CLEVELAND (AP) — Jason Kipnis has been in this position before. That’s the positive.That doesn’t mean he’s happy about it.Kipnis took
fly balls in center field on Tuesday as he transitioned from playing second base
after the Indians acquired third baseman Josh Donaldson in a trade last week
from the Toronto Blue Jays.Donaldson’s arrival — he’s currently on the disabled
list with a calf injury — has caused an infield shift. Jose Ramirez is moving
from third to second
Brad Ziegler Jersey , dispatching Kipnis into the outfield. The former All-Star made a similar move last September, but those were different
circumstances as Kipnis was coming off the disabled list and the Indians were
thin in the outfield because of injuries.This time, Kipnis is being moved to
accommodate a star who may help the Indians reach the World Series. And Kipnis
has struggled all season.“I’m not going to make it about me this year,” Kipnis
said before starting Tuesday’s game against Kansas City at second. “I understand
what he can bring to the table and I’m hoping he does it. I’m excited for this
team and this organization. I understand where they’re coming from and I
understand that I probably put us in this situation with not having the year I’m
capable of having.“It’s a little bit of cause and effect. But I’ve got a job to
do. I show up every day and work hard and if that means switching positions, I’m
switching positions. I look forward to most challenges. I’m excited to get
going.”Donaldson worked out with the Indians after playing one game for Triple-A
Columbus. Donaldson was placed on the disabled list Monday so he could rehab in
the minors, and he hit a grand slam in the Clippers’ final game.Donaldson will
resume his rehab stint with Double-A Akron. The 2015 AL MVP is eligible to be
activated on Sept. 11.Kipnis could get some playing time in center before
Donaldson is ready. He played 11 of Cleveland’s final 12 regular-season games
there last year and started all five playoff games in the outfield.“I actually
have some legs under me,” said Kipnis
http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-rod-carew-jersey , who is batting .226 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs. “Having some kind of starting
point to fall back on now is nice. We’re not just starting from eight years
scratch or something like that. Do I love it? No. But I don’t have to love it.
That’s the part. I’ve got a job to do. It’s OK as long as all of our goals are
the same and that’s to win a World Series for this city and this organization,
then you’re not really going to hear too many problems from me.”But unlike last
year, Kipnis has to earn any playing time. Greg Allen has played in 70 games,
and he’s better defensively than Kipnis.Indians manager Terry Francona explained
to Kipnis that nothing will be given to him.“We feel like we’re a better team
when Kip’s playing well,” Francona said. “I told him, ‘You have to be our best
option out there. And I told Greg the same thing.’ It’s a little unsettling.
It’s a guy — I’ve known Kip for six years now. He’s been a guy that we’ve
depended on. Now, all of a sudden you’re having a conversation with him that’s
probably not exactly what he wants to hear
Brian Dozier Jersey , so it’s not the funnest thing in the world.“But I think the best way to start those is by being honest.” The last time the Philadelphia
Phillies hosted the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park, they swept their
divisional opponent, held the lead in the National League East and were 15 games
over .500.What a difference six weeks can make.The Phillies have not won a
series since that four-game sweep of Miami, and have plummeted out of the
playoff race with 23 losses in their last 34 games.Article continues below
...The Marlins return to Philadelphia this weekend for the final time in the
2018 season. Wei-Yin Chen (6-10, 4.72 ERA) will face Zach Eflin (9-7, 4.42) as
the teams open a three-game series Friday night.The Phillies have been on a
slide for more than a month, but the last two weeks have been especially bad.
The team enters Friday’s game on a five-game losing streak and is 2-9 in
September.Philadelphia (74-71)
http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-morneau-jersey , with 17 games to play, has fallen 7 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in its
division and 6 1/2 back in the race for the second NL wild card spot. The only
silver lining right now for the Phillies is that they have seven games remaining
against the Braves.“As long as we are still in the race, as long as we still
have games left with Atlanta, and as long as we can mathematically catch them, I
will believe in this club,” first-year Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told
reporters earlier this week. “That will not waver.”After getting swept at home
by the Washington Nationals, the Phillies are 28-35 against the rest of the NL
East this season. They are
Kirby Puckett Jersey , however, 9-7 against the Marlins — the only team in the division the Phillies have a winning record against.The last-place
Marlins (57-89) enter the series having lost five of their last six games and
were swept by the New York Mets in a Thursday doubleheader.Chen has pitched his
best this season over his last six starts. He has a 2.04 ERA and 0.91 WHIP since
the beginning of August. Chen picked up his 10th loss of the season in his last
game, though. He gave up three runs on five hits and notched six strikeouts in
four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.Chen is 1-4 with a 3.62
career ERA in seven appearances against the Phillies.Like the Phillies, Eflin
has struggled lately. The right-hander has a 7.72 ERA and opponents are hitting
.346 against him with a .971 OPS over his last five starts.Eflin, 24, was pulled
after three innings in his last outing against the New York Mets. He allowed six
runs on four hits and three walks Saturday as he picked up his third consecutive
loss.“I haven’t been doing a good job of executing my pitches when I need to,”
Eflin told mlb.com after the outing. “When you don’t execute pitches
http://www.twinsfanproshop.com/authentic-byron-buxton-jersey , they put a six-spot in three innings. But I don’t think I’m far off.”Eflin has
surrendered four runs and seven hits in 14 innings (two starts) against Miami
this season. He is 1-1 with a 5.21 ERA in three starts against the Marlins in
his three-year career.
