The 2002 Cleveland Indians season was the 102nd season for the franchise and the 9th season at Jacobs Field. The season began on March 31, 2002. The team finished third in the American League Central behind the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox, and suffered their first losing season since 1993.

Offseason November 7, 2001: Chris Coste was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Chris Coste at Baseball Reference November 7, 2001: Jason Beverlin was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Jason Beverlin at Baseball Reference November 26, 2001: Donzell McDonald was signed as a free agent by the Indians.Donzell McDonald at Baseball Reference December 11, 2001: Roberto Alomar, Mike Bacsik and Danny Peoples (minors) were traded by the Indians to the New York Mets for Matt Lawton, Alex Escobar, Jerrod Riggan and players to be named later. The Mets completed the deal by sending Earl Snyder and Billy Traber to the Indians on December 13.Roberto Alomar at Baseball Reference December 18, 2001: John Rocker was traded by the Indians to the Texas Rangers for Dave Elder.John Rocker at Baseball Reference February 9, 2002: Bruce Aven was signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians. March 28, 2002: Donzell McDonald was assigned by the Indians to the Kansas City Royals.

Regular season

Opening Day starters

Matt Lawton – RF Omar Vizquel – SS Ellis Burks – DH Jim Thome – 1B Travis Fryman – 3B Ricky Gutiérrez – 2B Milton Bradley – CF Russell Branyan – LF Einar Díaz – C Bartolo Colón – SP

Season standings

American League Wild Card

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions June 4, 2002: Jeremy Guthrie was drafted by the Indians in the 1st round (22nd pick) of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. Player signed on October 3, 2002.Jeremy Guthrie at Baseball Reference June 7, 2002: Russell Branyan was traded by the Indians to the Cincinnati Reds for Ben Broussard.Ben Broussard at Baseball Reference June 25, 2002: Bruce Aven was traded by the Indians to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jeff D'Amico. June 27, 2002: Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew were traded by the Indians to the Montreal Expos for Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Brandon Phillips, and Lee Stevens.Grady Sizemore at Baseball Reference July 28, 2002: Paul Shuey was traded by the Indians to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ricardo Rodríguez, Terry Mulholland, and Francisco Cruceta.Paul Shuey at Baseball Reference August 16, 2002: Jason Beverlin was selected off waivers from the Indians by the Detroit Tigers.

Roster 2002 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches (Pitching) (First Base) (Bench, Third Base) (Bullpen) (Bullpen Catcher) (Hitting) (Third Base) (First Base, Bench) (Bullpen Catcher)

Game log

|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 1 || March 31 || @ Angels || 6–0 || Colón (1–0) || Washburn (0–1) || — || Edison International Field of Anaheim || 42,697 || 1–0 || W1

|- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 2 || April 2 || @ Angels || 5–7 || Weber (1–0) || Riske (0–1) || Percival (1) || Edison International Field of Anaheim || 20,055 || 1–1 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 3 || April 3 || @ Angels || 6–5 || Drese (1–0) || Sele (0–1) || Wickman (1) || Edison International Field of Anaheim || 18,194 || 2–1 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 4 || April 5 || @ Tigers || 10–1 || Báez (1–0) || Redman (0–1) || — || Comerica Park || 41,248 || 3–1 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 5 || April 6 || @ Tigers || 5–3 || Colón (2–0) || Cornejo (0–1) || Wickman (2) || Comerica Park || 19,754 || 4–1 || W3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 6 || April 7 || @ Tigers || 5–1 || Sabathia (1–0) || Weaver (0–1) || Wickman (3) || Comerica Park || 14,749 || 5–1 || W4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 7 || April 8 || Twins || 9–5 || Drese (2–0) || Milton (1–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 42,441 || 6–1 || W5 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 8 || April 9 || Twins || 5–4 || Finley (1–0) || Mays (0–2) || Wickman (4) || Jacobs Field || 23,760 || 7–1 || W6 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 9 || April 10 || Twins || 9–3 || Báez (2–0) || Reed (1–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 25,420 || 8–1 || W7 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 10 || April 11 || Twins || 8–4 || Colón (3–0) || Lohse (0–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 25,582 || 9–1 || W8 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 11 || April 12 || Royals || 3–1 || Sabathia (2–0) || Suppan (1–1) || Wickman (5) || Jacobs Field || 29,970 || 10–1 || W9 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 12 || April 13 || Royals || 8–7 || Shuey (1–0) || Bailey (0–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 28,455 || 11–1 || W10 |- bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | – || April 14 || Royals || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain, makeup May 18) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 13 || April 16 || @ White Sox || 5–10 || Marte (1–0) || Finley (1–1) || — || Comiskey Park || 23,502 || 11–2 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 17 || @ White Sox || 2–7 || Buehrle (4–0) || Báez (2–1) || — || Comiskey Park || 15,561 || 11–3 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 18 || @ White Sox || 1–7 || Ritchie (1–1) || Colón (3–1) || — || Comiskey Park || 13,880 || 11–4 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || @ Twins || 3–12 || Lohse (1–1) || Sabathia (2–1) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 23,491 || 11–5 || L4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 17 || April 20 || @ Twins || 2–6 || Kinney (1–0) || Drese (2–1) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 30,146 || 11–6 || L5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || @ Twins || 2–4 || Reed (2–1) || Finley (1–2) || Guerrero (8) || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 22,264 || 11–7 || L6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 19 || April 22 || White Sox || 4–2 || Báez (3–1) || Buehrle (4–1) || Wickman (6) || Jacobs Field || 24,519 || 12–7 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 20 || April 23 || White Sox || 1–5 || Ritchie (2–1) || Colón (3–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 25,284 || 12–8 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 21 || April 24 || White Sox || 2–9 || Wright (2–2) || Sabathia (2–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 25,935 || 12–9 || L2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || White Sox || 3–6 || Garland (3–1) || Drese (2–2) || Foulke (6) || Jacobs Field || 29,046 || 12–10 || L3 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 23 || April 26 || @ Rangers || 7–4 || Davis (2–2) || Finley (2–2) || — || The Ballpark in Arlington || 33,243 || 13–10 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || @ Rangers || 2–4 || Bell (1–0) || Báez (3–2) || Irabu (4) || The Ballpark in Arlington || 43,353 || 13–11 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 28 || @ Rangers || 1–2 || Valdez (2–3) || Colón (3–3) || Irabu (5) || The Ballpark in Arlington || 24,118 || 13–12 || L2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 26 || April 30 || Angels || 2–21 || Ortiz (2–3) || Sabathia (2–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 24,286 || 13–13 || L3

|- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 27 || May 1 || Angels || 2–7 || Washburn (3–2) || Drese (2–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 23,536 || 13–14 || L4 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 28 || May 2 || Angels || 0–8 || Appier (3–1) || Finley (2–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 26,068 || 13–15 || L5 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 29 || May 3 || Rangers || 2–4 || Davis (3–2) || Báez (3–3) || Irabu (7) || Jacobs Field || 32,846 || 13–16 || L6 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 30 || May 4 || Rangers || 3–0 || Colón (4–3) || Valdez (2–4) || Wickman (7) || Jacobs Field || 33,788 || 14–16 || W1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 31 || May 5 || Rangers || 9–2 || Sabathia (3–3) || Rogers (3–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 31,990 || 15–16 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 32 || May 6 || @ Orioles || 9–4 || Drese (3–3) || Groom (1–1) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 24,976 || 16–16 || W3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 33 || May 7 || @ Orioles || 3–4 || Julio (2–0) || Wohlers (0–1) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 26,455 || 16–17 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 34 || May 8 || @ Orioles || 6–2 || Báez (4–3) || Erickson (3–3) || — || Oriole Park at Camden Yards || 29,361 || 17–17 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 9 || @ Royals || 3–5 || Suppan (3–4) || Rincón (0–1) || Hernandez (2) || Kauffman Stadium || 12,555 || 17–18 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 10 || @ Royals || 0–9 || Reichert (1–3) || Sabathia (3–4) || — || Kauffman Stadium || 24,279 || 17–19 || L2 |- bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | – || May 11 || @ Royals || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain, makeup July 20) |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 12 || @ Royals || 1–4 || Byrd (6–2) || Finley (2–4) || Hernandez (3) || Kauffman Stadium || 10,820 || 17–20 || L3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 38 || May 14 || Orioles || 6–5 || Shuey (2–0) || Julio (2–2) || — || Jacobs Field || 30,447 || 18–20 || W1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 39 || May 15 || Orioles || 3–1 || Colón (5–3) || Bauer (1–1) || Wickman (8) || Jacobs Field || 26,315 || 19–20 || W2 |- bgcolor="#bbbbbb" | – || May 16 || Orioles || colspan=8 | Postponed (rain, makeup June 13) |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 40 || May 17 || Royals || 2–6 || Byrd (7–2) || Finley (2–5) || — || Jacobs Field || 32,593 || 19–21 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 41 || May 18 || Royals || 2–4 || Reichert (2–4) || Wickman (0–1) || Hernandez (4) || Jacobs Field || 29,388 || 19–22 || L2 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 42 || May 18 || Royals || 4–1 || Drese (4–3) || May (0–1) || Wickman (9) || Jacobs Field || 32,110 || 20–22 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 43 || May 19 || Royals || 4–5 || Grimsley (2–2) || Wickman (0–2) || Hernandez (5) || Jacobs Field || 31,105 || 20–23 || L1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 20 || @ Tigers || 3–4 || Santana (3–0) || Rincón (0–2) || Walker (1) || Comerica Park || 12,851 || 20–24 || L2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 21 || @ Tigers || 1–5 || Redman (1–5) || Nagy (0–1) || — || Comerica Park || 14,442 || 20–25 || L3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 22 || @ Tigers || 0–2 || Weaver (4–5) || Finley (2–6) || — || Comerica Park || 14,396 || 20–26 || L4 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 47 || May 24 || @ Blue Jays || 5–2 || Drese (5–3) || Miller (3–2) || Wickman (10) || SkyDome || 16,385 || 21–26 || W1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 48 || May 25 || @ Blue Jays || 3–0 || Sabathia (4–4) || Loaiza (2–1) || Wickman (11) || SkyDome || 21,589 || 22–26 || W2 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 49 || May 26 || @ Blue Jays || 3–1 || Colón (6–3) || Prokopec (2–7) || — || SkyDome || 22,380 || 23–26 || W3 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 50 || May 27 || Tigers || 1–4 || Redman (2–5) || Báez (4–4) || — || Jacobs Field || 40,652 || 23–27 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 51 || May 28 || Tigers || 4–2 || Finley (3–6) || Weaver (4–6) || Wickman (12) || Jacobs Field || 25,028 || 24–27 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 52 || May 29 || Tigers || 5–9 || Sparks (3–5) || Riske (0–2) || Acevedo (7) || Jacobs Field || 26,156 || 24–28 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 53 || May 30 || Tigers || 11–7 || Riske (1–2) || Lima (1–3) || — || Jacobs Field || 25,689 || 25–28 || W1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 54 || May 31 || White Sox || 7–0 || Colón (7–3) || Glover (1–1) || — || Jacobs Field || 33,756 || 26–28 || W2

|- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 55 || June 1 || White Sox || 8–4 || Báez (5–4) || Ritchie (3–7) || — || Jacobs Field || 37,707 || 27–28 || W3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 56 || June 2 || White Sox || 4–3 || Finley (4–6) || Wright (5–6) || Wickman (13) || Jacobs Field || 37,760 || 28–28 || W4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 57 || June 4 || @ Twins || 2–23 || Reed (6–2) || Drese (5–4) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 14,029 || 28–29 || L1 |- bgcolor="bbffbb" | 58 || June 5 || @ Twins || 6–4 || Sabathia (5–4) || Milton (7–5) || Riske (1) || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 15,617 || 29–29 || W1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 6 || @ Twins || 3–8 || Lohse (6–3) || Colón (7–4) || — || Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome || 15,553 || 29–30 || L1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 60 || June 7 || Mets || 3–4 || Leiter (6–5) || Báez (5–5) || Benitez (12) || Jacobs Field || 39,986 || 29–31 || L2 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 61 || June 8 || Mets || 6–8 || Trachsel (4–6) || Finley (4–7) || Benitez (13) || Jacobs Field || 41,474 || 29–32 || L3 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" | 62 || June 9 || Mets || 8–3 || Drese (6–4) || Estes (2–5) || — || Jacobs Field || 39,436 || 30–32 || W1 |- bgcolor="#ffbbbb" | 63 || June 10 || Phillies || 1–3 || Adms (3–4) || Sabathia (5–5) || Mesa (18) || Jacobs Field || 28,440 || 30–33 || L1 |- bgcolor="#bbffbb"