33 Brad Hand RP

Hand is expected to lean heavily on his slider in 2020 out of the closer's role, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Hand secured 34 saves (five blown saves) in 2019 over 57.1 innings, fanning 84 batters while registering a 3.30 ERA over that stretch. Per Hoynes, Hand threw 512 of 946 pitches for sliders a season ago, and that's not expected to change in 2020. He'll have the closer's role locked down whenever the season begins.

Hand is taking more trips to the training room in an effort to keep his arm fresh, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Hand started the 2019 campaign in exceptional form, converting his first 22 save chances successfully while holding opposing batters to a .161 batting average. However, he faltered once the calendar flipped to July, blowing four saves in 15 chances while posting a 4.91 ERA and 1.64 WHIP. Hand noted that his high volume -- he's made 283 appearances across the last four seasons -- may be catching up to him, so he's taken more care to keep his arm fresh this spring.

Hand struck out all three of the batters he faced Saturday against the Phillies.

Hand hadn't taken the mound in game action since Sept. 8 but returned to pitch in the sixth inning with the Indians down two. He showed no signs of rust, striking out the side on 13 pitches -- six of which generated swinging strikes. It remains to be seen how long the team plans to leave Hand out of the closer's role, though this outing certainly indicates he's close to full strength.

Hand (arm) is available to pitch again Saturday but will not pitch in a save situation, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Manager Terry Francona said Hand "looked himself" in a bullpen session Wednesday, but apparently the skipper still needs to see Hand do it in a game once or twice before reinstalling him in the ninth. Adam Cimber, Oliver Perez and Carlos Carrasco have gotten the Indians' last three saves. Nick Wittgren and James Karinchak are also candidates to get the ball in high-leverage situations.

Hand (arm) is available to pitch Friday against the Phillies, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

This is big news for the Indians, who have been without their closer for close to two weeks now. An MRI on Hand's tired arm was negative, and the lefty "looked himself" in a bullpen session Wednesday per manager Terry Francona, clearing the way for his return.

Hand (arm) "looked himself" in a bullpen session Wednesday according to manager Terry Francona, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Hand's status remains something of a mystery, as a tired arm has kept him from game action for 10 days. This session is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, though it's not yet clear when he's expected to pitch again.

Hand (arm) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Hand hasn't pitched in over a week due to a tired arm. His MRI was clean and he's been able to throw out to 100 feet, but his status remains uncertain.

Hand will test out his tired arm Sunday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Hand has been ineffective over his last 10 appearances, recording a 9.00 ERA. He hasn't pitched since Sunday, but an MRI taken Tuesday revealed no serious issues. Whether or not Hand will be able to fill his closer role over the final two weeks of the season may not become clear until after Sunday's session.

The MRI on Hand's arm was clean, according to manager Terry Francona, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Francona said Hand will still have to build back up because his tired arm has caused his arm slot to get lower and lower, so the Indians want to fix the matter while also trying to fight for a playoff spot. It may be unrealistic to expect Hand, who has a 9.00 ERA in his last 10 appearances, to return to his old self with only 15 games to go. Nick Wittgren could be an option for saves while Hand works his way back into form.

Hand underwent an MRI for an apparent arm injury and returned to Cleveland after Tuesday's game against the Angels, Anthony Alford of WTAM 11 Cleveland reports.

Hand last appeared Sunday, when he earned the save in Minnesota, and he took a late flight back from Los Angeles on Tuesday to undergo the MRI, which came back clean. Manager Terry Francona indicated the lefty wasn't properly "bouncing back" from his throws but was still encouraged by his progress. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, but Hand will be evaluated further Friday with the team returning from the road trip.

Hand struck out one batter and walked one in a scoreless inning Sunday, earning the save over Minnesota in Cleveland's 5-2 win.

Hand's second-half rollercoaster continues as he threw just 10 of 22 pitches for strikes Sunday. However, it was better than when he allowed four hits and a walk while recording just one out in his last appearance. Hand owns a 3.36 ERA and is clearly still the team's top closing option despite his recent struggles.

