The prime-time ratings gap between SportsTime Ohio and the rest of the Cleveland TV market is every bit as considerable as the "race" to win the American League Central Division.

Entering the All-Star break last week, Indians broadcasts on STO were averaging a 6.69 rating in prime time. According to sources, that norm was 64% ahead of the 4.09 average that was posted by WEWS, Cleveland's ABC affiliate, during the 7-11 p.m. hours since the start of the MLB season.

WOIO's 4.04 rating from 7-11 p.m. during that stretch ranks third in the Cleveland market, followed by WKYC (3.58) and WJW (2.88). ESPN checked in with a 2.0 ratings average from 7-11.

The disparity is yet another reminder of the draw of live sports, especially in Cleveland, where the Cavs and Tribe are prime-time destinations. The difference was even more considerable last season, when the Indians averaged a 9.22 rating on prime time and led MLB with an 8.33 ratings average on STO.

This season, the numbers for the inconsistent Indians are down quite a bit, but the Tribe, when compared to the rest of MLB, remains a TV power.

The Indians' 6.69 prime-time ratings average at the break was good for No. 2 in MLB, trailing only the St. Louis Cardinals' 7.23 average on Fox Sports Midwest. Only the Cardinals and Red Sox, who ranked third with a 6.55 prime-time average, were within a point of the Indians' ratings norm. The top 15 was as follows:

1. Cardinals: 7.23 rating, 86,000 households

2. Indians: 6.69, 97,000

3. Red Sox: 6.55, 159,000

4. Brewers: 5.51, 48,000

5. Royals: 5.07, 46,000

6. Pirates: 5.01, 57,000

7. Twins: 4.85, 84,000

8. Mariners: 4.81, 90,000

9. Cubs: 4.63, 153,000

10. Reds: 4.52, 39,000

11. Astros: 4.35, 107,000

12. Yankees: 4.14, 293,000

13. Giants: 3.91, 96,000

14. Phillies: 3.54, 102,000

15. Rockies: 3.36, 53,000

One of the biggest takeaways for us is the Indians, even with year-over-ratings drop of 15%, are ninth in MLB with an average of 97,000 households on STO. The top eight — the Yankees, Mets (186,000), Red Sox, Cubs, Astros, Phillies, Dodgers (99,000) and Angels (98,000) — all play in the nation's 10 largest markets.

The Cleveland-Akron-Canton market, according to Nielsen, is the nation's 19th-largest with 1,447,310 TV homes. That number trails No. 10 Boston by almost a million.

At the break, the Tribe's overall ratings average was 6.38. The norm has risen slightly since, to 6.4, and is on pace to challenge, and likely surpass, the 2016 Indians for the franchise's second-best TV ratings since at least 2005. The 2016 Tribe posted a ratings average of 6.53, which ranked fifth in MLB and was the franchise's best since a 6.62 average in 2005. The 2017 club, with the help of a 22-game winning streak, raised the bar by recording the Tribe's most prolific ratings since 2001.

Since ratings tend to increase throughout the summer, and since we believe the Indians' best baseball is ahead, we'd expect the final 2018 TV numbers to top those posted by the 2005 and '16 clubs.

Hopefully, your level of concern for Corey Kluber's health won't be at a 7 or 8 by that point.