kansas City Royals. Altuve is the clear favorite so far to win the MVP this season. He is now hitting .348 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs with 18 stolen bases.
Highlight:
We're pretty sure most people can't even hit Aroldis Chapman in slow motion:
Put it in slow motion and Aroldis Chapman is still throwing heat. pic.twitter.com/iBJgMre1yx
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) June 25, 2016
Three things to know:
— The White Sox tied an MLB record for most home runs in a loss with seven in a 10-8 loss against the Blue Jays. The other teams to accomplish the feat were the 1995 and 2004 Detroit Tigers. The White Sox also went back-to-back-to-back for the first time since 2008.
— Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey has given up 10 earned runs in his last two starts (seven Saturday against the Miami Marlins). He had allowed 10 earned runs in his previous eight starts combined entering this week.
— After posting seven runs in the first two innings Saturday, the Astros have outscored the Royals 19-1 in first two innings over the last two days.
What's Next:
Cubs (48-25) at Marlins (40-35) 1:10 p.m. ET — Chicago, once on a record-setting pace, has now lost five of its last six games. Jason Hammel (7-3, 2.55 ERA) will face off against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (9-3, 2.63 ERA) to try to right the ship.
Blue Jays (41-35) at White Sox (37-38) 2:10 p.m. ET — Coming off an offensive bonanza, these two teams are sending out their aces on Sunday. MLB wins leader Chris Sale (12-2, 2.83), will start for Chicago, while Marcus Stroman (6-3, 5.23) will try to get things turned around to help Toronto.