The Cleveland Indians, one night after clinching the AL Central, were drilled by the Tigers, 12-0, Tuesday in Detroit.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-3 with one double, one homer and five RBI and right-hander Justin Verlander allowed four hits and struck out 12 in 7 2/3 innings as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 12-0, Tuesday night at Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. Justin Upton also homered for the Tigers.

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

Good for them: The Tigers (84-73) are in the thick of the AL wild-card race. They desperately needed the victory.

The Tigers improved to 3-14 against the Tribe.

Not bad for them: The Indians (91-66) had clinched the AL Central in the series opener Monday night. As a result, Verlander faced a severely watered-down lineup. The only Tribe regular was designated hitter Carlos Santana.

Yikes: Tribe right-hander Mike Clevinger allowed five runs on seven hits in two innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Clevinger took several steps back after having made three consecutive solid-to-good "starts'' (combined 13 IP, 4 ER).

Detroit led, 2-0, 10 pitches into the bottom of the first inning. Ian Kinsler walked and advanced to third on Cameron Maybin's double to center. Cabrera crushed a 2-0 slider to right-center for a two-run double.

With runners on first and second and two outs in the second inning, Cabrera pounced on a 1-0 changeup over the plate and blasted it deep to center for his 35th homer and 100th, 101st and 102nd RBI.

In the first 15 games of the season series, Cabrera managed a total of three RBI. In the past two, he has seven.

Clevinger did give up a couple of bloops, but he was fortunate to escape with no more than five runs allowed. The Indians threw out Cabrera at the plate in the first inning and Victor Martinez at second base in the second.

The Tigers turned it into a laugher with three in the seventh (Upton three-run homer off Adam Plutko) and three in the eighth (off Austin Adams).

Dominant, as expected: Verlander (16-8, 3.10 ERA) allowed three singles to No. 9 batter Erik Gonzalez and one single to Brandon Guyer. He walked Tyler Naquin. He threw 76 of 110 pitches for strikes.

Rated the No. 28 defensive tackle in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Wade-Perry was last in Columbus for Ohio State's spring game in April.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State already has two defensive tackles committed in its 2017 recruiting class in four-stars Jerron Cage of Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Woods and Haskell Garett of Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman. 

The Buckeyes want to add one defensive tackle to the class. 

That player could be three-star prospect Dalyn Wade-Perry of Englewood (N.J.) Pope John XXIII, who announced a top six on Tuesday that included Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Stanford, Florida State and UCLA.

Rated the No. 28 defensive tackle in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Wade-Perry was last in Columbus for Ohio State's spring game in April.

The 6-foot-3, 341-pound prospect hasn't yet scheduled an Ohio State official visit date. 

"I've set up one official visit so far to Florida State for Thanksgiving weekend," Wade-Perry told NJ.com on Tuesday. "I'm speaking to a few other schools right now to set up other official visits. I'm talking with Penn State, Rutgers, UCLA, Ohio State and Stanford."

Wade-Perry was once considered a heavy Notre Dame favorite, but the Irish no longer have a need for interior defensive linemen. Now Stanford has to be considered the front-runner. 

Ohio State is also recruiting five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson of Bellaire (TexaS) Episcopal, who is rated the No. 1 defensive tackle in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings. 

NEW TOP 6 ALERT [?] pic.twitter.com/tDwtopm0z3

-- DWP[?] (@DalynWP) September 27, 2016

Check out our Ohio State coverage from Monday: 

* Danny Clark, recruiting realities and when an Ohio State tattoo isn't enough: Doug Lesmerises

* Danny Clark, '17 QB pledged to Ohio State football since his freshman year, decommits from Buckeyes

* Re-ranking the top 50 Ohio State football players for 2016: Nos. 50-31 (Version 2.0)

* Would Ohio State players protest during the National Anthem and what would Urban Meyer think?

* College Football Playoff mock committee: Is Wisconsin for real? We'll find out Saturday

* Ohio State is a 38.5-point favorite over Rutgers and other Big Ten spreads 

Indians reliever Andrew Miller breaks down how he's able to toss one of baseball's best pitches. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Andrew Miller's slider is perhaps baseball's best pitch.

It allows him to begin the trek from the mound to the Indians dugout with a smile on his face, while leaving even the game's most lethal hitters with their bats behind their backs and their knees upon the clay.

It's also helped him to a 3-0 record with 37 strikeouts in 24.1 innings since coming to Cleveland at the trade deadline.

So how did Miller come to toss the nearly unhittable offering? It started when he was about 14 years old.

"(The slider) was just something as a kid I started picking up on, (something) I've kind of fine-tuned," Miller said. "I don't remember anybody showing me some secret grip or any special trick. It's just something I've kind of fine tuned over the years."

RELATED: When Andrew Miller pitches, the batters fall down

When he picks up the ball and prepares to throw the pitch, he places the pads of his index and middle fingers and his thumb gently on the red laces. The two fingers wrap around the front of the ball, intersecting what's known as the "sweet spot." The thumb serves as a placeholder beneath.

As he cocks his arm back and whips it forth, he flicks his wrist toward the ground.

Unlike a typical curveball, the flick isn't what makes the pitch.

"I do turn over my wrist a little bit, but I'm not exactly snapping the ball like I think a lot of people are maybe taught," Miller said. "I think it's more hand position than release."

As the ball enters the air, it does so spinning from side-to-side, rather than from front-to-back. That allows it to gain the steam it needs to slide violently across the plate and into the catcher's glove.

Miller's hope is that the hitter can't detect the spin until he's started his swing.

"Hopefully, it looks like a fastball and they decide to swing at it and by the time their brain has told them it's not a fastball, it's too late," Miller said. "That's the goal every time."

RELATED: Inside Miller's ridiculous repertoire

Surely, Miller's physical tools have played a part in the success of the slider.
A 6-foot-7 left-hander, Miller is a baseball anomaly. His high arm angle makes it that much more difficult for hitters to detect which of his two pitches -- the slider and an upper-90s fastball -- he's throwing.

