Ace Kluber notches 3rd straight 200-inning season

CLEVELAND — The Indians’ faith in ace Corey Kluber has extended beyond the expectations of what he will provide every five days. It has reached the point where Cleveland now knows what to expect from its rotation leader every year.

With his seven-inning performance against the Tigers on Friday night, Kluber eclipsed the 200-inning plateau for the third straight year. He became the first Indians pitcher to achieve that feat of durability in a decade. Jake Westbrook was the last Tribe pitcher to have three straight years of 200 innings, doing so from 2004-06.

“He’s proven to not only himself, but to the league,” Indians manager Terry Francona said, “that he can go out there every five days, year after year after year, and still be good. And that’s hard to do. I think that’s what’s turned him into an elite pitcher, in my opinion. Doing it once is pretty awesome. But doing it time after time is really tough.”

Kluber is the first Indians pitcher to have at least 200 innings and 200 strikeouts in three consecutive years since 1972-74, when Gaylord Perry accomplished the feat.

Over the past few years, Kluber has grown accustomed to hearing his name alongside Cleveland greats when it comes to …

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