Corey Kluber's biggest pitch on Tuesday was not a fastball. It was not put in play. It was a slider that broke far out of the strike zone – at least 6 inches wide of home plate called a strike by home plate umpire Ted Barrett.
It was the bottom of the first inning. The Detroit Tigers, entering their first meeting of the season against the Indians at Comerica Park with a half-game lead for first place in the American League Central Division, had two runners on and nobody out. Miguel Cabrera was the hitter.
Ahead in the count, three balls and one strike, Cabrera watched that Kluber slider miss outside and was visibly surprised when it was called a strike.