He believes, however, that things wouldn't be much different if he threw with his opposite hand.

"I think if I was right-handed I would be a mirror image," Miller said. "Being left-handed has its advantages and when it comes to pitching, it's a little less common for hitters to see. I am what I am. I try to make the most out of it."

RELATED: Miller's role with the Indians 

Though Miller has made a majority of the hitters he's faced look foolish with his slider, he thinks he can work to make it even more difficult to barrel up.

"I think it's something that I've certainly improved upon the last few years," Miller said. "Hopefully (it's something I) continue to get better at."

Cleveland Indians keep marching along by clinching the AL Central Division title against the Detroit Tigers despite numerous injuries.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The big question in Cleveland these days, besides who is going to quarterback the Browns each week, is how far will the Indians go in the playoffs. Up until a few weeks ago, the Tribe was reasonably healthy and rolling along well over .500 with with a real shot at going deep into the playoffs.

But after injuries to starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, the playoff picture didn't seem so rosy. To top it all off, ace Corey Kluber had to leave Monday's game against the Detroit Tigers after four innings with a tight groin.

Despite all these setbacks, the Indians managed to clinch the division on Monday. So, who's to doubt how far this Terry Francona led MASH unit will go in the playoffs?

Crowquill, by Plain Dealer artist Ted Crow, appears three times a week on cleveland.com.

In this week's podcast Doug, Ari and Bill give their top 10 players on Ohio State's roster.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Who are the best players on Ohio State's roster right now?

The Buckeyes are 40-point favorites against Rutgers this week. So we're talking about something else on the newest edition of our Buckeye Talk Podcast.

You might remember in the preseason that we ranked the top 50 players on Ohio State's roster for this season. We thought it would be a fun exercise given all the unknown talent on the team. And we knew we'd re-rank the roster at least a couple times throughout the season.

Our podcast this week centers on Doug Lesmerises, Ari Wasserman and Bill Landis giving their personal top 10 lists right now with everything we've learned through three games. Listen below to hear our top 10s and look throughout this week for our 1-through-50 re-ranking.

For reference, here's where we had guys ranked in the preseason:

* Nos. 50-31

* Nos. 30-11

* Nos. 10-1

Please subscribe to and rate Buckeye Talk: Ohio State podcast by cleveland.com on iTunes. Leave comments there and here about how we can make this podcast better for Ohio State fans.

-- Subscribe to the Buckeye Talk podcast channel on iTunes

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According to head coach Tyronn Lue, it will take a team effort, at least initially, to fill the void.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- After losing Matthew Dellavedova to Milwaukee this off-season and Mo Williams' sudden retirement Monday, the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the first day of training camp short on point guards.

According to head coach Tyronn Lue, it will take a team effort to fill the void. It will also take some experimentation. 

"We have to do it by committee," Lue said Tuesday afternoon, following the team's first practice. "I thought (DeAndre) Liggins looked really good today. Did a great job. Kay (Felder). I think we can play Jordan (McRae) a little backup point, we've got Shump (Iman Shumpert) who can play a little backup point and having LeBron on the floor with him will help him out. We just have to do it by committee until we figure it out."

Lue didn't want to use the phrase "backup" when asked about the Cavs' most unsteady spot. But finding someone to take minutes from Kyrie Irving will be important and Felder is excited for that chance.

"Oh, man. It's a great opportunity," Felder said following his first NBA practice Tuesday. "I get to learn from Kyrie. I'll maybe be a little bit more in touch with him, because you know it would have been me and Mo right there. But now it's just me. Just to learn from Kyrie, learn what he's been through in his career, it will be fun."

Even though the Cavs like Felder and are excited about his potential, having a rookie play a significant role on a championship team is a lot to ask. And for Felder, a second-round pick, it's big leap from his college days where he starred at Oakland University, becoming one of the most decorated players in the history of the program.

"Today was different," Felder admitted. "Definitely different than an Oakland practice. It was more fundamentals, drills, more learning. Things like that. But all in all, it was fun. I had fun."

While Lue pointed to Liggins as an option, the former Kentucky Wildcat who has arrived at training camp with a partially guaranteed contract is known more for his defensive reputation. McRae was asked to work more on his off-the-ball skills this summer so he can add a scoring punch off the bench. Putting even more responsibility on James' shoulders isn't ideal either. Shumpert played lead guard in college at Georgia Tech, but is coming off a dreadful season. He's also penciled in as the team's starting shooting guard because of J.R. Smith's absence.

That gives Felder the first shot, a chance to make a positive impression and prove that he deserves early-season minutes. 

"First it starts in practice," Felder said. "I have to show the coaches to put that trust in me to put me out on the floor. That's first and foremost. That's what I'm worried about."

Felder, diminutive at 5-foot-9, doesn't stand out in a crowd, especially on a star-studded roster. So what's his plan to get noticed? 

"Man, just by coming in everyday and being who I am," Felder said. "I'm an aggressive player. I like to be competitive. I'm not backing down from no challenges from nobody. I don't care. That's how I was raised. That's just me."

And it's that attitude that compelled the Cavs to acquire Atlanta's second rounder in the 2016 NBA Draft. It's that determination that has General Manager David Griffin and Lue feeling "comfortable" at the point guard position -- at least initially.

A ranking of the top ten Ohio high school conferences following Week 5 of the 2016 season.

The eight bands that advanced to the second round in cleveland.com's contest to find the best high school marching band in Greater Cleveland will be announced Wednesday on Facebook.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Tune in for a Facebook Live video Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. to find out which eight high school marching bands have advanced to the second round in cleveland.com's contest to find the best band in Greater Cleveland.

Voting in the poll, in which 32 bands are competing for eight spots in the quarterfinals, ended Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.