Hand allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out a batter to record his only out in a win against the White Sox on Wednesday.

Hand was called into the game to begin the ninth inning with the Indians up four. After striking out the first batter he faced, he went on to allow the next five hitters he faced to reach base, a stretch capped off by a two-run homer off the bat of Jose Abreu. Hand exited the game with the bases loaded, but Nick Wittgren was able to get the final two outs with the lead intact. Hand has stumbled quite a bit of late, allowing nine earned runs over the eight frames covering his last nine appearances. That's inflated his ERA to 3.42 and WHIP to 1.27 across 55.1 innings this season.

Hand retired the Tigers in order with one strikeout during the ninth inning while recording his 33rd save in a 2-0 victory Thursday.

After eight shutout frames from starter Mike Clevinger, Hand was equally impressive, retiring the side during the ninth in just seven pitches. Hand hasn't experienced the best August, but he's ending the month on a good note, as he's now posted four straight shutout frames. He is 6-4 with 33 saves, five blown opportunities, a 3.11 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 79 strikeouts in 55 innings this season.

Hand struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 32nd save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Tigers.

The southpaw appears to be righting the ship after blowing three straight save chances in mid-August. Hand has now converted three straight over three scoreless appearances, lowering his ERA back to 3.17 with a 78:16 K:BB in 54 innings on the year.

Hand struck out one and allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to record the save Saturday against Kansas City.

Hand allowed a leadoff single on his second pitch of the frame, but he was able to strand the baserunner at first base. The 29-year-old delivered his second straight scoreless save after blowing his previous three chances by giving up a combined five runs. Hand has a 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 77:16 K:BB while converting 31 of 36 save opportunities this season.

Hand picked up the save Friday against the Royals after allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Hand surrendered a leadoff single to begin the ninth, but he induced a double play and then retired the final batter of the contest on a groundout. After blowing a save Wednesday against the Mets, he was able to bounce back for his 30th save of the 2019 campaign. Hand sports a 3.29 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 76 strikeouts across 52 innings this year.

Hand allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with no strikeouts through two-thirds of an inning to take the loss against the Mets on Wednesday.

Given a one-run lead in the 10th inning, Hand surrendered three hits and a walk while allowing the tying and winning runs to score. it's been a tough stretch for Hand, posting a 6.14 ERA in his last 15 appearances with blown saves in his last three. The 29-year-old has a 3.35 ERA and 29 saves this season.

Hand (6-3) allowed a run on a hit and two walks in one inning Monday, striking out a batter while blowing the save and earning the win over Boston.

Hand has now earned a win in two straight games after blowing save chances Sunday and Monday. Fortunately, Carlos Santana has bailed him out with clutch homers in each of those contests. The 29-year-old lefty now owns a 2.74 ERA, the highest it's been at any point in 2019.

Hand (5-3) blew the save, allowing two runs on four hits in one inning Sunday, blowing the save, but was later awarded the win over Minnesota.

It was Hand's third blown save, making him 29-for-32 in save chances this season. Fortunately, Carlos Santana swatted a game-winning grand slam in the 10th frame to erase Hand's mistake. The 29-year-old still owns a solid 2.61 ERA.

Hand picked up the save Thursday after holding the Twins scoreless over 1.1 innings despite allowing two hits and a pair of walks.

After the Twins chipped away with three runs in the eighth inning, Hand was called upon to record the final out and protect what was left of a 6-5 lead. The southpaw intentionally walked Luis Arraez, then forced Marwin Gonzalez to fly out and end the frame. Trouble knocked again in the ninth after Hand loaded the bases with a pair of singles and another intentional walk, but he slammed the door by getting Eddie Rosario to fly out. Hand has been a reliable asset for the Indians this year, posting a 2.28 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 73:13 K:BB with 29 saves.