Misfortune seemingly followed Yan Gomes around Minnesota this weekend, even after the team's light-hearted clubhouse ceremony. When the catcher exited the ballpark on Sunday evening, he sported a sling for his separated shoulder.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Chris Gimenez shook his head.

"I don't think it worked," he said.

Maybe the Indians needed to sacrifice a live chicken, not a store-bought bird from Target. Maybe there weren't enough maracas or tambourines.

No matter the case, misfortune seemingly followed Yan Gomes around Minnesota this weekend, even after the team's light-hearted clubhouse ceremony. When the catcher exited the ballpark on Sunday evening, he sported a sling for his separated shoulder.

Gimenez replaced Gomes during the series finale and delivered a two-run single. Now, the Indians will rely upon him and, likely, Roberto Perez to handle the duties behind the plate.

Here are a handful of thoughts on the 54-37 Tribe.

The story behind the Indians' sacrifice to baseball gods for Gomes

1. Catching up: Perez was worth 1.7 WAR (wins above replacement) last season, according to FanGraphs. That ranked 15th in the majors, even though Perez only totaled 70 games 226 plate appearances. Gomes amassed 0.8 WAR in 95 games and 389 trips to the plate.

Of course, Perez hasn't played for the Tribe in nearly three months because of thumb surgery, so a swift return to valuable form is not guaranteed. Gomes wasn't producing much at the plate (.165 average, .198 on-base percentage), so Perez and Gimenez shouldn't feel much of a burden in that regard.

"The good thing for us," Gimenez said, "is we can affect the game in two different ways. That's the greatest thing about being a catcher. Even if you don't get a hit that night, you can still affect the game."

2. Power hour: The Indians are one of 11 big league teams to have three players with 15 or more home runs. Francisco Lindor and Tyler Naquin, who have hit 10 apiece, could ultimately join Mike Napoli, Carlos Santana and Kipnis on the list.

The Indians entered Sunday's action ranked 10th in the majors in team slugging percentage (.432). Last season, they ranked 16th with a .401 mark.

All 10 of Naquin's blasts have come since June 3, a span of 33 games and a mere 102 at-bats. Naquin never slugged more than 10 homers in any minor-league season. Remarkably, the center fielder has logged a .598 slugging percentage during his rookie campaign. He posted a .417 slugging percentage across five minor-league seasons.

Mike Napoli pounced on the first pitch of his first at-bat on Sunday.MLB.com GameDay 

3. Party time: Napoli socked a 91-mph fastball from Kyle Gibson into the second deck at Target Field in the second inning of Sunday's affair. It marked Napoli's 20th homer of the season and measured an estimated 449 feet, per the league's Statcast data.

In 2011, Napoli established a career high with 30 homers. He only appeared in 113 games that year, though. He has already played in 85 contests this season.

On the eighth pitch of his ninth-inning at-bat, Kipnis went yard.MLB.com GameDay 

4. Digging the long ball: Kipnis needs two more homers to match his career high of 17, set in 2013, the first of his two All-Star seasons. He deposited a 93-mph fastball into the bullpen in left-center field in the ninth inning of Sunday's game.

Kipnis has collected multiple hits in five of his last seven games. During that span, he has tallied 13 base knocks in 28 at-bats (.464 average).

"It's too selfish of me to sit around and sulk," Gomes said. "It's too selfish of me and I'm not helping the team in any way [if I do that]. As long as we're still winning, there's still going to be a smile."

MINNEAPOLIS -- Yan Gomes returned to the batter's box on Friday night and those haunting numbers followed him.

Everywhere he goes, they follow, like some pesky, unsolicited shadow.

Gomes ventured back to Tennessee over the All-Star break, where he finally got to enjoy the comforts of his newly constructed home. He enjoyed the company of his wife and daughter. Oh, and he watched video and swung the bat with Indians assistant coach Mike Barnett.

Gomes just couldn't completely shake baseball from his conscience during the brief reprieve. The first half of the season was cruel to the catcher, who sported a .166 batting average and a .201 on-base percentage at the intermission.

Somehow, his season plummeted to new depths in Minnesota over the weekend.

One at-bat after Gomes finally summoned the technique, approach and fortune apparently necessary to notch a base hit, he took a spill at first base and separated his shoulder. Murphy's Law has swallowed Gomes whole.

"He literally cannot get a break right now," said catcher Chris Gimenez.

Gomes texted Barnett on Tuesday night and asked if he wanted to meet the next morning. The two watched video from Gomes' 2014 season, when he collected a Silver Slugger Award. They trekked to Christian Academy of Knoxville, where Gomes took batting practice. They worked on Gomes' hand placement in his batting stance.

"It's basically just getting back to what he did when he had success," Barnett said.

Gomes carried the new approach into Friday's series opener against the Twins, but the baseball routinely refused to find an opening.

In one trip to the plate, he sprayed a line drive into the glove of a lunging Joe Mauer on the right side of the infield. Gomes tilted his head toward the sky in disbelief, raised his arms and threw them down at his sides.

In another, Gomes scorched a pitch 106 mph at third baseman Miguel Sano. In his final at-bat, Gomes socked a pitch 101 mph toward second baseman Brian Dozier, who made a diving stop and threw him out.

Gomes' BABIP (batting average on balls in play) stands at .190. The league average is .301. His teammates planted in his locker a Dory stuffed animal from the "Finding Dory" movie.

"Just keep swinging. Just keep swinging," Gimenez said with a smile.

"He hasn't had the best luck, that's for sure," said Tribe pitcher Josh Tomlin.

The Indians were encouraged with Gomes' showing on Friday, though understandably miffed at his misfortune. So, his teammates arranged for a ceremony to exorcise his batting demons on Saturday. Gomes "sacrificed" a store-bought chicken, Mike Napoli pleaded with the baseball gods via a heartfelt speech and the rest of the team donned goofy costumes and played tambourines and maracas.

"I don't think it worked," Gimenez said.

The story of Yan Gomes' chicken sacrifice

Gomes did register a double in his first plate appearance on Sunday, the prototypical bouncer off of the pitcher's swinging foot that caroms into the outfield. Beggars can't be choosers.

"We had rattles and capes in [the dugout] and we were going nuts," Gimenez said. "It was like, 'All right. That was it. That was exactly what he needed right there.'"

He finally had his hit. He finally snapped out of a skid that had reached 27 at-bats without anything prosperous. He finally watched his numbers receive a slight lift, rather than decompress even further. He had grown tired of the latter.

"You look up there," Gomes said, "and you're like, 'Holy crap. That's not what I had pictured going into spring training.' ... I know that's not me. I know I'm a better hitter. I know I can help on that side of the field, the offensive side."

Gomes' trying season reached its peak on Sunday, when he stumbled over first base while stretching to avoid a tag from Minnesota's Kennys Vargas. He tweaked his knee and then separated his shoulder as he plunged to the ground. Gomes will head to the disabled list. His slash line won't budge from its .165/.198/.313 state anytime soon.

"I thought the sacrifice was supposed to be a good thing," Gomes quipped.

What can go wrong has gone wrong for Gomes in 2016.

"It's too selfish of me to sit around and sulk," Gomes said. "It's too selfish of me and I'm not helping the team in any way [if I do that].

"As long as we're still winning, there's still going to be a smile."

Time has healed old wounds. Baseball in Cleveland has lived on. This field, this game -- it's a part of your past, Albert. It reminds them of all that was once good. Oh, people will come, Albert. And they will most definitely cheer you. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Albert, people will come, Albert. They'll come to Progressive Field and they will cheer you.

