Cleveland Indians spring training 2015: Day 6

Center fielder Michael Bourn is expected to hit leadoff for the Indians this year, but will manager Terry Francona follow him with lefties Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley at the top of the lineup?

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Manager Terry Francona says he doesn't spend all winter writing down versions of what the Indians lineup will look like in 2015.

"I'm not a mad scientist," said Francona.

Now with spring training underway, and the Cactus League season starting Tuesday, the lineup becomes more important. While exhibition games lend themselves to experiments, the one thing that Francona wrestles with is batting lefties Michael Bourn, Jason Kipnis and Michael Brantley at the top of the lineup.

"The decision is do you take those first three at-bats and say, 'Ok, we're putting ourselves in a really good position,'" said Francona. "But you also have to remember that every lefty the opposing manager wants to bring into the game, those three guys are going to see them.

"So you're not doing them any favors and you're making it easier for the opposing manager if you run three lefties in a row out there."

In Francona's six most frequently used lineups last year, he had a switch-hitter batting second so he wouldn't have three lefties at the top of the lineup. The switch-hitters were Asdrubal Cabrera, Nick Swisher and Jose Ramirez.

"It's great to have switch-hitters," said Francona. "The more you can use the platoon advantage, it probably helps."

Ramirez, Swisher and Carlos Santana are the Tribe's top switch-hitters this year. Ramirez, who moved into the No.2 spot last year after Cabrera was traded, is the most likely choice to bat there this year. Swisher is coming off double knee surgery and Santana is expected to hit cleanup.

Pitcher's pitch: Here are the pitchers scheduled to face the Reds on Tuesday and Wednesday in the first two games of the Cactus League season.

Tuesday: Zach McAllister will start followed by Charles Brewer, Mike Roth, Bryan Price, Nick Hagadone and Dustin Molleken.

Wednesday's pitchers: Josh Tomlin will start followed by T.J. House, CC Lee, Nick Maronde, Will Roberts and Jeff Manship.

Pitchers' practice: Tribe pitchers will start throwing batting practice to the hitters on Saturday. Francona calls it a "necessarily evil." Hitters call it something a lot worse.

"I'm fine if they don't swing," said Francona. "Some guys will swing, some guys will track. ... It's pitchers' practice."

Urshela update: Giovanny Urshela is in his first big-league camp. He arrived with the reputation of being the best defensive third baseman in the organization, but Francona has been watching his legs, not his glove.

In winter ball, Urshela strained the PCL in his left knee sliding into third base in Venezuela. Surgery wasn't needed, but he's spent the last three months rehabbing his knee in Goodyear.

"I've been watching his gait to make sure he's not favoring that leg," said Francona. "He told us he would let us know, but I also know he's a kid in his first big-league camp.

"His actions are really good. He has a way of slowing the game down defensively that good defenders can do. He goes down-to-up on the ball very well."

Urshela, always known for his defense, had a breakout season last year, hitting a combined .280 (136-for-485) with 36 doubles, 18 homers and 84 RBI at Class AA Akron and Class AAA Columbus.

Words of wisdom: Former manager Mike Hargrove is in camp working with players. He's spent the last couple of days talking with Santana. Hargrove was an excellent first baseman during his playing days.

"Grover has carte blanche to talk to whoever he wants whenever he wants," said Francona. "He's seen it all. I like having him around and I've known him for a long time.

"I also want him to feel comfortable to grab somebody whenever he wants. That's what he does and he has a good way of doing it."

Learning curve: Players have learning curves, so do first-year special assistants such as Travis Hafner.

"Travis has been great," said Francona. "He's been coming in every morning. He asked me, "What should I do?' I told him to go to the cage with Ty (Tye Van Burkleo) and Q (Matt Quatraro). It's kind of a free forum in there.

"You'll offer suggestions and one thing will lead to another and before you know it, you'll have a hitter in there."

The Indians hired Hafner, John McDonald and Charlie Nagy as special assistants right before the start of camp.