Cleveland won two of three from the Tigers, losing a 1-0 game Saturday in a pitching duel between Detroit knuckleballer Steve Sparks and Chuck Finley. Both pitchers went the distance.

Cleveland took two of three from the Orioles earlier this month at Jacobs Field. All three games were close. This week's series at Camden Yards will be the final time these teams face each other unless they meet in the playoffs.

Probable pitching matchups: On Tuesday, Dave Burba (0-1, 7.84) will pitch against the O's Jose Mercedes (0-2, 10.13). On Wednesday, Bartolo Colon (1-1, 4.98) will face Pat Hentgen (0-1, 1.75) and on Thursday, rookie C.C. Sabathia (1-0, 5.91) goes against Chuck McElroy (0-0, 6.23).

The Indians (5-6) are currently 2-4 on their longest road trip of the year.

WHO'S HOT: Robbie Alomar (.317), Ellis Burks (.300, 2 HR) and Juan Gonzalez (.318, 5 HR, 15 RBI).

WHO's NOT: Jim Thome (.132), Omar Vizquel (.227), catchers Eddie Taubensee (.182) and Einar Diaz (.190), Wil Cordero (.223) and Russell Branyan (.225).

Look for Hart to land another job

At 52, John Hart has the energy, drive and passion of men half his age.

Which is why, despite last week's announcement that he will step down as the Cleveland Indians' general manager at the end of the 2001 season, he is expected to become the new GM in another market next season -- with Los Angeles and Atlanta leading the way in the speculation game.

One key point in Hart's announcement came when he said he felt like he had accomplished his goals in Cleveland, while noting he is a "goal-oriented and challenge-driven guy." Although the club's current position is that he will remain with the organization as an advisor, that's an awfully small role that most believe would leave Hart restless. Plus, the Indians are expected to trim their operating budget beginning next year. That and an aging roster are a couple of indicators that another retooling project lurks on the horizon.

Although Hart is signed in Cleveland through 2005, industry sources believe that he will quickly move on once assistant Mark Shapiro takes over following the season.

Already, speculation is growing that Los Angeles would be a perfect locale for Hart's next construction project. Kevin Malone is under as much pressure as any GM in the game right now, and if the Dodgers don't make the playoffs or don't get deep into the playoffs, he almost certainly will not survive.

In Atlanta, there is speculation that John Schuerholz, 60, will move upstairs after the season. Hart is a good friend of Schulerholz's and that, combined with Hart's glittering resume of turning the Cleveland franchise around, leads to the thinking that Atlanta also would be a good landing spot for Hart.

Scott Miller, SportsLine

April 11, 2001

Indians' worst fears are being realized

After the avalanche of injuries that forced Cleveland to use a major-league record 32 pitchers and kept Manny Ramirez from playing 44 games in 2000, manager Charlie Manuel was looking forward to a relatively injury-free season this year.

No such luck.

Charles Nagy and Jaret Wright remained in extended spring training, recovering from operations performed last summer. At least general manager John Hart saw that coming and took steps to make the team whole over the winter.

But with the season less than two weeks old, a new crop of injuries cost the team three additional players.

Center fielder Kenny Lofton pulled his calf muscle the second game of the season and remains on the sidelines. Third baseman Travis Fryman went down with a strained ligament in his throwing elbow toward the end of spring training and still hasn't played.

The scariest injury occurred April 9 against the White Sox at Comiskey Park, when a Frank Thomas line drive caught reliever Steve Woodard just below the right elbow.

Woodard slumped to the ground and began rolling over and over on the grass, holding his elbow and writhing in pain. He was removed on a stretcher, an air cast keeping his arm from moving.

"You're standing out there for 15 minutes, and you're teammate's future is on the line,'' first baseman Jim Thome said. "I think the game became secondary at that point.''

X-rays at the ballpark facility revealed no fracture, but Woodard was sent back to Cleveland for further examination.

"The X-rays were negative, but at the same time he got hit real hard,'' Manuel said. "There is severe swelling. He's going to be out a while.''

Jake Westbrook was called up from Buffalo to take Woodard's place on the roster. Hart also has negotiated a minor league contract with Willie Blair, who was cut at the end of spring training.

"But he hasn't pitched in 10 days,'' the GM said. "He's not ready.''

Meanwhile, Manuel fretted over the loss of Lofton and Fryman.

"Kenny's our leadoff guy, and we need him,'' the manager said. "We need both guys. They're our lineup.''

SPARKLING DEBUT: C.C. Sabathia, the 20-year-old pride of the Indians' farm system, worked 5 2/3 innings against the Orioles in his first big league start. Sabathia's only misstep was allowing a three-run homer to Jeff Conine in the first inning. After that, he retired 16 of 19 batters.

"C.C. handled it pretty good,'' Charlie Manuel said. "After a couple of innings, he started getting better. He hung in there and bounced back (after the homer). I thought he would be nervous, but he didn't show that.''

INJURIES TO SPARE: If Kenny Lofton can't play in the next day or two, Cleveland will consider placing him on the 15-day DL, which would keep him out of the lineup until at least April 16. Travis Fryman's elbow has responded, but after he felt a twinge playing for Buffalo on a rehab assignment, he was told to back off. He might not return to the lineup for several weeks.