They'll shower you with praise, not with Monopoly money. They'll fork over cash for the hottest ticket in town, just to see you and to overwhelm you with gratitude in the sanctuary you helped make sacred.

They'll arrive at the ballpark as giddy as they were when they flocked there to watch you swat pitches into the seats. They'll walk out to the bleachers, donning their No. 8 jerseys and pointing to their own flexed biceps on a picturesque Saturday evening in late July.

They'll remember where they sat when they rooted on their heroes of the '90s, the ones who made every summer night magical and every October memorable. They'll marvel at the ceremony held to honor you, Jim Thome, Frank Robinson and Charlie Jamieson for your contributions to the storied franchise. They'll hang on your every word during your speech.

They'll be overcome with chills-producing nostalgia as they harken back to the good ol' days of those brazen, brilliant, breathtaking Tribe teams, when you and your supporting cast made opposing pitchers tremble, when you rattled off division titles in your sleep.

The memories will be vivid and therapeutic. The smiles will resurface and refuse to disappear. For years, they'll gather around your new residence in Heritage Park and exchange fond recollections of perhaps the most feared slugger in franchise lore.

People will cheer, Albert. They'll greet your return with as much warmth as they provided when you and your teammates celebrated an American League pennant in the chilly streets of downtown Cleveland some 20 years ago. They'll cherish one more chance to see that menacing glare you often directed at opposing pitchers. Maybe this time you'll flash a smile when you notice the passionate response.

These are forgiving, welcoming people. These are appreciative, understanding people. They accepted Thome back into their lives. They'll do the same for you. They'll stand and applaud your willingness to venture back to their beloved town.

They hated to see you go. But they would love to see you come back, if only for one wistful, unforgettable night.

Time has healed old wounds. Baseball in Cleveland has lived on. This field, this game -- it's a part of your past, Albert. It reminds them of all that was once good.

Oh, people will come, Albert. And they will most definitely cheer you.

Thome expected to be lone inductee in attendance

 

Lyle has changed his diet and his workout habits to get in better shape for the 2016-17 season. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Chicken fingers and fries during the day, candy at night. A tried-and-true method of packing on the pounds, and Ohio State point guard JaQuan Lyle had it mastered.

"I'm a candy addict. I can eat a big bag of candy every night," Lyle said recently.

Now he's cut out the candy, cut out the fried foods. It's grilled chicken, veggies and eggs. And a new version of Lyle.

When he spoke with the media earlier this month, it was a first look at Lyle since Ohio State's season ended with a loss to Florida in the NIT back in March. Lyle was noticeably thinner, he had packed on some more muscle.

It was clear he had been spending his offseason changing his body for next season.

"I'm taking my body a lot more seriously," Lyle said. "I'm cutting out all the sugars, eating real good. I'm lifting hard, trying to go as hard as I can in the weight room every day. Our strength coach, Coach Rich (Dave Richardson), if it wasn't for him calling me the fattest point guard in America, I probably wouldn't be trying as hard as I am right now."

Fattest point guard in America? Probably not. But Lyle admitted that he didn't enter last season in the right shape, and it took a toll on his game -- particularly on the defensive end of the floor.

Of all the starting point guards in the Big Ten entering last season, Lyle was the heaviest, listed on the Buckeyes roster at 230 pounds. Now he's listed on the roster at 210 pounds.

He said he's been hovering between 211-215 pounds this spring and summer, which is where Thad Matta wants him. He doesn't need to be rail-thin, but he needs to be at the right weight that allows him to maximize his talents.

"I've been dunking the ball a lot lately in open gym," Lyle said. "I actually caught a crazy dunk on the baseline the other day. I feel a lot lighter, a lot quicker, a lot faster. I also feel a lot stronger."

Lyle's summer highlight: Crossing up Victor Oladipo

Dunking for Lyle is less important than being in shape to stay on the floor. He played 29.7 minutes per game last year, and will likely play more as a sophomore.

It seemed his conditioning got a little better as the season wore on. He played 44 minutes of an overtime game against Akron to open the NIT, and 38 minutes against Florida.

Matta likes to ride his guys, and Lyle needs to be a guy. He could be and should be the best player on the team next year, with the responsibility of guiding the team back to where it wants to be.

This dedication to changing his body is a sign that Lyle is starting to realize that.

"Even last year they wanted me to take on that role, but I didn't know how to," Lyle said. "I think now that I got that year under my belt I got that experience and I know what to expect. I'm the point guard, so I gotta be ready on and off the court and I gotta lead by example."

Roberto Perez, just activated on Monday from the 60-day disabled list, will catch Corey Kluber for the first time since last season.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here are the lineups for Monday's game between the Indians and Royals.

INDIANS

DH Carlos Santana.

2B Jason Kipnis.

SS Francisco Lindor.

1B Mike Napoli.

LF Jose Ramirez.

RF Lonnie Chisenhall.

3B Juan Uribe.

CF Tyler Naquin.

C Roberto Perez.

RHP Corey Kluber, 9-8, 3.61.

ROYALS

SS Alcides Escobar.

1B Eric Hosmer.

DH Kendrys Moraltes.

C Salvador Perez.

LF Alex Gordon.

3B Cheslor Cuthbert.

RF Paulo Orlando.

2B Whit Merrifield.

CF Jarrod Dyson.

RHP Edinson Volquez, 8-8, 4.85 ERA.

The last time the Indians visited Kauffman Stadium, they were swept in a three-game series in June. They then went on to set a franchise record with 14 srtraight wins.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. --The Indians and Royals open a three-game series Monday night at Kauffman Stadium. Get scoring updates and participate in a live chat as the clubs square off.

Game 92: Indians (54-37) vs. Royals (46-45).

First pitch: 8:15 p.m.

Broadcast info: SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 FM, Indians Radio Network

Pitching matchup: RHP Corey Kluber (9-8, 3.61) vs. Edinson Volquez (8-8, 4.85).

Fact du jour: The Indians are 6-4 against the Royals this season.

Browns running back Isaiah Crowell attends the funeral of a slain Dallas police officer and receives an education on police service and sacrifice.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns running back Isaiah Crowell accepted an invitation from the president of the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation Saturday to attend the funeral of Patrick Zamarripa, one of the five slain Dallas police officers.

Crowell had pledged to donate his first game check -- about $35,000  -- to the Foundation, but Dallas police Sergeant Demetrick Pennie, president of the foundation, wanted something more valuable instead: a chance to educate Crowell on "the meaning of police service and sacrifice.''

After spending eight hours with Crowell, Pennie found the running back to be genuinely remorseful for his inflammatory Instagram post, an illustration of a handcuffed police officer being stabbed in the neck.

"I am confident that the policing community now has a supporter in Mr. Crowell,'' Pennie wrote in a Facebook post. "Personally, I would like to commend Isaiah Crowell for the courage of principled accountability.''

Crowell was one of thousands to attend the funeral in Fort Worth, Texas. Zamarripa was survived by his wife, Kristy; his 2-year-old daughter, Lyncoln; and his stepson, Dylan.

Here is the full text of Sgt. Pennie's post:

"Isaiah Crowell is a professional football player for the Cleveland Browns. He was recently subjected to national criticism after he briefly posted a picture on social media portraying an image of a police officer getting his throat slit by a man dressed in black with a mask on. I, like most other police officers, was disgusted by the posting; however, to me Mr. Crowell's posting represented something much more than just an offensive post. It represented a disconnect in understanding that existed between the police and many in the Black community. A misunderstanding that I have personally been subjected to from my own family.

