Smoke signals

• Bryan Shaw has pitched 72 innings this year, leading all Indians relievers. Those frames have been spread over 67 games, during which Shaw has compiled a 3.38 ERA while allowing 10 of his 38 inherited runners to score.

"He just has the ability to be able to pitch every day," Francona said. "I think when he has some rest he's a little bit better. But when he's got that velocity and that cutter action and he locates, be becomes really, really a good weapon."

• As a whole, the Tribe bullpen has a 1.35 ERA with 32 strikeouts against 12 walks over the last 11 games. In that span, Cleveland's relievers have thrown 33 1/3 innings, and the team is 9-2.

• Michael Brantley had a pair of RBI singles on Sunday. With runners in scoring position, Brantley is batting .360 (41-for-114), a mark that's good enough for third-best in the AL among hitters with at least 100 at-bats.