The Cleveland Indians have won 21 games in a row. They are in sole possession of the American League’s record for consecutive wins. They’re tied with two iterations of the Chicago Cubs for the MLB record win streak. Regardless of what happens in Thursday night’s game against the Royals, the Indians have the longest win streak in MLB history. They can make the record theirs and theirs alone with a W in the first game of this series, though.
The Indians can set a new MLB win streak record Thursday
Thursday’s Say Hey, Baseball looks at Cleveland’s attempt at history, an anti-racism banner at Fenway, and Rhys Hoskins.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
The Royals already account for a chunk of this streak, as they were victories two, three, and four early on. The Tigers, the team Cleveland defeated on Wednesday to take the AL record and move into a tie for the MLB one, have contributed the most to the total so far, however, as they’ve lost to the Indians seven times just this month — that’s one-third of the total streak.
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Coincidentally, the Royals were also the team the A’s defeated back in 2002 to set what was, until Wednesday, the AL win streak record. Whether they play the same role in 2017 is just something we’ll have to wait and see, as the Indians’ constant winning has tricked us into thinking they’re actually unstoppabe. That’s not how baseball works, of course, but if the illusion continues for one more night, well, then it did its job.
The Indians take on the Royals in Cleveland at 7:10 p.m. ET Thursday. You should probably watch, even if watching the Indians play regular-season baseball is normally an unthinkable act for those outside their fandom. After all, the last team with a shot at 22 consecutive wins played in 1935 — that’s so long ago that it was almost 20 years before the last time the Indians won a World Series. You might never get another chance to watch a team cap a run like this, is what I’m saying, so don’t miss out.
- For more on the idea of how the Indians are basically breaking baseball and making it feel like something it’s not, you can read Grant Brisbee, who explained this concept when describing why he loves this win streak so much.
- I’ll admit, the dive by Giovanny Urshela is good, but not that impressive on its own. However, the throw Urshela makes is unbelievable, as there is no way that someone in his position should make a throw as strong and as accurate as the one he did here.
- Rhys Hoskins hit another homer, his 17th of the year. In case you haven’t been paying attention to the Phillies or Hoskins, that’s 17 homers in just 33 games.
- The Orioles called up Austin Hays, and for some reason aren’t playing him to see if he can help.
- Fenway Park removed fans from the game on Wednesday after they unfurled an anti-racism banner over the Green Monster.
- The banner, by the way, was right on the nose.
- Everyone is excited about Shohei Ohtani becoming an MLB pitcher next season, but here’s your reminder that he might be just as exciting of a hitter.
- LeBron James sent the Indians a congratulatory video after their record-setting/tying 21st win.
- Speaking of the Indians and other sports, they’ve won 21 games in a row, while the Browns have won 21 games since Oct. 24, 2011.
- The Marlins will play their next “home” series in Milwaukee as Miami recovers from Hurricane Irma.
- The Tigers might be selling off players, but they are also assuring the world the team itself won’t be sold.
- Carlos Gonzalez is finally looking like the version of himself that doesn’t depress Rockies fans, and just in time.
- Michael Baumann doesn’t think randomness is a suffcient explanation for the Dodgers going from unbeatable to far-too-easily-beaten.
- Jeff Sullivan believes the fly-ball revolution is here, you just have to work to find it right now because we’re in the early stages.
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