"Best of" reporters Brenda Cain and Hannah Drown will be on cleveland.com's Facebook page at 10 a.m. for a live video revealing the eight bands that advanced. Voting in the next round will start Thursday morning.

The voting results were hidden for the last 24 hours to build suspense.

The remainder of the contest will go as follows (votes do not carry over from previous rounds):

Sept. 29-Oct. 5: Voting in the quarterfinals round.

Oct. 6-12: Voting in the semifinals round. Cleveland.com will be at each band's performance at that week's football game for videos, photos and feature content for the website.

Oct. 13-20: Voting in the final round to determine the winner of Greater Cleveland's Best High School Marching Band contest. Cleveland.com will again feature the two finalists during football games this week.

Cleveland.com's "Best of" team will visit the winning band during its game Oct. 20-22 and present the band with an award. Check back on cleveland.com/best throughout the contest for ongoing coverage.

Re-ranking the top 50 players on Ohio State's roster as the Buckeyes enter Big Ten play.

DMan's No. 1 game from the Cleveland Indians' run to a division title unfolded in Toronto and lasted 6 hours, 13 minutes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I have watched every inning of every Cleveland Indians game for the past three seasons. This season has provided ample opportunity to chronicle good performances by the Tribe.

The Indians finished above .500 in 2014 (85-77) and in 2015 (81-80) but did not make the playoffs. This season, though, they won the AL Central Division; their record was 91-64 at the time of the clinch Monday night in Detroit.

Below are my favorite games that helped secure the division title, the franchise's first since 2007. (The regular season concludes Sunday in Kansas City, Mo.) Click on link for respective game reports:

1. Trevor Bauer worked five scoreless innings in relief and earned the victory -- the Tribe's 14th straight.

Game 79, July 1 @ Toronto (W, 2-1/19 INN)

2. Ridiculous walkoff, even for the Tribe.

Game 120, Aug. 19 vs. Toronto (W, 3-2)

3. An on-the-fly masterpiece overseen by the bullpen maestro, manager Terry Francona.

Game 148, Sept. 17 vs. Detroit (W, 1-0/10 INN)

4. Roberto Perez and Coco Crisp powered Tribe to division clincher -- and 14th victory in first 16 meetings with Tigers.

Game 156, Sept. 26 @ Detroit (W, 7-4)

5. Fernando Rodney melted, Tribe walked him off.

Game 135, Sept. 4 vs. Miami (W, 6-5)

6. Well-earned walkoff against an American League power; snapped three-game skid.

Game 51, June 1 vs. Texas (W, 5-4/11 INN)

7. Travel-weary Tribe scratched out victory behind the Carloses, Carrasco and Santana.

Game 123, Aug. 22 @ Oakland (W, 1-0)

8. Carrasco struck out 14 in 7 1/3 as Tribe won 13th straight.

Game 78, June 30 @ Toronto (W, 4-1)

9. Tribe bats rocked Justin Verlander in support of Josh Tomlin.

Game 74, June 26 @ Detroit (W, 9-3)

10. White Sox ace Chris Sale, who had been 9-0, chased after 3 1/3 innings.

Game 44, May 24 @ White Sox (W, 6-2)

11. Tribe capped four-game sweep of defending world champion Royals, who entered series having won six straight games.

Game 55, June 5 vs. Kansas City (W, 7-0)

12. One remarkably good swing after another against one of MLB's best, Jose Fernandez.

Game 134, Sept. 3 vs. Miami (W, 8-3)

13. Tyler Naquin went wild in difficult place for Tribe to win.

Game 94, July 20 @ Kansas City (W, 11-4)

14. Rajai Davis, Francisco Lindor fueled stirring comeback.

Game 37, May 18 @ Cincinnati (W, 8-7/12 INN)

15. Superb plate appearances in ninth inning produced walkoff against a National League first-place club.

Game 98, July 26 vs. Washington (W, 7-6)

16. Michael Brantley, Chris Gimenez among standouts as Tribe swept Tigers for second time in 14 days.

Game 25, May 5 vs. Detroit (W, 9-4)

17. Quality pitching, Jason Kipnis' walkoff single provided foundation for eventual three-game sweep against a club that had given Tribe fits.

Game 130, Aug. 29 vs. Minnesota (W, 1-0/10 INN)

18. Tribe hit, ran at will in rout.

Game 113, Aug. 12 vs. L.A. Angels (W, 13-3)

19. Santana walkoff homer came in opener of eventual three-game sweep.

Game 66, June 17 vs. White Sox (W, 3-2)

20. Indians notched four triples, and Davis made terrific defensive play to end game.

Game 72, June 24 @ Detroit (W, 7-5)

Note: Final score changed from 7-4 to 7-5 after last play was determined to be a sacrifice fly, then third out of inning.

Check out staff predictions for five of the biggest high school football games for Week 6 of the 2016 football season.

We're back every Wednesday searching for the Browns long-term franchise quarterback of the future, wherever he may be. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One snap (delay of game) into his NFL career Cody Kessler didn't look like the future.

Three snaps in (fumbled exchange) he didn't look like it. Four snaps in (sack and fumble), nope.

By the end of the Browns 30-24 overtime loss at Miami on Sunday, Kessler made some form of a case for himself. 

Left tackle Joe Thomas called him "amazingly unflappable." His receivers said he played like a veteran. Among cleveland.com readers, 69 percent viewed his play as satisfactory, compared to just 5 percent who deemed it unsatisfactory.

Is it possible that the Browns quarterback of the future is already on the roster?

After a 21-for-33 debut that included 244 passing yards and no interceptions (or touchdowns), the answer is much closer to maybe than after the first two weeks, when Kessler was just a third-round reach and third-string rookie.

So in week three of our Browns Future QB Tracker, his chance at being the long-term guy down the road is moving up. Each week, the goal here is to list candidates not just to be the Browns quarterback this year or in 2017. The search is for the long-term franchise quarterback that could settle this position for at least half a decade or so.

