MLB Postseason: Ranking the Starting Rotations

6) Cleveland Indians

Starters xFIP: 3.89 (4th)

Starters SIERA: 3.92 (4th)

K-BB %: 15.5% (4th)

Projected Rotation: Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber, Josh Tomlin

The story of what could have been.

As you can see from the above, the Indians ranked much higher in all key peripherals than their sixth-place ranking would indicate. But a broken hand for Carlos Carrasco, an injury that still lingers for Danny Salazar, and a groin/quad injury for Kluber that limited him to 60 pitches in his last outing leads to a lot of question marks.

Bauer has alternated between good and bad months in 2016. In June, he sported a 3.34 xFIP over 44 2/3 innings pitched with a 25% strikeout rate while walking only 7% of hitters. In July, he put up a 4.99 xFIP with a whopping 11.6% walk rate. Which Bauer shows up this postseason?

Kluber has enjoyed a brilliant 2016, logging a 3.50 SIERA and 26.4% strikeout rate while allowing a meager 27.6% hard-hit rate. This most recent injury news is tough, and we may not get to see the brilliant version we've gotten all year.

Tomlin has been brutal this year. He has gotten absolutely destroyed by the long ball, allowing 1.86 home runs per nine innings pitched, spiking to 3.38 home runs per nine in August. He was briefly removed from the rotation and inspires anything but confidence heading into the postseason.