Ryan

Merritt

Merritt spent the entire 2018 season at Triple-A Columbus, where he posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, and 52/2 K/BB ratio in 13 starts and two relief appearances covering 71 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw’s elite control could lead him back to the majors with the Rays in 2019. He put up an impressive 1.71 ERA in 31 2/3 innings with the Indians between 2016-2017.

Merritt shined in his major league debut Monday against the Rangers, allowing just one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Unfortunately, his reward is a return trip to the minors.

Merritt made his major league debut earlier this season and worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief against the Rangers. He will return to a long relief role.

Merritt has been unscored upon in his 5 1/3 relief innings with the big club this season. He’ll be back in September, if not before.

Expectations were low for the assignment, as Merritt was simply filling in with Corey Kluber sidelined, but he was brilliant in his first major league start. The former 16th round pick held the Royals to just three hits while walking none and striking out four. He kept them off the board after an RBI single from Eric Hosmer in the first inning and retired the final 13 batters he faced. The Indians couldn’t have asked for much better.

The game will be made up on Monday, if necessary, which could potentially throw a wrench into the Wild Card race. Scheduled starters Daniel Norris and Ryan Merritt will be pushed back to Friday.

Merritt had just 11 major league innings under his belt entering Wednesday’s Game 5 start (his first of the postseason), but failed to buckle in the spotlight. The 24-year-old southpaw fanned three without walking a batter and did not surrender a hit until Josh Donaldson knocked him for a single with one out in the fourth inning. He would go on to surrender just one more hit before taking a graceful exit. Merritt might not have pitched long enough to earn an outright win, but this was about as good as manager Terry Francona could have hoped for from the greenhorn. With the win, the Indians reached the World Series for the first time since 1997. They have not won a championship since 1948.

The Indians carried three catchers in the ALDS, but Chris Gimenez is losing his spot for the ALCS. It speaks to the growing confidence they must have in Yan Gomes’ health. Merritt will give manager Terry Francona another lefty option in the bullpen.

Merritt has been unscored upon in his 5 1/3 relief innings with the big club this season. He’ll provide another left-handed relief arm.

Corey Kluber will start the other game. The feeling had been that Mike Clevinger would get a start, but evidently manager Terry Francona must have had a change of heart. The order in which Merritt and Kluber start will be determined based on how long Trevor Bauer lasts in Game 3. If it’s a short outing, Kluber will come back on short rest in Game 4. Merritt made one start for the Indians this season in late September, tossing five innings of one-run ball. He’s yet to make an appearance this postseason. His start against the Blue Jays doesn’t figure to last terribly long even if he’s pitching relatively well, as the Tribe will use a host of relievers.