Smoke signals

• The Indians will have right-handers Corey Kluber (Monday) and Justin Masterson (Tuesday) start the first two games of the four-game series against the Tigers. Francona said he needed to go over some things with Antonetti before announcing the probable starters for Wednesday and Thursday.

If Cleveland's rotation stayed intact, Ubaldo Jimenez and Zach McAllister would be lined up for the last two games of the set against Detroit. Francona indicated that the team would most likely have more information prior to Sunday's game in Miami.

"We're talking over a few different things, and obviously one impacts another and things like that," Francona said Saturday. "We'll get to it. Kluber is the first day, and Masty is the second day. From there, we're kind of contemplating a few things."

• The Indians made two Minor League transactions Saturday. Cleveland traded Triple-A right-hander Fernando Nieve to the A's in exchange for cash considerations and sent right-hander Joe Martinez outright to Triple-A Columbus. Martinez was designated for assignment on Tuesday to clear room on Cleveland's 40-man roster for Rzepczynski.

• Even after sustaining a 10-0 drubbing at the hands of the Marlins on Friday, the Indians still boasted the third-best team ERA (3.52) in the American League over the team's past 46 games, dating back to June 11. Dating back to July 8, Cleveland's rotation had gone 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA and a .207 opponents' average.

• Indians fans hardly need to be reminded of the Tribe's history against the Marlins, who beat Cleveland in the 1997 World Series. In Interleague Play, Cleveland had posted a 4-9 record against Miami entering Saturday's meeting at Marlins Park. Within that showing, Cleveland had been shut out four times, all on the road.