"In response to the public backlash, Mr. Crowell pledged to make a donation to the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation, of which I am the president of. In an effort to show the progressiveness and professionalism of the Dallas Police Department, its officers, and its affiliated police support organizations, I reached out to Mr. Crowell and expressed a disinterest in his money. Rather, I told him that I did want an opportunity to educate him about the policing profession and the meaning of police service and sacrifice.

Isaiah Crowell's apology accepted by Cleveland police union

"Based on this premise, I offered Mr. Crowell an opportunity to travel to Dallas to accompany me to the funeral of one of our fallen police officers. When offered the opportunity, Isaiah Crowell didn't think twice before accepting. Although, he was initially afraid and skeptical of the environment that he was entering, he traveled to Dallas overnight and met with me for an extended period of time in an attempt to find some resolve in understanding.

"Our initial meeting was facilitated by shared private stories related to our inner-city backgrounds. These shared experiences were used to build a rapport and trust between us. During the discussion, Isaiah Crowell explained that he misguidedly posted the offensive image based on the constant provocative rhetoric that spewed through the media on a daily basis. Crowell expressed that he was never active in social media, so posting the offensive image was well outside of his character. After posting the image, Mr. Crowell immediately took it down but not before it was captured and made viral. Acknowledging his mistakes, he advised his organization and prepared for the backlash which included intense public shunning and even death threats. As Mr. Crowell spoke and expressed remorse for his actions and was pulling back tears. His voice rattled as he explained the entire incident. I could hear the pain and hopelessness in his voice - the pain of feeling that you are alone in this world!

"As the conversation developed, I noted that Mr. Crowell was very tuned into the discussion and was receptive to my feedback. This marked the beginning of an open dialogue where greater understanding for policing culture could be obtained. I could see that he was curious and wanted to know more. This dialogue would not have been possible, if I had not had a personal understanding of the disconnect that existed between police officers and young people coming up from backgrounds similar to Isaiah Crowell. I am familiar with the sentiment because of my family's negative experiences in the impoverished inner-city.

"The next day, I spent 8 hours with Isaiah Crowell. During this time, he met with high-ranking police and political officials in the State including Texas Police Commissioner Rob Kyker. He also attended the funeral of slain Dallas Police Officer Patrick Zamarripa and paid his respects to the Fallen Officer. During the visit, he met with several police officers from across the country, who expressed their appreciation for him seeking forgiveness for his actions and having the courage to admit that he was wrong and making an attempt to redress the problem.

"These were interactions that Mr. Crowell never believed would be possible. At the conclusion of our day, Crowell expressed his deepest condolences for the loss of our officers and stated that he would be willing to return in the future to assist the survivors in Dallas in honoring the sacrifices of their loved ones. Crowell also expressed his gratitude to me for granting him the opportunity to attend the honorable ceremony. He stated that the visit was very humbling and gave him a different outlook on the sacrifices that police officers make every day. He also commended Dallas Police Chief David Brown for his leadership during this crisis.

"Based on my 17 years of experience in law enforcement, I found the meeting with Mr. Crowell to be authentic and reflective of the truest meaning of "Community Policing". The visit was very professional and non-threatening, which I think is a testament to the professionalism of the Dallas Police Department and is emblematic of our officers' compassion for the community at-large. As a police officer with one of the leading community policing departments in the nation, I feel that every police agency should take every opportunity available to bridge the gap between law enforcement and those with opposing viewpoints in the community because it is the only way to enhance understanding. From a member of a police family that has just lost five brothers, it is time for us in the law enforcement community to open dialogues and restore public trust.

"Years of broken communication has facilitated the rise in growth of flawed ideologies about police that we should be on the forefront of addressing. That is why I elected to meet with Isaiah Crowell personally to determine if there was any hope of reforming his thinking. Based on my interactions, I am confident that the policing community now has a supporter in Mr. Crowell. Personally, I would like to commend Isaiah Crowell for the courage of principled accountability.

"Crowell's story is a path of redemption that parallels the experiences of Daniel entering the Lion's Den. Crowell entered the most unlikely venue surrounded by thousands of police officers, which could have possibly been the most hostile environment he could have ever imagined himself walking into. But by the grace of God, he was accepted with open arms. As leaders in the police community, it is our duty to establish and maintain the public trust. We, in the Dallas Police Department, are hurting and now it is time to start the healing process by creating greater understanding in the community. My interactions with Mr. Crowell demonstrates that mutual understanding is possible as long as both parties are willing to listen.''

Major served as an assistant coach at Ohio State from 2004-10.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Another familiar face is returning to Ohio State basketball.

The Buckeyes are expected to hire former assistant coach Alan Major as Director of Player Development, according to a report from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Ohio State declined to comment on the report.

Major was most recently the head coach at Charlotte. He stepped away from that position after the 2014-15 season due to health issues. He was an assistant at Ohio State from 2004-10.

Thad Matta had two openings on his coaching staff this spring after assistant Jeff Boals took the head coaching job at Stony Brook, and video coordinator Jake Diebler took an assistant job at Vanderbilt.

Matta replaced Boals with former assistant Chris Jent, who joined the staff in April. He had yet to replace Diebler, and it's unclear if this addition of Major to the staff reconfigures the way Matta uses the video coordinator position.

In the past Matta has given that position to a younger, up-and-coming coach, as he did with Diebler and current assistant Greg Paulus.

With Major and Jent back in the fold, Ohio State has back assistants that helped guide the Buckeyes to their two Final Four appearances under Matta. Major was an assistant on the 2007 Final Four team that reached the National Championship, while Jent was on the staff for the 2012 Final Four team.

Major was 67-70 in four-plus seasons as Charlotte's head coach. He was also an assistant under Matta at Xavier from 2001-04.

Dunn was entering his fifth season with the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State running back Bri'onte Dunn has been dismissed from the football team, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer announced in a statement released by the school on Monday night.

According to Meyer's statement, the fifth-year senior was dismissed for an unspecified violation a team rules.

Dunn was believed to be in a battle with redshirt freshman Mike Weber for the starting running back spot this season. Dunn, from Canton GlenOak High School, graduated from Ohio State in May with a degree in sports industry.

He had 14 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown last year, but has been seldom used as a running back in his career. Meyer talked in the spring about Dunn having a chance to start this fall, but now that job seemingly falls to Weber, who seemed likely to end up winning the starting job anyway.

For his career, Dunn ran for 291 yards and three touchdowns.

Dunn was a four-star prospect and the No. 8 running back in the country when he signed with Ohio State in the 2012 recruiting class.

Catcher Roberto Perez, who has not played for the Indians since April 30 because of a broken right thumb, returned to the lineup Monday night to replace injured Yan Gomes.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Roberto Perez was sitting in the hot tub getting ready to catch for Class AAA Columbus on Sunday in Toledo when manager Chris Tremie told him not to get in his uniform just yet.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes had just taken a nasty spill at first base at Target Field against the Twins and was driven off the field on a cart with his right shoulder in a sling. Perez's rehab assignment and stay on the 60-day disabled list had come to a sooner-than-expected end.

Gomes suffered a separated right shoulder and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks. If the injury isn't season ending, excluding the possibility of postseason play for the Indians, it's close.

"The good news is Yan won't need surgery, but it's going to have to heal," said manager Terry Francona.

Perez, who started behind the plate Monday night against Kansas City, is familiar with the Tribe's pitching staff. He helped catch them all last year and opened this season as Gomes' backup before a broken right thumb on April 30 put him out of business until now.

