Sunday Indians pregame notes
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- With split-squad games today, a night game on Tuesday and a day off on Thursday, this week's Indians Cactus League schedule breaks up the monotony of spring training.
The Tribe is in Scottsdale and Mesa today to face the Giants and Cubs. Aaron Harang will get the start against the Giants while Justin Masterson takes the hill against the Cubs. Harang is scheduled to go four innings and Masterson five.
"It's great. The timing is really good," said manager Terry Francona about having two games today. "We're enough into camp where we'd like guys to play 2-3 games in a row and get some heavy legs."
Francona will also rotate a group of five guys each day this week where they will take batting practice in the morning and then have the rest of the day off. He said that way they can catch their breaths and finish out the remainder of spring training.
Francona and bench coach Brad Mills, who will be managing the club in Scottsdale, were the ones who divided the rosters for today's games.
REPLAY MATTERS: Francona is skippering the squad in Mesa today because it is one where instant replay is in use. It will also be available tomorrow and March 24 when the Tribe take on the Reds.
Francona has not had a challenge in the first two games where he has had it available. Had it been in use Saturday, he might have considered challenging the play in the third inning where Mike Aviles was called out at the plate.