Indians' Kluber strikes out career-high 14
The Cleveland Indians are clinging to their slim playoff hopes, and it's Corey Kluber holding everything together.
Kluber struck out a career-high 14 batters over seven innings of one-run ball to help lift the Indians to a 4-2 win over the Houston Astros. It's the most strikeouts by a Cleveland pitcher since Bartolo Colon recorded 14 against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 29, 1998.
The Indians right-hander dominated the strike zone en route to his ninth start of the season with at least 10 strikeouts - the most such games in franchise history since Sam McDowell in 1970.
Kluber's efforts pulled the Indians to within 5 1/2 games of the wild-card leading Kansas City Royals, who were hosting the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
According to MLB Gameday, the Indians ace generated 19 swinging strikes, his third-most of the season, with an impressive mix of breaking pitches. He threw 77 of his 110 pitches for strikes in the 11th quality start of his last 12 outings.
Kluber ranks second in the majors with 244 strikeouts, while his six wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, were tops among American League pitchers entering play Tuesday.