The Cleveland Indians are one of the worst teams in baseball when it comes to scoring runs.
That being said, the pitching staff has been good enough to help this team enter play Tuesday with a 35-28 record.
This club is right in the playoff mix and the hope is the offense can now step up with Shane Bieber headed to the injured list.
Jose Ramirez has been the catalyst all season and was once again Monday night.
But who is his top sidekick?
Looking through the team leaderboards reveals some shocking statistics.
Let’s look at three in particular that are surprising for the wrong reasons.
3. Eddie Rosario Only Has 4 Home Runs
Did the Indians sign the wrong Eddie Rosario?
The former Minnesota Twins slugger hit 32 home runs in 2019 and even had 13 in the shortened 2020 season.
He is currently sitting with four in his debut season with the Indians.
The only positive from him lately is the fact he is getting his average up near .250 and his OPS near .650.
These are too small of baby steps for someone the Indians expected to be a key piece in the lineup alongside Ramirez and a healthy Franmil Reyes.
A consolation for Rosario is that he is second on the team in RBI.
To hear this crowd erupt after Eddie Rosario's RBI single… man. Awesome.
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) June 11, 2021
He just needs to find the power he seems to have left behind in Minnesota.
2. Cesar Hernandez Is Struggling To Perform
The Indians have Cesar Hernandez batting leadoff with a .294 on-base percentage.
His batting average is much worse at .214.
He also has 59 strikeouts on the year.
This is not the look of a leadoff hitter and the Indians front office may want to seek help via a trade sooner than later.
Hernandez has a club option in 2022 and right now, it would be a surprise to see him stick around.
It is not his fault he has been put in the leadoff spot, but that is still no excuse to be doing so poorly on offense in general.
1. Austin Hedges Can’t Stop Striking Out
It is unfair to expect Austin Hedges, normally a backup catcher, to be a star at the plate.
Austin Hedges had a scary moment in yesterday's game after being hit in the helmet with a wild pitch, but he's in good spirits and ready to go today if he's needed. #OurCLE pic.twitter.com/WTaQbhHSeQ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) June 12, 2021
But it is also tough to see he is fourth on the team in strikeouts with 40 in only 34 games.
He has struck out in 40 of his 100 at-bats.
That has Hedges as a negative-WAR player at a time when Roberto Perez remains out with an injury.
Rene Rivera is getting some time as well, but he is striking out at a similar rate.
The plan is to have Perez out there much of the time.
But when he is hurt, the Indians need to have a real plan in place.
It seems they are simply hoping Hedges and Rivera can get a hit every so often to provide any sort of help at the bottom of the order.
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