Indians at Mariners
When: 10:10 p.m., March 29
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
Pitchers: Indians — Corey Kluber, 18-4, 2.25 ERA; Mariners — Felix Hernandez, 6-5, 4.36 ERA
TV: ESPN, SportsTime Ohio
Radio: WTAM-AM 1100, WMMS-FM 100.7
The Cactus League season has ended for the Indians, so now it’s on to the business of trying to get back to the playoffs for the third straight year.
The journey of 162 steps begins on March 29 in the Pacific Northwest when the Indians open the regular season against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez is scheduled to throw the first pitch at 10:10 p.m.
Corey Kluber is starting his fourth straight opener for the Indians. The last to do that was Gaylord Perry from 1972 to 1975.
The Indians are not in top shape physically to start the season, but the good news is none of the injured players should miss significant time and the Indians have enough depth to absorb the injuries while the hobbled heal.
Left fielder Michael Brantley (ankle), pitcher Danny Salazar (shoulder) and infielder Giovanny Urshela (hamstring) are starting the season on the disabled list. Brantley and Urshela could be ready when the Indians play Kansas City in their home opener April 6 at Progressive Field.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez could have been on that list, but he apparently escaped a mishap on March 27 in the final exhibition game with only a minor injury when he cut his finger on a piece of metal on the bat rack while reaching for a bat in the top of the first inning.
Ramirez played the field in the bottom of the first, but was removed because the wound continued to bleed. He and manager Terry Francona say Ramirez is fine and will be ready to play the Mariners.
Kluber, meanwhile, is coming off a spring in which he went 4-0 in five starts.
“Opening Day is a cool day; it’s a special time in baseball,” Kluber told reporters. “We have a lot of guys that can pitch that game, but it is an honor and something I look forward to.”
Carlos Carrasco will pitch for the Indians against Seattle’s left-handed James Paxton on March 31 in the second game of the season. Trevor Bauer will start the final game of the series on April 1 against Mariners’ righty Mike Leake.
One of Francona’s tough decisions was which catcher to start. The plan is to go with Yan Gomes in the opener. He is likely to catch the second game and Roberto Perez the third.
“I don’t have a number (of games for each catcher),” Francona told reporters. “I just know that neither one of them is going to sit a ton.”
Both catchers had torrid springs. Gomes hit .349 (15-for-43) with three homers and 14 RBI. Perez went .341 (14-for-41) homered five times and drove in 13 runs.