Last week, we had Kessler at 5 percent in the tracker, listed as the sixth option behind five college quarterbacks. 

His percent chance is up based on his play and one other thing. That other thing is the reason the college quarterbacks expected to be in the 2017 NFL Draft are all moving down a bit this week.

That reason is Myles Garrett.

It's possible that the Texas A&M defensive end is so good, even a QB-hungry team like the Browns would have no choice but to grab him with the overall No. 1 pick. 

Myles Garrett is the best player in college football. And it's not really close.

-- Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) September 27, 2016

As one of four winless teams, with Chicago, New Orleans and Jacksonville, we're still tracking the Browns to that top selection. On the other hand, Philadelphia is 3-0, so that first-rounder acquired from the Eagles may easily be in the 20s or later, when a reasonable assumption before the season was that the pick acquired in the Carson Wentz deal could easily be in the top 10. So no double-dip of Garrett and a top QB in the top five.

SI.com dropped a mock draft Tuesday. It gave Garrett to the Browns at No. 1.

Not unreasonable. That's a good thing for Kessler. 

Onto the tracker, week three.

The Browns future quarterback tracker after week three of the NFL season.Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com 

* Cody Kessler, Browns, 17 percent: Maybe this is nuts. Maybe this is too high. But the guy is here, and Hue Jackson likes him.

His arm strength and mobility aren't great. The Browns game plan Sunday, when it looked for any spark, put Kessler on the sideline and receiver Terrelle Pryor at quarterback. But the most likely scenario for Kessler emerging as the guy isn't all about him, it's about talent sprouting around him.

If the run game is real with Isaiah Crowell, the league's second-leading rusher, and Duke Johnson, and if there are multiple targets in Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, Josh Gordon and Gary Barnidge, maybe the Browns will find that an efficient QB who doesn't make too many mistakes is a realistic way to win.

That's not exactly a ringing endorsement. But it's not impossible. Last week: 5 percent

* DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame, 16 percent: After a dazzling start against Texas in the opener, Kizer has thrown for more than 700 yards combined the last two weeks. But both games were losses, to Michigan State and Duke, and Kizer completed fewer than 57 percent of his passes.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly, who should be under the microscope himself, called Kizer's play "below standard' and "not acceptable."

What's that mean? Kizer remains an elite QB prospect. But some of the shine is off from week one, at least from a performance standpoint, though not really from a prospect standpoint. If we're assuming the Browns don't go QB with that top pick, then another team will grab Kizer as one of the top two QBs available.

That is unless Kelly, in anger and desperation, makes a quarterback change and throws a wrench into Kizer's stock. That could actually increase the Browns' chances of getting him later in round one. Last week: 22 percent

* Deshaun Watson, Clemson, 15 percent: Watson's chances have been cut in half from the first tracker because he's back on track. After a slow start for the Tigers offense, Watson was 32 for 48 for 304 yards in a win over Georgia Tech. 

Maybe you still like Kizer better, and other mock drafts still like Kizer to the Browns. But Watson is 1A if he's not No. 1. And for this week, we're less certain the Browns will wind up either either of the top two guys for 2017. Last week: 26 percent

* Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 14 percent: If the Browns don't go top 10 QB in 2017, we're hitting the 2018 guys a little harder. Jackson and No. 3 Louisville have a huge showdown with Watson and No. 5 Clemson at 8 p.m. Saturday. Watch and wonder.

We think Josh Rosen still projects as a higher 2018 pick, but we're giving Jackson slightly better odds under the idea that the improved 2017 Browns won't have a shot at the top QB in 2018. But he could be a very good one. Last week: 13 percent

* Josh Rosen, UCLA, 12 percent: But, then again, maybe they will get that No. 1 pick in two years. Rosen was encouraged last week despite a loss to Stanford that dropped the Bruins to 2-2. He was 18 for 27 for 248 yards and, according to the Los Angeles Times, said, "Overall, I think I played pretty well." 

He has five touchdowns and four interceptions this season, while Jackson has 13 passing TDs and just three interceptions (as well as 12 rushing scores.) So Rosen needs to continue to catch up when it comes to production. Last week: 9 percent

* Chad Kelly, Ole Miss, 10 percent: Time to take a harder look at quarterbacks who could be there for the Browns second first-round pick in 2017 if it falls in the 20s. Kelly has made some major mistakes early, but CBSSports.com (at No. 21) likes him as the third quaterback off the board in 2017. He led a 45-14 win over Georgia last week and after throwing three picks in the opener hasn't thrown one in his last three games. Last week: 3 percent

* Brad Kaaya, Miami, 9 percent: Meanwhile, SI.com likes Kaaya as the third draftable QB for 2017, making him the No. 26 pick in its draft. He was awful against Florida Atlantic in week two (17 for 31, no TDs, 2 INTs) but after a bye week, he could get rolling in ACC play. Last week: 8 percent

* Sam Bradford, Minnesota Vikings, 5 percent: The Vikings are 3-0 and Bradford, if not world-beating, looks legit. When Teddy Bridgewater comes back next season, Minnesota could have two starting quarterbacks. The Browns could have none. Last week: 3 percent

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 171 yards and a touchdown last week in a win at Carolina.Mike McCarn, AP 

* Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, 1 percent: Who's up for another hometown guy? The Mentor grad lit up Pitt last week, topping 400 yards for the second straight game. The Tar Heels are 3-1 and the 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior in his first year as a starter has thrown 10 touchdown passes without an interception. Last week: 0 percent

Trubisky takes control

* Terrelle Pryor, Browns, 1 percent: Like we said at the start, what if the Browns have their future QB on the roster already?