"You never want to lose your (starting) catcher," said Francona, "but we have two catchers here (Perez and Chris Gimenez) that not only know the importance of running a game, but they know how to do it. Our two catchers know every one of our pitchers and all our pitchers like throwing to both of them. That really helps."

Ideally, the Indians wanted Perez to play a few more games in his rehab assignment so he could catch consecutive games. He's caught as many as nine innings in a game, but he hasn't done it consecutively.

Tribe's Perez has surgery on right thumb

"They're going to play me every other day until I get my legs under me," said Perez.

Francona says it's going to take a while for Perez to get up to speed, but the one saving grace is that his best qualities are his ability to catch and throw.

"If you've got a guy back there who can't get the ball down to second base, that's a hard way to go through a day," said Francona.

Perez, who played sparingly at the start of the season behind Gomes, has yet to get a hit in the big leagues this season. He hit .313 (5-for-16) with eight walks, five runs and three RBI in his rehab assignment, which started on July 3.

"For being out as long as I've been, I feel amazing at the plate," said Perez. "I'm 100 percent, I'm excited and I'm ready to go."

Sooooo...suggestions on getting your drone out of a tree? It's stuck in the branches about 60 feet up at the top of a large tree

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

Testing, testing: When Michael Brantley started his latest rehab assignment, the Indians felt he might be able to play consecutive games over the weekend at Class AA Akron. That didn't happen.

He played Friday, did not play Saturday, and played Sunday. He was not in the RubberDucks lineup Monday.

Tribe's Brantley working his way back

"He had down day (Monday)," said Francona. "We'll re-assess Tuesday. We'll let him have this day with Jimmy Mehalik. Then we'll regroup and we which direction we're going to go."

Mehalik, Lonnie Soloff and James Quinlan are in charge of the Indians rehab and physical therapy programs. Brantley has played four games in his rehab assignment.

He's hitting .250 (3-for-12) in stops at Class A Mahoning Valley, Class A Lake County and Akron.

No timetable: Right-hander Zach McAllister (right hip) started his rehab assignment Monday in Columbus. He can be activated Friday.

'We want to let him work at least a couple of times to see how it goes," said Francona.

Cody Anderson, recalled to give the Indian protection Sunday, was optioned to Columbus on Monday. Kyle Crockett replaced him as the Indians continue their search for a lefty that can fit into the pen.

Anderson will start Thursday for the Clippers.

"Crockett has been throwing the ball pretty well," said Francona. "We're trying to find the right mix in the bullpen. We've had a lefty and we haven't had a lefty. Hopefully, this will help our pen.

"We're trying to do a couple of things while not getting in the way of the clubhouse (chemistry). We have a good clubhouse."

Finally: The Yankees are scouting the Tribe's second straight series on this nine-game, 10-day trip . . .The Indians entered Monday night's game leading the AL with a 28-21 road record. It's the third best in the big leagues behind St. Louis at 27-16 and San Francisco at 28-19. Tribe pitchers lead the AL with a 3.42 road ERA and rank second in the big leagues behind the Mets at 3.38.

What will Ohio State's running back reps look like after the dismissal of running back Bri'onte Dunn?

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The talk all spring was that Bri'onte Dunn at least had a shot at winning Ohio State's starting running back job. Whether you believed that or not doesn't matter anymore, because Dunn has been dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

It seemed unlikely, though, that he would win the job given that Dunn was going to be a fifth-year senior who was never a factor in the running back rotation, getting surpassed by Ezekiel Elliott, and even Curtis Samuel in 2014.

It felt inevitable that Mike Weber, the redshirt freshman eager for his shot, was going to be the starter. Now it's official by default. Barring anything unforeseen, Dunn's dismissal brings one position battle to an end before fall camp even begins.

Weber should be Ohio State's starting running back this season.

"He definitely improved," running backs coach Tony Alford said of Weber at the conclusion of spring ball. "He definitely has grown up a bunch. He had a good spring, a physical player which we thought he was, but he really started gravitating to starting to learn this offense the way you'd like him too."

Alford and Urban Meyer sounded confident all spring that Weber could handle the job if he ended up winning. But now he could be doing it without any kind of safety net.

After riding workhorse backs like Elliott and Carlos Hyde, some form of running back by committee seemed possible this fall. Maybe it wouldn't have been a direct split of the duties, but you got the impression that Dunn or Weber would at least be more involved as a second running back than anything the Buckeyes have had the last few years.

If that's still going to happen, then the second back in that scenario would be true freshman Antonio Williams, who enrolled in January.

Williams had a good spring by all accounts, but ready to be a steady backup to the No. 1 guy? Alford wasn't quite there in April.

"I'm not ready to say that right now after 15 practices," Alford said. "I do know that he's gonna get better and continue to improve. I know he will, but I think there's two other guys ahead of him right now, older guys that I'm comfortable putting on that field at any time right now."

If there's one thing we've learned during Meyer's time in Columbus, it's that he's not going to put a player on the field for meaningful snaps if he's not comfortable. So it could be Weber, and only Weber at running back.

That might cause the Buckeyes to do some tweaking of their offensive plan heading into this season.

On Ohio State's current official roster, only Weber, Williams and Samuel are listed as running backs. For what it's worth, Samuel introduced himself as a receiver at Ohio State's camp for special needs people last week.

Samuel, who mostly saw time at running back in 2014, and mostly time at receiver last year has been non-committal about where he'll be in 2016. The plan seemed to be to get him the ball as much as possible, and with Meyer vowing to open things up more and throw the ball you'd have to think that meant Samuel playing more receiver.

He may be forced into running the ball more now. J.T. Barrett might have more carries. Dontre Wilson might be used as a running back. It all depends on Weber, and how ready he is for this role.

The coaching staff wanted to see Weber mature over his redshirt season. The physical gifts appear to be there, he gave a glimpse of that in a strong spring game debut. But him grasping the mental part is what will determine what Ohio State's run game looks like next year. 

One thing is certain, though: An already young Ohio State team just got even younger.

Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, in the midst of a strong season, ran into a problem Monday when he flew his drone into a tree and it got stuck. He is seeking your help to dislodge it.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Trevor Bauer had a tough day Monday and it had nothing to do with his job as a pitcher for the Indians.

Bauer, who likes drones, was flying one in a park in Kansas City on Monday and it got caught in a tree. Here is a sampling of his Tweets as he tried to retrieve it.

Sooooo...suggestions on getting your drone out of a tree? It's stuck in the branches about 60 feet up at the top of a large tree

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

As you can imagine, the suggestions came hot and heavy.

Appreciate all the suggestions. The tree is in a public park though so fire and chainsaws aren't going to cut it. Pun intended

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

Bauer, who not only flies drones, but builds them, could have used his back up drone on a rescue mission, but that plan was scuttled as well.

To compound the problem, my backup drone that I brought on the trip is experiencing technical difficulties and is out of commission.

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

But Bauer, who pitched his way out of the bullpen and into the rotation this season, was not easily discouraged.

Attempt one failed. In search of a water balloon launcher now.

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

Bauer then turned to the Yellow Pages, on his Iphone, of course.

Have called about 10 tree services. No one will answer. Still have not been able to retrieve my poor little friend

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

Then he turned to his Twitter followers for a possible solution.

Per a follower's suggestion, I will give free tickets to Tuesday's or Wednesday's game against the royals if you can recover my drone

-- Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) July 18, 2016

Will Bauer be reunited with his drone. Will a good samaratian find a way to rescue his little friend? Stay tuned.

