Mr. T famously called The Itallion Stallion a 'paper champion' in "Rocky III."

What does that have to do with the Indians? Not a lot, other than the team's second-half schedule is setting up favorably, on paper. That doesn't mean a lot, but given his choice, I'm sure Manager Terry Francona would rather play bad teams down the stretch than good teams.

The Indians are 51-44, a game-and-a-half back of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. Here's a look at their second-half opponents with opponents' record and winning percentage in parenthesis:

July 19-21: at Minnesota (39-53, .424)

July 22-24: at Seattle (43-52, .453)

July 26-28: Texas (54-41, .568)

July 29-Aug. 1: Chicago White Sox (37-55, .402)

Aug. 2-4: at Miami (35-58, .376)

Aug. 5-8: Detroit (52-42, .553)

Aug. 9-11: L.A. Angels (44-49, .473)

Aug. 12-14: at Minnesota (39-53, .424)

Aug. 16-18: at Oakland (56-39, .589)

Aug. 19-21: at L.A. Angels (44-49, .473)

Aug. 23-25: Minnesota (39-53, .424)

Aug. 27-29: at Atlanta 54-41, .568)

Aug. 30-Sept. 1: at Detroit (52-42, .553)

Sept. 2-4: Baltimore (53-43, .552)

Sept. 6-8: at New York Mets (41-50, .451)

Sept. 9-11: Kansas City (43-49, .467)

Sept. 12-15: at Chicago White Sox (37-55, .402)

Sept. 16-18: at Kansas City (43-49, .467)

Sept. 19-22: Houston (33-61, .351)

Sept. 24-25: at Chicago White Sox (37-55, .402)

Sept. 26-29: at Minnesota (39-53, .424)

- Mark Podolski | @mpodo