Last updated 3/25/13
**If a player is in BOLD, you can click on that player for more season projections and more information about him**

CF Michael Bourn
———Drew Stubbs
———Michael Brantley (arm)
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
———Mike Aviles
2B Jason Kipnis
———Mike Aviles
———Ryan Raburn
1B Nick Swisher
———Mark Reynolds
———Carlos Santana
LF Michael Brantley (arm)
———Ryan Raburn
C  Carlos Santana
———Lou Marson
DH Mark Reynolds
———Jason Giambi (back – out until April 9)
———Lonnie Chisenhall
———Carlos Santana
———Mike Aviles
3B Lonnie Chisenhall
———Mike Aviles
———Mark Reynolds
RF Drew Stubbs
———Nick Swisher
———Ryan Raburn

*To see lineups from the last 5 days click here

*The Tribe has TONS of flexibility… Raburn and Aviles will likely start against lefties… Chisenhall and Reynolds will likely sit against some lefties, and Stubbs will likely sit against some righties
*Mike Aviles should see a good amount of PT at 3B as Chisenhall probably isn’t ready to play everyday.  Aviles will also give Kipnis and Cabrera a day off here and there
*The signing of Bourn changes the entire landscape of this starting lineup
*Swisher will start most games at 1B, Reynolds will DH mostly, and Stubbs will play RF…however Swisher is still likely to see some time in RF as well with Reynolds switching to 1B and someone else manning the DH slot while Stubbs is benched (against some righties).  How Stubbs hits righties will likely determine how often he plays.  Giambi will get some starts at DH
*Santana gets a number of starts at 1B, and Swisher will likely slide to RF or DH in those situations
*The Tribe is looking to bat switch-hitting Asdrubal Cabrera 2nd between lefties Bourn and Kipnis, followed by Swisher… then it looks like they’re going to bat the left-handed Brantley 5th in front of the switch-hitting Santana, followed by Reynolds, Chisenhall, and Stubbs (at least against righties)
*The Tribe will also likely change the order depending on whether they’re facing a righty or lefty… Stubbs could hit higher against lefties while Kipnis hits lower against them (Aviles may hit 2nd against lefties)
*Giambi’s “injury” is nothing more than gamesmanship by the Tribe brass to allow Carlos Carrasco to serve his suspension right away, so that he won’t have to serve it if he is called up later in the season

ROTATION
RHP Justin Masterson
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez
RHP Brett Myers
RHP Zach McAllister
LHP Scott Kazmir
———RHP Trevor Bauer
———RHP Carlos Carrasco (suspension – will miss first 6 games)
———RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka

*The Indians will likely keep Bauer in AAA for at least a month to keep a year of his service time intact.  He’ll be up by May or June if he proves he’s mature and ready to start in the majors
*Carrasco looks rusty this spring, and even though he will start the season on the ML roster, it’s just so that he can serve his suspension. He will be optioned to bring Giambi back from the DL
*Kazmir has been named the fifth starter, which really helps the Tribe for 3 reasons – 1. He’s a lefty.  2. Carrasco is suspended for the first 6 games.  3. Keeping Bauer in AAA for a month or 2 gives them another year of control over him.  Kazmir will likely get 8-10 starts to see how he looks… by then, if he’s not the answer, Bauer or Carrasco should be ready by then.  If he looks good, then he’s a huge shot in the arm to this rotation

CLOSER
RHP Chris Perez (shoulder – questionable for start of season)
———RHP Vinnie Pestano
———RHP Cody Allen

*Perez could still be traded at some point this season if the price is right.  Pestano would likely take over as closer in his stead, though Allen is also a darkhorse for saves as he looks like a future closer and they may want to keep Pestano in the set-up role.  Perez will more likely than not be ready to start the season, but if he isn’t Pestano will get some save opps… however it’s still Perez’s job when he comes back – Vinnie isn’t taking over as closer