The RubberDucks get only four hits in the loss at Richmond.

RICHMOND, Virginia -- The RubberDucks struggled at the plate Monday, netting only four hits as Akron fell to the Flying Squirrels, 6-2, in a Class AA Eastern League game.

Three of the RubberDucks hits came in the second inning, when Akron took a 2-1 lead. With two outs, Akron put runners on second and third with a single from Joe Sever and a double by Mike Papi. Todd Hankins singled to bring in two runs.

But Richmond immediately answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a two-run double from Darren Ford and an RBI single from Steven Duggar off Akron starter D.J. Brown (5-4, 3.79 ERA) for a 4-2 lead.

Richmond added runs in the third and fifth innings, but the RubberDucks would manage only one more hit for the rest of the game, a single from Sever in the seventh inning.

Brown struggled, giving up six runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. Meanwhile, Richmond starter Andrew Suarez (3-6, 5.14 ERA) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings, striking out 10.

Go here to see a box score from the game.

Bryan Shaw had been perfect for 13 appearances before Monday night when he returned to Kauffman Stadium, which has become his personal house of horrors. Watch video

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The day after manager Terry Francona complimented reliever Bryan Shaw for his stellar pitching, Shaw arrived at Kauffman Stadium. The two do not get along.

Shaw, who started the eighth inning Monday night in place of Corey Kluber, who left with a right calf cramp, allowed three runs as the Royals stormed from behind to beat the Indians, 7-3.

Shaw (1-4) entered the game with a 2-0 lead and streak of 13 scoreless appearances. The last time he allowed a run was on June 14, when Salvador Perez hit a two-run, game-winning homer off him in the eighth inning at Kauffman Stadium.

Alcides Escobar started the eighth with a single off Shaw's glove. Eric Hosmer blooped a single into center. Pinch-hitter Christian Colon, after failing to advance the runners with a bunt, doubled to deep center to tie the score, 2-2, despite getting thrown out when he tried for a triple.

"They're trying to give us an out on the bunt and he (Shaw) falls behind," said Francona. "The kid did a nice job of pulling back and hitting one to the wall and that completely changed the game around."

Shaw retired Perez on a pop up to short, but walked Alex Gordon and Cheslor Cuthbert. Jeff Manship relieved, but offered no relief.

Paul Orlando greeted him with a single to left for a 3-2 lead. Manship walked Whit Merrifield before giving up a grand slam to No. 9 hitter, Jarrod Dyson, to put the game out of reach.

Shaw, who allowed four runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning, did not talk to reporters after the game.

Said Manship, "I let the whole team down. I let Corey down. I let Bryan down by giving up his runs. It stings, for sure. I feel sick to my stomach about how it went."

Luke Hochevar (2-2) pitched the eighth for the victory. Wade Davis recorded for the final out for his 20th save.

Kluber held the Royals scoreless for seven innings. He struck eight, walked three and allowed five hits.

"I felt the calf starting to pull on me when I went out for the eighth on my warm up pitches," said Kluber. "I tried to push through it, but it got to a point where I couldn't push off the rubber."

No early jump

The Royals, in the past, have been especially good at jumping Kluber in the first inning to establish an early lead. That did not happen Monday night.

Kluber, perhaps invigorated by Francisco Lindor's 435-foot homer in the first inning, worked his way through the first two innings with a minimum of trouble. He walked Morales in the first, but that was with two out. Cuthbert singled with one out in the second, but Orlando hit into a double play.

The game turned into a pitcher's duel between Kluber and Edinson Volquez. Kluber outlasted Volquez, but it was not easy.

Volquez turned in his best performance against them of the season. He held them to two runs on four hits in seven innings.

After Lindor hit his 11th homer of the season, a shot into the right field seats, the Indians made it 2-0 in the fourth as Jose Ramirez walked, took third on Lonnie Chisenhall's bloop single and scored on Juan Uribe's grounder to third.

That was the only damage the Indians could do against Volquez.

Kluber, meanwhile, leaned on his defense. Uribe got him out of a bases-loaded jam in the third with a barehand grab and throw against Perez. Cuthbert was cutdown in the fourth when he tried to stretch a double into a triple. Catcher Roberto Perez, playing his first game since April 30 when he suffered a broken right thumb, threw out Dyson to end the seventh. 

What it means

The Indians have lost four straight to the Royals, all of them coming at Kauffman Stadium. They still lead the season series, 6-5.

The Tigers closed to within 5 1/2 games of the Indians with a 1-0 win over the Twins. The Royas moved to within seven games of the Tribe.

The pitches

Kluber threw 95 pitches, 62 or 65 percent for strikes. Volquez threw 112 pitches, 75 or 67 percent for strikes.

Thanks for coming

The Indians and Royals drew 38,042 fans to Kauffman Stadium on Monday night. First pitch was at 8:16 p.m. and the temperature was 90 degrees.

What's next?

Tribe right-hander Danny Salazar (10-3, 2.75) will face KC lefty Brian Flynn (1-0, 2.39) on Tuesday night at 8:15 p.m. SportsTime Ohio, WTAM 1100 and WMMS/FM 100.7 will carry the game.

Salazar has not pitched since July 9. He was named to the AL All-Star team, but did not pitch because of a sore right elbow. He is 2-0 against the Royals this season.

This will be Flynn's first start since Aug. 7, 2014 when he pitched for the Marlins. He's made 13 relief appearances for the Royals this season, including a four-inning appearance against the Indians on May 6 at Progressive Field.

Francisco Lindor was 1-for-4 with a first-inning homer in the Cleveland Indians' 7-3 loss to the Royals on July 18 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor's MLB arrival in June of last season came with considerable hype. He lived up to it -- and then some.

Lindor had an .835 OPS and 4.6 WAR in 99 games. He finished second to Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in AL Rookie of the Year voting.

What will Lindor do next? Here is a week-by-week recap of his 2016 season:

Week 1: 4 G, 17 PA, 5-for-15 (five singles), four runs, two walks, three strikeouts. 10/17 Quality Plate Appearance (subjective).

Summary: Even though he had no extra-base hits, Lindor swung the bat well overall. He took what the pitchers gave him and totaled three hits against two good lefties (David Price, Chris Sale). Issues were with cutter under hands and splitters. Solid defensively.

Week 2: 6 G, 26 PA, 6-for-25 (three singles, two doubles, homer), four RBI, three runs, two steals, seven strikeouts. 9/26 QPA. One error.

Summary: Not one of Lindor's better six-game stretches. Uncomfortable too often against off-speed, particularly changeups. Seven strikeouts/zero walks was noticeable. OK defensively.

Week 3: 6 G, 27 PA, 9-for-22 (eight singles, double), five walks, RBI, five runs, steal, caught stealing. 16/27 QPA.

Summary: Once again, Lindor took what the pitchers gave him and settled for singles en route to a strong six-game block. Finished with one walk in four straight games. Excelled defensively.

Week 4: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-23 (four singles, one double), three walks, three RBI, steal, sacrifice fly. 12/27 QPA. Good defensively.

Summary: Lindor did not swing well. Too eager/anxious numerous times. Missed plenty of pitches to hit.

Week 5: 6 G, 25 PA, 10-for-23 (eight singles, double, homer), walk, hit-by-pitch, three RBI, seven runs, steal. 13/25 QPA.

Summary: Good bounce-back from Week 5. Turned decent pitches into hits. Plus-defense.