But what if he's playing receiver? Last week: 0 percent

* Dropped out: Kessler took up a lot more of the possibilities this week, so the following QBs dropped off the tracker, including the guy who started the season. They are listed with their percentages last week:

Jimmy Garoppolo, New England Patriots, 3 percent; Robert Griffin III, Browns, 3 percent; Seth Russell, Baylor, 2 percent; Davis Webb, Cal, 1 percent; Luke Falk, Washington State, 1 percent; Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers, 1 percent.

Previous Browns Future QB reader voting

Week 1: Deshaun Watson 40%; DeShone Kizer 37%; J.T. Barrett 6%

Week 2: DeShone Kizer 35%; Deshaun Watson 25%; Cody Kessler 13%

Previous Browns Future QB Trackers

Week 1: Deshaun Watson leads way

Week 2: Lamar Jackson enters picture

Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians, 6-3, Wednesday night in Detroit. The game was called after five innings because of rain.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians, 6-3, Wednesday night at water-logged Comerica Park in Detroit, Mich. The game was called after five innings.

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

Sense of urgency: The Tigers (85-73) have rebounded from losing the series opener Monday to win the next two games. The series wraps Thursday afternoon.

The Tigers desperately need victories because they are in the thick of the wild-card race. Their competition for the second wild card, Baltimore and Seattle, no doubt was less than thrilled that the Cleveland-Detroit game Wednesday lasted just five innings. Earlier in the season, it probably would not even have begun.  

Different priority: The Indians (91-67) needed to avoid injury in the wet conditions*. They did so.

*Of course the Indians wanted to win; the American League's best record remains available among division champions Boston, Texas and Cleveland. However, given that Nos. 1-3 in the Indians' rotation are injured, they can't expect to prevail against a good club when a "bullpen night'' such as Wednesday's includes the pitchers it did.

Good start: The first Tribe pitcher, righty Zach McAllister, allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one in two shutout innings. He exited with a 1-0 lead.

Missed opportunity: The Indians loaded the bases with none out in the third inning against Detroit righty Michael Fulmer and failed to score. Jose Ramirez popped a first-pitch fastball to third, Lonnie Chisenhall fouled to second and Coco Crisp grounded to second.

In a blink: The Tigers scored three in a span of seven pitches against Cody Anderson to open their half of the third  James McCann and Jose Iglesias doubled to left, the latter tying the score, 1-1. Ian Kinsler attacked a first-pitch fastball and sent it over the left-field wall to make it 3-1.

Another three-spot: The Indians scored twice in the fourth, but the Tigers regained the lead for good with three runs in the fifth against Joe Colon.

Iglesias led off with a single to right. Chisenhall appeared to lose the ball in the lights. Kinsler grounded to short for what should have been a 6-4-3 double play, but second baseman Jason Kipnis' relay bounced and first baseman Carlos Santana was unable to pick it.

Cameron Maybin singled to left, Kinsler stopping at second. Colon tried to get inside with an 0-0 fastball to Cabrera, but the pitch stayed over the plate and Cabrera lined it into the right-field seats.

Two batters later, J.D. Martinez doubled. Colon stranded him by getting Justin Upton to pop to short. Then the persistent rains made conditions unplayable.

As it turned out, Cabrera's homer amounted to a walkoff.

In the first 15 games of the season series, Cabrera had three RBI (Tigers 2-13). In the past three, he has 10 (Tigers 2-1).

Still struggling: Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor went 0-for-2 with one walk.

According to my logs, Lindor is in an 0-for-27 slide. (Tribe game notes stated it was 0-for-27 entering Wednesday.) His most recent hit was a first-inning single on Sept. 16 against the Tigers in Cleveland.

Memo to Lindor: Stop being so giggly and chummy with Cabrera. It is not a good look, especially when you are in a protracted slump and he is hitting homers to beat your team. 

Lindor, since making his MLB debut last summer in Detroit, has gone out of his way to "have fun'' with Cabrera seemingly whenever the two are within shouting distance. Lindor is charismatic and full of joy while playing the game, which is great, and he is far from the only opposing player who insists on interacting with Cabrera. But Lindor has taken it to another level.

Here's the problem: Lindor, off to a tremendous start in his MLB career, still is just two years in. He has miles to go before he attains the status of Cabrera, who happens to be the best hitter of his generation. Besides, Cabrera wants other players to talk to, and clown with, him. That's how he gets in their heads and eventually owns them.

On Wednesday, Cabrera was thrown out by center fielder Tyler Naquin attempting to stretch a single into a double in the first inning. Lindor applied the tag, then extended his arm to help up Cabrera. No need for that.

When the Indians were batting in the second inning, a Fox Sports Time Ohio camera caught Cabrera sternly looking into the Tribe dugout and mumbling. Lindor was shown gesturing and talking, presumably about Cabrera. No need for that, either.

Memo to all Indians: Leave. Cabrera. Alone. Let him laugh and chat with his best friend -- himself.

If the Indians and Tigers are rained out Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park, the Indians would have to return to Detroit on Monday to make up the game if the Tigers still have a chance to win a wild card spot.

DETROIT - The Indians celebrated their AL Central championship Monday night after beating the Tigers at Comerica Park. Since then all they've done is worry.

Putting together a starting rotation for the postseason has been their main concern. They have two healthy starters in Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin. Manager Terry Francona seems confident Corey Kluber will be able to join them, but right now he's recovering from a strained right quadriceps muscle.

But a new problem has surfaced.

An all-day rain is scheduled for the Detroit area Thursday, which could postpone the Tribe's series finale against the Tigers. They are scheduled to play at 1:10 p.m.

"I know they're going to try and get Thursday's game in," said manager Terry Francona. "If we don't play, we have to come back here Monday, if need be. So I'm sure they're going to try and play it. I know the forecast isn't very good."

The Tribe lost, 6-3, Wednesday night in a game called after five innings because of rain.

While the Indians have clinched the Central, the Tigers are a game behind Baltimore for the second wild card spot. The Indians, meanwhile, are still in the running for home field advantage. Those are the reasons the game would have to be played Monday.

