The Cleveland Indians start the New Year with optimism against the Chicago White Sox

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The Cleveland Indians start the New Year with optimism against the Chicago White Sox

The Cleveland Indians open up their season against the Chicago White Sox and not many experts are picking them to win this game or compete this season, but the Indians have other ideas.

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Naming an Opening Day starter wasn't tricky for the Indians. The trouble was trying to fill the rest of the rotation. Fausto Carmona will start the Friday against the White Sox, his first career Opening Day start. A 13-game winner last year, Carmona was the obvious choice to be No. 1 starter in a rotation that is otherwise filled with question marks.

The Indians' Opening Day lineup will include catcher Carlos Santana, who has made a successful return from season-ending knee surgery last year. Santana is one of four players who will be in the lineup Friday but were not in the starting lineup on Opening Day a year ago.

The other three newcomers are second baseman Orlando Cabrera, third baseman Jack Hannahan and left fielder Austin Kearns.

Cabrera, signed as a free agent, is making the switch to second base after playing virtually his entire career at shortstop. Hannahan was a non-roster invitee to the major league training camp, and he became the starter at third when Jason Donald suffered a broken hand during spring training. Kearns was on the team but not in the Opening Day lineup last year.

Kearns will start Friday because center fielder Grady Sizemore will open the season on the disabled list as he continues his comeback from season-ending microfracture knee surgery performed last June. Indians officials are hopeful that Sizemore could be activated sometime during the first month of the season. Until then, Michael Brantley will move from left field to center field, and Kearns will start in left field.

The Indians are 7-2 in their last nine against the American League Central and start the season off with a big win.

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