Week 6: 6 G, 27 PA, 5-for-26 (five singles), walk, two RBI, three runs, steal. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Rarely seemed comfortable during rough week, the nadir being 0-for-7 in a 16-inning loss at Houston.

Week 7: 7 G, 35 PA, 14-for-32 (10 singles, three doubles, homer), three walks, five RBI, six runs, two steals. 19/35 QPA.

Summary: Outstanding. One of his best weeks offensively as an MLB player.

Week 8: 6 G, 27 PA, 6-for-24 (four singles, double, homer), two walks, three RBI, five runs, two steals. 10/27 QPA.

Summary: Good for most second-year players, so-so for Lindor.

Week 9/Summary: Closed with excellent series against Royals.

Week 10: 7G, 25 PA, 5-for-23 (three singles, double, homer), four RBI, two runs, two walks. 8/25 QPA.

Summary: Subpar. Lindor appeared tired enough that Tribe manager Terry Francona did not start him Saturday at Angels.

Week 11: 6 G, 25 PA, 7-for-20 (six singles, double), two RBI, two runs, five walks, steal. 13-of-25 QPA.

Summary: Good offensively and defensively.

Week 12: 6 G, 8-for-23 (three homers, three singles, double, triple), four RBI, seven runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Highly productive offensively, good defensively.

Week 13: 7 G, 6-for-30 (five singles, double), three runs, walk, steal.

Summary: Mediocre-to-poor. Swing showed signs of fatigue. Struck out seven times.

Week 14: 7 G, 9-for-24 (four singles, five doubles), six RBI, eight runs, five walks.

Summary: Excellent bounce-back from previous week.

Week 15: 3 G, 2-for-12, RBI, two runs, two walks.

Summary: Not much happening.

Week 16 (ongoing):

Season Game No. 92: July 18 @ Kansas City Royals (L, 7-3)

First inning vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (none on, two outs) -- 93 fastball high; 81 changeup foul; 93 fastball, homer to right.

Quality plate appearance (subjective): Yes.

Third inning vs. Volquez (runners on first and second, none out) -- 80 breaking pitch foul; 95 fastball, grounder to short.

Quality plate appearance: No.

Sixth inning vs. Volquez (none on, none out) -- 79 breaking pitch called strike; 92 fastball swinging strike; 80 breaking pitch down and in; 80 breaking pitch, swinging strikeout.

Quality plate appearance: No.

Eighth inning vs. RHP Luke Hochevar (runner on first, one out) -- 95 fastball, GIDP 1-6-3.

Totals: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R, K, GIDP.

Bryan Shaw and Jeff Manship combined to allow seven runs in the eighth inning as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Kansas City Royals, 7-3, Monday night in Kansas City, Mo.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Christian Colon hit a two-run double and Jarrod Dyson a grand slam in a seven-run eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Cleveland Indians, 7-3, Monday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Dyson finished 2-for-3 with the homer, one triple and one walk.

Here is a capsule look at the key aspect(s) of the game, which was televised by Fox Sports Time Ohio:

Nick Camino Scoreboard Watch: Detroit (49-44) has pulled within 5.5 games of the first-place Indians (54-38) in the AL Central. The Tigers defeated the Twins, 1-0, at Comerica Park.

The defending world champion Royals (47-45) are in third place, 7.0 back. They are 30-13 at home. They are hanging around despite having dealt with significant injuries.

Bitter pills: The Indians are 6-5 against the Royals this season, but the breakdown is 6-1 in Cleveland and 0-4 in Kansas City.

The Tribe has given back off of its gains from a four-game sweep in Cleveland, June 2-5. The host Royals swept a three-game series, June 13-15, and won the first of a three-game set this week.

Two of the Indians' 10 most problematic losses this season have occurred at Kauffman Stadium:

*On June 14, they led by one entering the bottom of the eighth inning. Bryan Shaw replaced Josh Tomlin.

Alcides Escobar flied to center. Eric Hosmer reached on an infield single to third -- a generous scoring decision because Jose Ramirez could have made the play. Lorenzo Cain struck out swinging. Salvador Perez hit the first pitch an estimated 425 feet to left-center for a two-run homer to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

The Indians stranded two in the top of the ninth.

*On Monday, they led, 2-0, entering the bottom of the eighth inning. Shaw replaced Corey Kluber.

Escobar led off and fell behind, 0-2. After a ball, Escobar chopped to Shaw's right. Shaw, whose instincts are to try to make a play, stuck out his glove and deflected the ball toward third. Escobar reached on a cheap single.

Fox Sports Time Ohio analyst Rick Manning said of Shaw: "He had an out if he didn't touch it. (Tribe shortstop Francisco) Lindor was in line for it.''

Manning was correct.

Ultra-dangerous lefty Eric Hosmer stepped in. Hosmer muscled an elevated 1-0 cutter into center for a single, Escobar stopping at second.

Royals manager Ned Yost pinch-hit Colon for No. 3 batter Kendrys Morales, creating the impression that Yost wanted the runners bunted over for Perez.

Colon showed bunt but Shaw threw two balls, which enabled Kansas City to get creative. Colon showed bunt again before employing the Steroid-Era Butcher Boy, pulling the bat back for a full swing. Colon shot a fat pitch deep to center for a two-run extra-base hit to tie the score. It could have been worse for Cleveland if center fielder Tyler Naquin and relay man Lindor had not combined to foil Colon's bid for a triple.

Perez popped the first pitch to short, meaning Shaw was one out from at least allowing the Indians to live another inning. Shaw walked lefty Alex Gordon in four pitches.

Shaw got ahead of Cheslor Cuthbert, 1-2. On ball two, Gordon stole second. Cuthbert took a ball, fouled twice and took another ball for the walk.

Walking Gordon in four pitches is one thing. Gordon is batting .204 but is a threat any time he steps in the box. Walking Cuthbert is another. Cuthbert is batting .288 but can't be one of the Royals who factors in a game-winning rally.

Jeff Manship replaced Shaw. Paulo Orlando delivered an RBI single and Whit Merrifield walked in five pitches. As bad as those outcomes were, the Indians still were in the game.

Lefty speedster and No. 9 batter Dyson stepped in. Dyson sent the first pitch into the right-field seats for his seventh homer in 506 major-league games.

The combined line for Shaw and Manship was IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 0 K.

Oh, well: The Indians lost despite:

*Excellent start by Kluber (7 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 8 K).

*Homer by Lindor (solo, first inning, off Edinson Volquez).

*Two outfield assists on outs at third base. In the fourth inning, right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall and second baseman Jason Kipnis helped deny Cuthbert.

*Two barehanded plays by third baseman Juan Uribe in the third inning. The second, which erased Perez, occurred with the bases loaded.

*Catcher Roberto Perez throwing out Dyson attempting to steal second after a two-out walk in the seventh.

Here's a look at St. Vincent-St. Mary and Columbus St. Francis DeSales in cleveland.com's statewide Ohio Super 25 watch list.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland.com’s high school football coverage is expanding in 2016, and a highlight of that expansion will be a weekly statewide Ohio Super 25 ranking.

The preseason Ohio Super 25 countdown will begin Aug. 1, with a new team profiled each day through Aug. 25. To get you ready, we’re presenting 50 contenders for the Super 25 throughout July.

RELATED: Check out all the Ohio Super 25 candidates so far.

Each day through July 29 we will provide a brief look at two of the 50 contenders. Today’s teams: St. Vincent-St. Mary and Columbus DeSales.

ST. VINCENT VINCENT-ST. MARY

2015 record: 11-2 (Division III, Region 7 finalist).