If the Indians had to return to Detroit on Monday, it would make for an interesting scenario. The two AL wild card teams are scheduled to play Tuesday in their one game, winner-take-all showdown for the right to play the top seed in the ALDS.

Should the Tigers still be in the running, they would need to beat the Indians to either win a wild card or force a tie. If they tied Baltimore, the Orioles would have home field advantage for any tiebreaker game.

If a return trip to Detroit is necessary, the Indians wouldn't have far to travel. They're in Kansas City this weekend for what they thought were the last three games of the regular season.

Still, it would be a headache. Instead of preparing for Game 1 of the American League Division Series while resting at home, they'd be emptying their bullpen one more time at Comerica Field just to finish the season.

Beneath the surface of Lake Erie, and often not far from Cleveland ports, sit any number of fascinating old shipwrecks, victims of Erie's wrath. All one needs to interact with them are the right training, equipment, and interest. Watch video

Zachary Lewis

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cleveland's museums don't house all the city's treasures. Plenty of other great artifacts lie in Lake Erie, just waiting to be beheld.

Beneath the surface, in some cases just so, and often not far from Cleveland ports, sit any number of fascinating old shipwrecks, victims of Erie's violent and unpredictable temperament. All one needs to interact with them are the right training, equipment, and interest.

Neither is Lake Erie the only such sanctuary. All the Great Lakes, including those adjacent to Erie, are home to underwater ruins, many of them well over a century old, making of Northern Ohio and the Upper Midwest a kind of playground for the amateur wreck diver.

Intrigued by this portal to history, I've spent the last few years obtaining the proper certification and gear to scuba dive in the Great Lakes. Now that effort is paying off. In the last two months, I've visited four separate wrecks and come away from each with what I hope are fascinating images and memories.

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The Sultan, Lake Erie

Around this time of year in 1864, while the Civil War was still raging, a novice captain on Lake Erie ignored warnings and made the foolhardy choice to press onward out of Cleveland in a storm.

He ended up paying the ultimate price. Six lives, including his own, were lost that September day, when his ship laden with huge grindstones listed and sank in tumultuous waters roughly a mile off shore, well within sight of what is today Burke Lakefront Airport.

The Sultan was my intro to wreck diving. Resting in just 35 feet of water a quick boat-ride out of the Flats, it's relatively shallow and easy to visit and navigate. All one needs to dive it are basic open-water certification and conditions clear enough to make its features visible. A small buoy marks its location on the surface, and to find it, a diver simply follows a line down to a nearby anchor.

I've had the good fortune to encounter the Sultan three times on decent days. Along with a good friend from school and several new diving buddies, I've spent a solid two hours or more exploring her anchors, windlass, and 125-foot wooden hull, and marveling at the pile of enormous grindstones gathered on one side of her deck. Looking at that, it's no wonder she sank.

The Dundee, Lake Erie

Only one life was lost on this large wreck from 1900, some 12 miles northwest of Cleveland. When the storm that would sink it struck, crew members lashed themselves to the mast, and were eventually saved.

This one's also not for the beginner. Not only is it further off shore than the Sultan; To reach it, my buddies and I had to hire a charter. It's also in 70 feet of water, 10 feet into the depth range that requires advanced certification.

Finding and navigating it was a cinch. Conditions the day I visited were on the cloudy side, but so large and intact is the 211-foot. wreck, there was plenty to see through the murk and serve as landmarks. The temperature, too, was pleasant. Even at depth, the water was barely cooler than at the surface.

Everywhere I shone my underwater light, there was something new to see: row after row of deck beams, looking as if they'd just gone down last week; long stretches of intact railing; hatches down to pitch-black chambers; former windows on the hull; a significant portion of the mast; the rudder post.

I know my one visit to the Dundee amounts to little more than an introduction. Still, given how much of her there was to explore, it's now no trouble at all to picture her in her glory. I'm more than glad I made the effort.

The Admiral, Lake Erie

Not far from the Dundee, and at a similar depth, lies the smaller but arguably even more interesting wreckage of the 93-foot tugboat Admiral, on which 14 people died (and were later collected and buried at sea) during an icy winter storm Dec. 2, 1942, shortly before the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Eighteen others died that morning on the Cleveco, the barge the Admiral had been towing, which now lies a few miles further east, off the coast of Euclid.

I say more interesting because of its unique character. As a tugboat in decent shape, the Admiral offers the advanced diver certain sights and opportunities other Erie wrecks don't, including a smokestack, a ladder, and the ability to enter (or at least peer inside) the pilothouse.

If the locals will let you, that is. The day I visited, an hour after diving the Dundee, the pilothouse was being lightly guarded by a large sheepshead, the biggest fish by a wide margin I've ever encountered in fresh water. So excited was I by its presence, I spent the last few minutes with power in my underwater video-camera recording his departure.

The Admiral was almost a bust for me. Upon descending the buoy line, my buddy and I had considerable trouble finding the ship in water as opaque as pea soup. Luckily, we persisted. Just when we began to contemplate giving up, the Admiral appeared out of nowhere, and we went on to have one of the most rewarding dives in our still fledgling underwater careers.

The Grecian, Lake Huron

This gigantic, 300-foot steel freighter isn't just 12 miles off Alpena, Michigan, in Lake Huron. It's in a league all its own. So large and deep is it, one can't see it all on one dive or even from one starting point. For a complete tour, one must resurface, sail from one end of the ship to the other, and dive again.

Not that one need move at all. I spent both of my two tanks on my visit to the Grecian over Labor Day weekend on the stern, and was plenty entertained. In fact, the dives were unforgettable.

Just as one never forgets his first kiss, so did I note my first drop to 100 feet, into remarkably clear but chilly, 50-degree water. (Looking back, I'd only revisit the site in a dry suit, which makes a diver all but impervious to the cold. That, though, requires more training.)

