With less than a week left, it's all about the fine-tuning for the Cleveland Indians.
In their final intrasquad scrimmage before the start of a three-game scrimmage with the Pittsburgh Pirates, beginning Saturday in Pittsburgh, the team had another great showing from their young starting pitcher Aaron Civale, throwing 6 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and one run, while striking out six batters.
"I've done a lot of mental preparation preceding this, but I feel good with where I'm at. [I> put a lot of hard work in to get where I am," he told the media after the game Friday. While this was only Civale's second start of camp, he has thrown 15 simulated starts and is scheduled to get at least one more start in prior to the start of the season.
Civale wasn't done tonight... As he was reaching his pitching limit, Indians superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor had hit a deep double foul down the left-field line. With two strikes against Lindor, Civale wasn't satisfied until the job was done...
"I had to finish the at-bat," Civale said regarding his battle with Lindor. "I was close to the pitch count they wanted me at, but it went foul so I had to finish the at-bat. ... Just being a little competitive."
Civale struck out the Indians shortstop with the next pitch. Civale has been rolling lately and looks to build upon his stellar 2019 season, finishing with a 3-4 record, 2.34 ERA, and 46 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings pitched. The right-hander was well on his way in spring training after dealing with a strained groin, making two starts, striking out nine in five innings pitched.
One of the main storylines to follow throughout this summer camp has been the battle among the outfielders to see who will crack the opening day roster. With the standout second-year standout Oscar Mercado and the power-hitting Franmil Reyes seemingly locks for the roster, who would step up to fill out the roster to patrol the outfield grass. With players like Bradley Zimmer and Greg Allen stepping up throughout the week, someone had to respond.
On Friday night, Tyler Naquin and Daniel Johnson answered the call...
Both players had home runs off of Indians relievers and further their case to remain on the roster for opening day. Naquin, coming off a torn ACL last season, has looked good at the plate so far, and continues to have a chip on his shoulder entering the 2020 campaign.
"It's easy to dream, to look at the body, the delivery, and the pitch mix and say 'Oh, that can play,'" Francona said of Moss the media Friday prior to the team's scrimmage. "He's a confident kid. I think he thinks he's ready now, and he might be. We told him, right now, we have these guys ahead of you. That could change. ... We told him, 'Go knock the door down. Go make us call you up.'"
Moss, 25, threw 36 strikeouts and 13 walks in 28 2/3 innings between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus last season. Allen logged 18 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings for Triple-A Columbus in 2019.