About the Fighting Irish: Marcus Wattley takes over for longtime coach Dan Boarman, who retired in January. The Fighting Irish’s promoted defensive coordinator should have plenty of talent on that side of the ball, including defensive end Justin Sampson and recent West Virginia commit DeAmonte King at cornerback. Miami (Ohio)-bound safety Donte Taylor will be STVM’s quarterback, and Taylor has a pair of targets in King and Malik Wooldridge at receiver.

ST. FRANCIS DESALES

2015 record: 10-2 (Division III, Region 9 semifinalist).

About the Stallions: Defense dominated last year for DeSales, and that appears to be the case again. The Stallions bring back two All-Ohio performers on that side of the ball in senior defensive tackle Derrius Mullins and senior outside linebacker Ryan Corkrean for coach Ryan Wiggins’ crew. Add to that mix senior kicker Dominic DiMaccio, who shared second-team all-state honors with Archbishop Hoban’s Grant Kersh. Mullins has drawn interest from the Big Ten, including Wisconsin, Indiana and Purdue. Junior middle linebacker Ty Van Fossen has five Division I college offers, including Boston College. Last year, DeSales won 10 straight before a 9-3 second-round loss to Zanesville. Wiggins has Northeast Ohio ties, coaching St. Vincent-St. Mary in 2006.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

First-year coach D.J. Durkin worked for Urban Meyer and now will try to lay a trap in College Park.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Here's our schedule breakdown of Ohio State's season, as we assign a percentage chance for each opponent to beat the Buckeyes. We'll continue multiplying those chances until we reach our final number, the chance we think Ohio State has to go 12-0 during the 2016 regular season.

Maryland Terrapins

vs. Ohio State: Saturday, Nov. 12 at Maryland Stadium. Neither the kickoff time nor the TV network has been announced yet.

2015 record: 3-9 (1-7), tied for last in the Big Ten East.

Bowl: Maryland made bowls in 2013 and 2014 but missed the postseason last year.

Returning starters: 12 (seven offense, five defense).

Phil Steele preseason rank: No. 85 in Steele's Power Poll, which ranks 12th among the 14 Big Ten teams.

Week before the OSU game: Maryland sandwiches this home game against the Buckeyes between road trips to Michigan and Nebraska. Ohio State hits the road after consecutive home games against Northwestern and Nebraska.

Chances to beat Ohio State: 7 percent. 

This is way too high based on a talent comparison. But this is about more than talent.

Every team rides a physical and emotional wave during a season, and no team plays the same each week. A schedule is more than just who a team plays, but when a team plays an opponent and how that team is feeling entering that game.

That said, the idea of trap games is overused. It's too easy to run through a schedule, find a mediocre opponent wedged between two tough games and declare that game a trap. We here at cleveland.com try not to buy into the theory.

However ... consider this game for the Buckeyes. 

It lands before the Michigan State and Michigan games to end the season.

It lands after a straight month of night games against Wisconsin, Penn State, Northwestern and Nebraska.

Kickoff hasn't been set, but it'll be either a noon or 3:30 game in a relatively small stadium on the road.

It's a team with a first-year coach in D.J. Durkin, who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Urban Meyer at Bowling Green and then worked under him again at Florida. 

Ohio State has at times started slowly on early road kickoffs. The question is whether Maryland has enough talent, and has adapted to Durkin's style enough by November, to capitalize if that happens.

How they could compete with Ohio State: Quarterback Perry Hills gave the Buckeyes problems last year, when he ran for 170 yards on 25 carries after not playing the previous three weeks.

Hills will continue a quarterback battle with Caleb Rowe, like last year, but if it is Hills the Buckeyes have given up some yards to quarterbacks who can run. The problem is that Maryland couldn't throw last season, leading the nation with 29 interceptions.

The offense will be new though, with Durkin hiring offensive coordinator Walt Bell to run an up-tempo spread attack.

One-time Ohio State commit Taivon Jacobs and his older brother Levern Jacobs give the Terps some talent at receiver, but the offensive line is inexperienced.

Cornerback William Likely will need to make plays on defense and in the return game, where he's one of the best in the country and a first-team All-Big Ten pick. 

Durkin, who came off the Michigan defensive staff, will need to dial up a gameplan more effective than the one that saw the Buckeyes hang 42 on the Wolverines last year.

Ohio State football 2016 schedule

Projection: The seven percent chance is a stretch. Ohio State's average margin of victory in the two years since Maryland joined the Big Ten is 51-26. 

But Durkin is a step up from the fired Randy Edsall and Likely is a stud.

This is all about the Buckeyes, though. This is the game most comparable to the Indiana visit a year ago, when a game-tying touchdown bounced off the hands of a Hoosier receiver on the final play as Ohio State held on 34-27 in Bloomington.

Ohio State's schedule is much more difficult than a year ago, with more than twice as many legitimate weekly tests. This looks like the soft spot.

It probably will be. But that's how traps are laid.

Ohio State football 2016 schedule breakdown

Sept. 3: Can Bowling Green beat Ohio State?

Sept. 10: Can Tulsa beat Ohio State?

Sept. 17: Can Oklahoma beat Ohio State?

Oct. 1: Can Rutgers beat Ohio State?

Oct. 8: Can Indiana beat Ohio State?

Oct. 15: Can Wisconsin beat Ohio State?

Oct. 22: Can Penn State beat Ohio State?

Oct. 29: Can Northwestern beat Ohio State?

Nov. 5: Can Nebraska beat Ohio State?

Indians relievers Bryan Shaw and Jeff Manship turned a 2-0 lead into a 7-3 loss to Kansas City in the eighth inning Monday night. If the Indians want to patch the hole in the pen, they're going to have to do through a trade. Watch video

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Jeff Manship looked shaken. Bryan Shaw looked dismissive as the bumpy season of the Indians' bullpen continued Monday night with a bad loss to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

It is the main reason why Indians are trying hard to add a proven reliever before the Aug. 1 deadline for making trades without waivers. A Yankee scout has been following them on the first two legs of this three-city trip.

Yankee scouts are also reportedly checking out the Indians' minor league system. New York has three back-end relievers in Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman. Any one of them would help the Indians win their first AL Central title in nine years.

It's clear that the current Tribe pen isn't reliable enough to support the best starting rotation in the American League and an unexpectedly spunky offense. But exactly how long that offense will continue to give the Tribe a chance to win every night is questionable. They already own two hitters who were supposed to be among the best on their roster - Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes.

Brantley has played just 11 games this season because of shoulder surgery, and just when he'll return is a mystery. Gomes, who has struggled all season at the plate, will be lost for the next six to eight weeks with a separated right shoulder.

Still, the Tribe's biggest need is a reliever. Chapman, who hit 105.1 mph Monday night against Baltimore, is a free agent at the end of the year. Those close to the Yankees say there's little doubt that they will move him.

How would Chapman look in the Tribe's pen? Would he replace closer Cody Allen, moving Allen to the eighth inning and Shaw to the seventh? Or would Chapman serve as Allen's set-up man? It would seem the Indians couldn't make a bad move in that situation, but remember how disrupting the addition of John Rocker was in 2001?

GM John Hart acquired Rocker from Atlanta for the stretch run and he immediately replaced Bob Wickman in the closer's role. It proved to be a terrible move, not only because of Rocker's grating personality, but also because he could no longer close games. Wickman was eventually put back in the closer's spot, but the Indians were eliminated in the AL Division series.

Chapman is 3-0 with 18 saves. He has 40 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings after serving a 30-game suspension at the start of the year for domestic-abuse charges.

