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Home plate collisions are scary. The rule that MLB instituted in 2014 (and subsequently clarified later that year due to widespread confusion) helped to cut down the number of home plate collisions, but they can still happen. That's why it was a relief that one was avoided during the Cleveland Indians-Seattle Mariners game on Thursday. And the players involved seemed pretty happy about it, too. It was the top of the fifth inning, and Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez was at the plate with Mariners reliever Mike Montgomery on the mound. The bases were loaded with Cleveland players: Carlos Santana was on third, Francisco Lindor was on second, and Mike Napoli was on first. Montgomery delivered the 1-2 pitch to Ramirez, which Ramirez promptly delivered to right field for a single. [ Join a Yahoo Daily Fantasy Baseball contest now ] But waiting in right field was Nelson Cruz. Cruz grabbed the ball on a bounce and hurled it toward home plate. He couldn't stop Santana from scoring, but the ball made it to catcher Chris Iannetta way before Lindor did. It could have been ugly if Lindor had continued barreling down the third base line, but once he saw that Iannetta had the ball, he slowed up as much as he could.  They did run into each other, but it was more of high-velocity hug than anything harmful. And once Lindor had come to a complete stop, he patted Iannetta on the arm, and Iannetta did the same. They exchanged smiles and laughs, obviously relieved that they weren't both writhing on the ground in pain, and then went their separate ways. Whew. Collision avoided.  More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:   - - - - - - Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher Continue to Article

June 10, 2016 11:30:am EST

Right-hander Corey Kluber looks to continue the momentum from his last start when he takes the mound as Cleveland Indians open a three-game series Friday against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif. Kluber (5-6, 3.84 ERA) blanked the Kansas City Royals for six innings Sunday, scattering just two hits and two walks while striking out six. "I just tried to work ahead in the count because it puts things in your favor and keeps the pressure on the hitter," said Kluber, who threw 55 of his 82 pitches for strikes in Cleveland's 7-0 win. Continue to Article

June 10, 2016 4:09:am EST

The Texas Rangers left little doubt about which team is the American League West favorite last weekend when they swept the Seattle Mariners to take a three-game lead atop the division. Beginning Friday, the Mariners get another chance to prove that they are a legitimate contender for the AL West crown. Second-place Seattle (33-27) is now a full four games behind Texas in the division standings, thanks in large part to last weekend's sweep. Continue to Article

June 10, 2016 3:36:am EST

Walks and command issues on the mound came back to bite the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night. The Mariners issued a season-high eight walks, five coming from starter Nathan Karns, in a 5-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians. Tyler Naquin golfed a two-run home run off reliever Joaquin Benoit in the eighth inning to give Cleveland the lead. Continue to Article

June 10, 2016 3:21:am EST