Entering Wednesday's loss to the Rays, the Indians were averaging an 8.0 rating and being watched by 120,000 homes in the Cleveland market on SportsTime Ohio. That marked a 60% year-over-year jump, and was 23% better than the Tribe's 2016 ratings norm of 6.5, which ranked fifth in baseball and was the franchise's best since 2005.
As of May 11, the Indians, according to Nielsen, had the best local TV ratings in MLB. The Cardinals (7.92 average), Royals (7.55) and Orioles (7.53) were all within striking distance of the top.
Also noteworthy: The Indians' ratings norm on STO was significantly better in April, when they were 14-10, than it has been in May, a month in which they're 6-9. The Tribe had a whopping 8.45 ratings average in April, a 62% jump from April 2016.
The Indians' ratings norm in May entering Wednesday was 6.96, which was up 41% from May 2016 and almost a half-point higher than the club's 2016 season average.
The five highest-rated games this season all occurred in the first 11 days of April. That list is led by an April 11 win against the White Sox, a WKYC simulcast that produced a 19.58 rating — the highest ever for the Tribe on STO.
The top five is rounded out by the opening three-game series at Texas (11.49 on April 4, 10.19 on April 3 and 9.69 on April 5), and another matchup with the White Sox (a 10.04 on April 12 that ranks fourth).
The Tribe's season average of 8.0 is on track to be the club's best since 2001, when the Indians had a 9.94 ratings norm on Fox Sports Ohio.
One very large caveat in all of this ratings buzz: For the robust numbers to continue, the Indians need to play better. They've lost five of their last seven, and have scored four or fewer runs in 11 of their 15 games this month.
Fortunately, the AL Central is kind of a mess (the 19-16 Twins and 20-19 Indians are the only teams above .500), and other expected powerhouses (the 20-19 Cubs and 21-18 Red Sox) aren't wowing anyone, either.
It's a LONG season, but we're confident in at least one ratings prediction: The Indians will be in the top five on TV for the third time in the last four years.
