KANSAS CITY -- The goal for Indians manager Terry Francona is to find a way to get Cody Allen back on track in the weeks leading up to October. That will not involve stripping the closer of his late-inning duties, but rather identifying some other opportunities to help Allen sort through some delivery issues.
Francona sat down with Allen briefly after Friday night's 5-4 defeat to the Royals, who launched back-to-back home runs off the right-hander in the ninth inning for their walk-off win. The manager's message to Allen -- his primary closer for the past six seasons -- was that Cleveland needs the right-hander confident and cruising by the time the postseason arrives.