How the Indians ran off a 12-game winning streak - and may nab the best record in the AL

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They’ve run off 12 wins in a row – and may eventually run away with the American League’s best record. Just how have the Cleveland Indians forged this very timely winning streak?

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Here's several reasons why they've claimed a dozen consecutive wins - and are 10 games up in the AL Central, and just three games behind Houston for the top seed in the AL: 

1. Jose Ramirez has 14 extra-base hits during the 12-game streak – eight doubles, one triple and five home runs. He's now fifth in the American League in both on base plus slugging (.921) and Wins Above Replacement (5.2) for position players.
    
2. The Indians have four shutouts in the past 12 games. The White Sox, Tigers and Giants each have three all season.
    
3. The Indians have scored 10 or more runs four times during the streak. The Padres have done it three times all season. Cleveland now ranks third in the AL with 685 runs, and second in on-base percentage (.338).
    
4. Starter Carlos Carrasco has 16 strikeouts with no walks in two starts, surrendering just one run. Carrasco now ranks fourth in the AL in WHIP (1.11) and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.02).
    
5. Ace reliever Andrew Miller and second baseman Jason Kipnis have not played during the run, both being lost to injury in the days before the streak began. No matter. The invaluable Ramirez shifted to second base and Yandy Diaz - signed as a minor league free agent four years ago - stepped in at third and has batted .448 during the win streak. Meanwhile, the bullpen still ranks No. 1 in the AL with a 2.98 ERA, as July trade acquisition Joe Smith notched two holds and a save in the streak.
    

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