GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It's been a cloudy, chilly, rain-filled spring for the Cleveland Indians at spring training through two weeks of camp, but none of it has put a damper on the defending American League champs' high expectations for the upcoming 2017 MLB season.
At times weather has forced the Indians baseball activities indoors, but with Opening Day only 34 days away and a team that welcomes Edwin Encarnacion to a group that went to Game 7 of the World Series before falling to the Chicago Cubs, nothing could seemingly derail Terry Francona's team's big plans.
On Tuesday the Indians traveled to Mesa, Ariz. for a Cactus League exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. A reunion with former Tribe outfielder Rajai Davis was in order as Davis led off for the A's and played center field. Davis signed a one-year deal over the off-season to play with Oakland.
Wednesday the Tribe returns to Goodyear Ballpark for Cactus League play and will welcome in the Seattle Mariners for a 3:05 pm ET first pitch. All the play-by-play action can be heard with Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus on Newsradio WTAM 1100.
The lineup for Wednesday's game has already been released:
1. Naquin CF
2. Lindor SS
3. Santana DH
4. Encarnacion 1B
5. Gomes C
6. Zimmer RF
7. Diaz LF
8. Urshela 3B
9. Martinez 2B
The Indians open the 2017 regular season in Arlington on Monday, April 3 for a three-game series against the Texas Rangers. The Tribe then travels back to Arizona for a three-game weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks followed by the home opener at Progressive Field, April 11 against the Chicago White Sox.
Roster reductions for spring camp should be coming up, but with the World Baseball Classic approaching and several players leaving camp by Mon., March 6, Francona and his coaching staff will need bodies to field for Cactus League games.
Notable players leaving camp for the WBC include Andrew Miller (USA), Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico), Roberto Perez (Puerto Rico), Carlos Santana (Dominican Republic) and Chris Colabello (Italy).
Continue to listen to Newsradio WTAM 1100 for Total Tribe Coverage and check back at WTAM.com for more Indians coverage from spring training. Andre Knott takes over Total Tribe Coverage for WTAM 1100 on March 5.
- Nick Camino