Miller, a left-hander, is in the midst of a four-year $36 million deal that runs through 2018. The Indians have been searching for a productive lefty reliever all season. Miller could end that search and would also give them two-plus years of contract control. That control, however, would probably mean a higher return of talent to the Yankees than if the Indians rented Chapman for the rest of this season.

Betances, 28, won't be eligible for arbitration until 2017 and can't be a free agent until 2020. It seems unlikely the Yankees would trade a future closer who is under control for such a long time.

Regardless of whether the Indians make a deal with the Yankees or not, they have to do something. Chris Antonetti, who is on this trip, has been running the team's baseball operations since 2010 and he's never had an opportunity like this. After Monday's loss, the Indians still had a 51/2-game lead in the AL Central. For a team that is going to be on a restricted payroll as long as Paul Dolan owns it, this is the time to strike because it might not happen again.

Clock ticking, will Tribe make a trade?

Shaw, after being lauded by manager Terry Francona on Sunday, was terrible Monday night against the Royals. He is a hard pitcher to figure out.

In 44 appearances this season, Shaw has allowed 20 earned runs in 39 1/3 innings. Fifteen of those runs have coming in four appearances covering 3 1/3 innings. In the 40 other appearances, Shaw has allowed five earned runs.

Shaw, before pushing the plunger on Monday's game, had made 13 consecutive scoreless appearances. Corey Kluber, who threw seven scoreless innings, came out for the eighth with 95 pitches. He left during his warm ups because of a cramp in his right calf. Shaw relieved and gave Francona a full-body cramp.

Tribe's Shaw silences critics

He faced six batters, and by the time he left the score was tied, 2-2, with runners on first and second. Manship relieved and that was it. Paulo Orlando singled home the go-ahead run. Whit Merrifield walked, and No. 9 hitter Jarrod Dyson hit a grand slam.

"I left the whole team down," said Manship. "I let Corey down. I left Bryan down, giving up his runs. It stinks for sure . . .definitely. I feel sick to my stomach about how that went."

Manship said he had more than enough time to get ready in the bullpen.

"It was an inexcusable outing. It was pathetic, totally, plain and simple," said Manship.

Shaw did not talk to reporters after the game. Then again, his work spoke for itself.

The increase in salary cap led to a wild and busy NBA off-season. Things started quickly on July 1, but the majority of big names have inked deals and most teams have used the bulk of their cap space.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The increase in salary cap led to a wild and busy NBA off-season. Things started quickly on July 1, but the majority of big names have inked deals and most teams have used the bulk of their cap space.

Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City, choosing to join the Warriors and turn them into the most frightening team since LeBron James' Miami Heat squads. Al Horford's run with the Hawks ended, as Atlanta turned to Dwight Howard. Dwyane Wade's frustration with Miami led to his exit, joining the Chicago Bulls.

Those moves shook up in the NBA. But there are numerous others that could have a similar impact.

Labeling Durant as "the best deal of the off-season" is a no-brainer so here are five more:

Zaza Pachulia, Golden State Warriors

The Warriors inked the off-season's biggest prize, Durant. The move, which catapults them into their own stratosphere in the Western Conference, ended up costing them defensive-minded center Andrew Bogut. With little money remaining, Golden State went in search of a cheap center, someone who could provide quality minutes and keep Draymond Green from exhausting himself in a small-ball lineup.

The Warriors found much more than that. They found a starter, a capable Bogut replacement in Pachulia. And the price tag (one-year, $2.7 million) could be the biggest bargain in the league this season.

With the rate for quality centers quadrupling his deal in some cases and Pachulia's discussions with the Wizards approaching a $20 million pact, Golden State is getting away with robbery. It will live with the slight defensive downgrade.

Pachulia is coming off one of his best seasons, starting 69 games and averaging 8.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.3 blocks.

Chandler Parsons, Memphis Grizzlies

Since trading Rudy Gay in 2013, the Grizzlies have been on a round-the-clock quest for his replacement. Veterans Mike Miller and Tayshaun Prince have made pitstops in Memphis.

The Grizzlies have also tried reclamation projects (Jeff Green and Lance Stephenson) to no avail.

The search is over, as they landed Parsons, one of the best wings available this off-season. It was costly. Parsons received a four-year, $94 million deal. But it was also necessary to take some pressure off aging big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol and provide spacing for Memphis' 24th ranked offense.

Parsons' health concerns make this signing a bit of a risk. After all, he's had surgery on his right knee twice in the past 14 months. The last few years of the contract could become a headache. But if he stays on the court, Parsons who averages 14.3 points and 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc in his career, could push the Grizzlies back to the top half of the West. 

It appeared the Memphis contention window was starting to close after finishing seventh last season. Signing Parsons helps restore hope.

Jared Dudley, Phoenix Suns

On a roster loaded with younger players who know nothing but losing streaks and lottery trips, the Suns needed to acquire another veteran presence.

But Dudley isn't just a mentor, someone whose voice -- alongside sage champion Tyson Chandler -- will strengthen the Suns' locker room. Dudley can play and will add a much-needed perimeter threat on the wing.

One of the better "3-and-D" players available, Dudley showed his value during his lone season with the Wizards. He made 42 percent from 3-point range, the eighth best mark in the league. He also made 41 starts, showing the versatility to play power forward or even center in small-ball lineups.

Dudley will likely replace P.J. Tucker who shot 33 percent from long range while taking fewer attempts than Dudley a season ago.

With Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe and exciting youngster Devin Booker handling the majority of ball handling duties, Dudley can spot up around the arc like he did in Washington and help space the court while capitalizing on open looks off dribble penetration. The three-year deal worth $30 million is a bargain. 

Pau Gasol, San Antonio Spurs

The loss of future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan stings. But agreeing to a two-year, $30 million deal with Gasol could ease the pain.

The Spaniard appeared rejuvenated in Chicago the past two seasons, leading the league in double-doubles during the 2014-15 campaign and finishing seventh in the category last year. Following back-to-back All-Star appearances, Gasol turned down offers from Toronto and Portland to join compete for a title with the Spurs, where he will likely start alongside last summer's pickup, LaMarcus Aldridge.

Gasol's size, floor spacing, post-up prowess and championship experience will aid the Spurs as they attempt to keep up with the Warriors and others in the incredibly tough Western Conference.

Duncan is gone. The Spurs couldn't sway Durant. But Gasol is a heck of a Plan B.

DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors

After a record-setting season and trip to the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors' top priority was simple: keep DeMar DeRozan and capitalize on this current window while the top half of the East is wide open behind the Cavaliers.

They did and it was costly, as DeRozan will receive a five-year deal worth around the max. But 26-year-old shooting guards coming off career-highs in points (23.5), rebounds (4.5) and assists (4.0) aren't easy to find. Then toss in the fact that DeRozan is a two-time All-Star, was drafted by the Raptors in 2009 and is an Olympian and it's easy to see why Toronto would be willing to offer that kind of deal even though DeRozan has his shortcomings as an outside shooter. 

While some teams may end up regretting the length of contracts, seeing a decline in productivity in the latter stages, that shouldn't be the case with DeRozan. He's 26, entering his prime years and will be 31 at the culmination of the massive deal. 

Toronto, a place that isn't a prime destination for free agents, has been waiting for this type of player. 

Losing DeRozan, failing to build on the best run in franchise history, wasn't an option. Re-signing him puts the Raptors back in the conversation as the East's second-best team. It beats the alternative -- watching him walk and fading from contention.