Corey Kluber continues to dominate since his return to the Indians rotation, and another pair of brilliant starts netted Cleveland's ace American League Player of the Week honors on Monday.
Kluber tossed his second shutout of the season last Monday against the Orioles, then followed it up with his third straight outing with double-digit-strikeouts five days later against the Twins. The 31-year-old allowed just two unearned runs on six hits in 16 innings over his two starts during the week -- for a spotless 0.00 ERA -- with two walks and 24 strikeouts.
"He was ridiculous," Twins outfielder Chris Gimenez said after Kluber's start on Saturday, in which he struck out 13 in a 4-2 loss against the Twins. "I think he struck out, like, 38 guys today. He was really good today. Breaking ball was phenomenal. He was Kluber."
Kluber's 16 innings pitched over the week led Major League pitchers, as did his 24 strikeouts. He was the only AL pitcher to throw a complete game, and the only one in the Majors to throw a shutout.
"I mean, that's your goal every game -- to try to finish it," Kluber said after the shutout, a 12-0 win at Baltimore.
After missing nearly a month with a lower back strain, Kluber has a 1.29 ERA in five June starts, striking out 52 batters in 35 innings.
This is Kluber's third career Player of the Week Award, but his first since September 2014, his Cy Young season. His first Player of the Week came in June 2013.