Nothing before or since, either, compares in terms of scale. I'm generally leery of confined spaces underwater. On the Grecian, however, a wreck within the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, I entered the ship at its middle, where it collapsed, and swam comfortably through two 15-foot stories under the deck, marveling all the while at its vast skeleton from 1906.

That's not all the Grecian, a Cleveland-built ship that went down after striking rock elsewhere and being patched and cleared of its crew, afforded. In addition to the insides, I stayed warm and preserved air in my tanks long enough to survey her aft mast, engine and boilers, and capstan. I even got a look at her propeller, a giant, broken, two-bladed thing resembling an epic pair of Mickey Mouse ears.

The journey to the Grecian was a bear, a slog of some eight hours by car plus two more each way by boat. Having family in Alpena helped. So, too, did the payoff: a wreck dive to beat all other wreck dives.

Ohio State hosts Rutgers on Saturday in Ohio Stadium.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes return from their bye week when they host Rutgers on Saturday. The game will be Ohio State's Big Ten opener, and the Buckeyes' Homecoming game.

Kickoff from Ohio Stadium is set for 12 p.m.

The game will be televised on Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler, Matt Millen and Lisa Byington on the call. Don't know what channel Big Ten Network is? You can look it up here.

And a full list of Ohio State's radio affiliates can be found here.

Ohio State (3-0) last played on Sept. 17 in a win at Oklahoma. Rutgers (2-2) is coming off a 14-7 loss to Iowa last week.

Get set for the game by reading some of our Ohio State stories:

Cam Johnston is the best punter in America

Listen to our latest Buckeye Talk podcast

Re-ranking the top 50 Ohio State players: 30-11

Re-ranking the top 50 Ohio State players: 50-31

OSU's depth chart for Rutgers

The Browns are 0-3, but there are some stats that should provide optimism.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Browns are 0-3 and we know that's not good. We also know that the Browns aren't that far from 2-1.

"I'm probably more determined than I am discouraged," Hue Jackson said Monday, "but I do get that we will be judged by wins and losses and not by anything else. That is the way it should be."

Jackson has some reason to mix optimism with his determination. Young players have shined in each game this season and the last two games have been within reach despite some major injury losses.

So, in the spirit of optimism, here are three stats the Browns should be happy about:

Big plays

The Browns lead the league in big plays. That's the combination of runs of 10 yards or more and pass plays of 25 yards or more. The Browns have 24 total, more than any other team, and they make up 13 percent of their total plays, again, tops in the league.

Big plays by Corey Coleman (31-yard TD catch) and Isaiah Crowell (85-yard TD run) kept the Browns close with the Ravens, and seven plays of more than 20 yards put them on the brink of a win against the Dolphins.

3 stats Browns should be concerned about

Toxic differential

This stat is pretty simple. It takes your big play differential (big plays for minus big plays against) and turnover differential, then adds them together to get a stat that has been a pretty good indicator of success.

Last season, 10 of the top 12 teams in toxic differential went to the playoffs, and the last 15 Super Bowl winners have finished in the top 10.

So it's odd to see the Browns second in the league with a toxic differential of nine. They're sandwiched between the undefeated Patriots (first), Eagles (third) and Broncos (fourth). The other winless teams are 20^th (Saints), 28^th (Bears) and 32^nd (Jaguars) in this stat.

The Browns are plus-1 in turnovers and plus-8 in big plays, mostly because they've had 14 big rushing plays and allowed just seven.

Rushing yards per attempt

The Browns are fourth in the NFL in total rushing yards (434) and Isaiah Crowell is tied for second individually (274).

But the key here is that the Browns are becoming more efficient on the ground. After two games, they were very boom or bust. But now they're second in yards per attempt (5.70). Providing a boost in this area was Duke Johnson, who had 10 carries for 69 yards against the Dolphins, including runs of 14, 15 and 17 yards.

Crowell, Johnson and Terrelle Pryor combined for 29 carries for 169 yards and a touchdown in Week 4. 

The Browns are 0-3, and should look to improve in these areas going forward.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - When you start the season 0-3, there is no shortage of unflattering statistics. That's the case with the Browns right now.

"Our record is not what we want it to be," Hue Jackson said on Monday, "but at the same time, we know that we are still working at trying to get that first victory."

If the Browns are going to get that first victory, they'll likely have to improve in a variety of categories. So with that in mind, here are three stats the Browns should be concerned about:

Plays per drive

Hue Jackson warned during the preseason that the Browns' offense couldn't rely on the long ball, but that's kind of what they're doing. They rank 28^th in average plays per drive (4.95). The Cowboys lead the league with 7.03. Prior to the Dolphins game, the Browns had just two drives longer than seven plays.

Of course, long drives and big plays aren't the only ways to win games. The 3-0 Vikings have overcome being 31^st in big plays and 26^th in plays per drive (5.21) with a defense that hasn't allowed more than 16 points in a game.

3 stats Browns should be happy about

But the Browns are 26th in first-down percentage, and after losing leads the last two weeks, Jackson surely realizes that his offense needs to have longer, more productive drives. That would also help them improve the second stat on our list.

Bad field position

The Browns have started 11 of their 37 drives inside their own 20-yard line. That's almost 30 percent of their drives. Take a team with inexperience and constant change on offense and put that team inside its own 20 and not a lot of good things will happen. Especially when the Browns are tied for third in the league in offensive penalties per game (6.0). 

Late-game QB rating

The Browns don't have a great team quarterback rating to begin with. It's just 75.5, 27^th in the league. But it drops significantly in the second half (64.8), and especially in the fourth quarter (54.4).

The big reason for the drop off has been the lack of production in the fourth quarter, Robert Griffin III was 1-of-6 passing for 3 yards in the fourth quarter in Week 1. Josh McCown was better (8 of 11 for 115 yards) but threw an interception. And Cody Kessler was 6 of 14 for 115 yards. And, as you know, McCown and Kessler were in games where fourth-quarter touchdown passes probably would've won the game.

