This can work!!!!!

 First, let me apologize.   When I said we weren't making the playoffs I forgot that Houston was actually the SECOND place team in the West, meaning no matter what their record was, it didn't impact the 3rd place, wildcard-bound Indians.

So, yes, the Indians are likely to make the playoffs and maybe even finish with another above .500 record if they take one of four from the White Sox and 2 of 3 from the Pirates.   Still, looking at 31-29 being their likely finish with a ceiling of 32-28 and a floor of 29-31.   Likely any of those will make the playoffs although it is not guaranteed.

So, why am I smiling when saying that our expectations are, from 26-15 to finish on possibly a 3-16 note?  

With some luck we might get through the first round of the playoffs and here is how we can do it.

Starter-Karinchak-Hand

All we have to do is have Bieber and Plesac go 7 shutout innings each and have Karinchak and Hand throw clean, shutout innings.   We don't need it for a month.   We don't need it for a week.  We just need it for two games.  We don't need Perez, we don't need Wittgren, we don't need Maton, we don't need Quantrill, we don't need Hill.   We don't need anyone who is likely to give up a run, which is all of these guys in the playoffs.  We won't need Carrasco and we won't need McKenzie, even though I would prepare the latter for the bullpen just in case we need him in a short stint if we have to go to Karinchak and Hand too often.

All we need is our starter and these two relievers.  

Can we do it against the White Sox?  Not likely as they know us too well.

But maybe we can do it against Tampa Bay, who haven't seen our guys this year.

All we have to do is pitch.

And find a way to score a couple of runs each game during regulation!.  A couple of 2 to zeros and we are onto round 2.  

I can dream, can't I?