CHICAGO -- Indians manager Terry Francona has been keeping an eye on the Rays, who are currently in a foot race with the Indians to secure an American League Wild Card spot. While simultaneously binge-watching Madam Secretary on Netflix, the Indians’ skipper has been watching one of his closest friends, Rays manager Kevin Cash, and his team any time the Indians are not playing. Cash was Francona's bullpen coach in Cleveland from 2013-14 before getting hired by Tampa Bay.

“I think they’re good. They never quit,” Francona said. “I mean, I remember when Cashy went there the first year, I don’t think they had the best record. I said, ‘That doesn’t matter. He’s a great manager, and he’s going to be even better.’ I still feel that way. I’ve always felt that way.”

• Wild Card standings

Francona said the two have been texting back and forth over the past few weeks, discussing what it’s been like to constantly be asked about competing against each other.

“It’s hard to explain,” Francona said. “One of us is going to make it and one of us is not. It’s not personal. If it was personal, I’d probably pull for him. … Everybody wants to win as bad as you can. There are some relationships that transcend [the game]. I have an obligation with these guys, but he’s one of my best friends. That’ll never change.”

Another successful hamate bone surgery

Four weeks after Dr. Thomas Graham operated on Ramírez, he removed the hook of the hamate bone from Jason Kipnis’ right hand on Tuesday morning in New York City. The Tribe’s second baseman sustained the fracture on a swing and miss, just like Ramírez, on Sept. 15 against the Twins.

Kipnis was given a five-to-seven-week timetable, which means the Indians would essentially have to make it to the World Series if he was to have any chance of coming back this year.

This date in Indians history

2013: Jason Giambi hit a pinch-hit walk-off two-run homer against the White Sox. The victory helped the Tribe win 10 games in a row to end the season.