Smoke signals

• Second baseman Jason Kipnis brought a 15-game hitting streak into Friday's series opener against Detroit. In that time, Kipnis is batting .462 (24-for-52) with 13 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs and a 1.450 OPS. Kipnis has also reached base via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch in 35 straight games.

• Mark Reynolds entered Friday with a .171 average, three home runs and 52 strikeouts in his last 35 games. Francona talked a bit about the inconsistencies of the player who began the season with a .291 average, 11 home runs and 32 strikeouts over his first 31 contests.

"Sometimes, his bat is in and out of the zone more than it was," Francona said. "He had such a good streak there for a while where he was staying through the zone so well, that even when he missed, you know, but he's had just a little bit of movement with his body, so his bat's in and out of the zone a little quicker than normal. I actually thought the last week or so it's been better. But, that's really all it is."

• Friday's game at Progressive Field was sold out. The first 10,000 fans to arrive at the ballpark for Saturday's 4:05 p.m. ET game against Detroit will receive 1904 replica caps that are navy blue and feature Cleveland's block "C." In Monday's series finale, the first 10,000 fans at the gate will go home with Omar Vizquel bobbleheads.