Barrett has the second-best Vegas odds of winning the Heisman Trophy right now. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was fitting that Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett and Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson had their big-stage games on the same day.

Jackson had the afternoon window on Sept. 17, leading Louisville to a blowout win over Florida State with five touchdowns. The night belonged to Barrett, who piloted Ohio State to a win at Oklahoma with four touchdowns.

Two huge wins for both teams. Two stellar games from from a pair of the top quarterbacks in college football.

Guess whose face landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated last week and ended up in homes and on news stands across America. It was Jackson's. He literally became a household name.

Jackson made a statement to the college football word. He's a real Heisman Trophy candidate, currently the favorite to win according to Bovada's odds. The player with the second-best odds? Barrett.

Jackson has everything you look for in a Heisman candidate: The numbers, the flash, the story, the "wow" plays. Barrett has the numbers ... and what else?

"I'm not the flashiest by any means," Barrett said this week as Ohio State prepares to face Rutgers on Saturday at 12 p.m.

"I think that (the Heisman) is a flashy type of thing. I am who I am, love it or hate it. That's how it's gonna be."

This isn't about Jackson being the favorite. We've seen September Heisman favorites flame out before. It's more about Barrett, because it's safe to assume he'll remain in the Heisman conversation as long as he's the steward of Ohio State's powerful offense.

But can Barrett actually win?

Playing Rutgers this week could even help boost his credentials. In two career games against the Scarlet Knights, Barrett is averaging 242 passing yards, 104 rushing yards and five touchdowns per game. He torches Rutgers. Don't be surprised if he does it again.

With 650 passing yards, 159 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns already, Barrett could come out of this weekend looking really good. That's amplified in a  year when thus far, besides Jackson, there isn't a player who's captivated the country in a way that can give serious momentum to a Heisman campaign.

The North Texas town that raised Barrett

Stanford's Christian McCaffrey has picked up where he left off. Deshaun Watson, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook -- all of those guys haven't really exploded, yet. Maybe they won't. But if they did, does Barrett have a style of play that could keep him near the top of the Heisman heap?

By the way, Jacks and Watson face-off Saturday night.

"(Barrett's) a ball player," Buckeye running back Mike Weber said. "He's not hurdling people, but at the end of the day he's gonna get his job done and he's gonna lead his team."

That's the point, and one we've made here before. Barrett isn't going to hurdle people. He's not going to play the high risk, high reward game that a guy like Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield sometimes plays.

When those two faced off two weeks ago, Barrett outplayed Mayfield and Ohio State won. Sometimes playing like a crazy person causes you to lose a game. Sometimes it helps you win a Heisman Trophy.

Playing the way Barrett plays -- calculated, somewhat cautious but always smart -- is how the Buckeyes want it in their goal of winning games and chasing championships.

Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett is second in the Vegas odds to win the Heisman Trophy right now.Jay LaPrete, Associated Press 

"My main thing is winning," Barrett said. "That's what I'm about. If winning gives me a Heisman Trophy then I'm OK with that. But I'm not about to do anything outside of myself in order to get a Heisman Trophy. I'm gonna be who I am. I like how I play, how I approach the game."

Heisman voters might not, though.

That's not a knock on Barrett. He's been successful and he's going to have his name at the top of a lot of lists in the Ohio State record book by the time his career is over. He's got a real shot at winning another national title.

But think about the last few quarterbacks to win the Heisman.

Cam Newton (2010), Robert Griffin III (2011), Johnny Manziel (2012), Jameis Winston (2013) and Marcus Mariota (2014) all played flashy brands of football that captivated college football fans. For most of those players, it was also about more than just putting up good numbers on good teams.

Most of them -- with Mariota being the exception -- had big personalities that didn't hurt their causes either. Mariota flirted with 60 total touchdowns to make up for it. You don't have to be a college football celebrity to win the Heisman, but it helps.

Alabama's Derrick Henry wasn't exactly Mr. Personality last year, but he did make plays the drew America's attention and he played for the best team in college football.

Barrett can actually be pretty funny and engaging in small settings, but he's not smiling on the field and he's not doing money signs when he scores touchdowns. Barrett is Captain Serious. There's a robotic quality to the way he plays quarterback.

Inside Barrett's passing numbers to date

Urban Meyer expects his quarterback, whoever it is, to be a Heisman candidate every year. Candidate and winner are two different things.

In 14 seasons as a head coach, Meyer has had seven quarterbacks finish in the top 10 of the Heisman voting, including Barrett in 2014. Only one of those players has ever won.

It was Tim Tebow in 2007. You still can't escape Tebow today. Did you know he hit a home run on Wednesday? Yeah, he's playing baseball now.

Barrett's not going to live his life that way. And he's not going to play football that way. He's an excellent quarterback, really the perfect fit for Meyer's offense. But he's not wowing most folks, and he's not walking that line between crazy, Heisman moment-type play and disaster.

He's going to be solid, methodical, get Ohio State in the right plays, strive to not turn the ball over and make sure the Buckeyes get a win.

That should be exactly what you want out of your quarterback.

It just might be not be enough to go from Heisman candidate to Heisman winner.

The Cleveland Indians are in need of a hot starting pitcher as they head to the MLB playoffs. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the Cleveland Indians to advance in the playoffs, they need a repeat of 1997.

That Tribe team finished with a modest 86-76 record. But they reached the World Series.

Two reasons they advanced were suddenly hot starters -- Chad Ogea and Jaret Wright. Ogea was set to be the Series MVP with two victories, had the Indians held on in Game 7. Wright pitched well as the starter in that Game 7.

With Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar sidelined by injuries, the Indians are in need of a hot starter.

Can Josh Tomlin be the Chad Ogea of 2016? Can the Indians surprise, as Kansas City did in the last two playoffs?

We talk about it in this video.