By CHRIS ASSENHEIMER

Staff Writer

CLEVELAND — Cliff Lee is having a magical season, a year that the left-hander would probably be able to enjoy more if the Indians weren’t having such a sorry one.

“Obviously I’d be more happy and everybody would be having more fun if we were in first place, but that’s not the case,” said Lee, who is just the sixth pitcher in major league history to begin the season with 17 wins in his first 19 decisions, the first ever Indian to accomplish as much. “We’ve still got to go out and do our job. I don’t care if we’re in first place, last place or anywhere in between. You’ve still got to do the job you’re paid to do.”

Lee has earned his salary and then some this year, rebounding from a season on the brink last year, when he lost his spot in the rotation and was banished to the minors.

He leads the majors in wins (17) and the American League in ERA (2.43), and at this point, is the leading candidate to win the American League Cy Young Award, which would give Cleveland back-to-back winners of the coveted pitching honor that went to CC Sabathia last year.

“There’s a different vibe (when Lee is pitching),” said manager Eric Wedge. “CC had it and (Roger) Clemens had it with the Red Sox. Everyone in the park feels it, the opposing team, your team, it’s just a different feeling, and that’s a credit to the individual we’re talking about.”

As Lee continues his trek toward a possible Cy Young, his manager has some advice for him.

“What Cliff needs to focus on is staying who he is,” Wedge said. “He just needs to keep going out there and doing what he’s doing.”

Lee is on the same page.

“Should I be happy, joy-joy because I’m doing good? I don’t think so,” he said. “I think you need to stay even. I think it’s kind of tired when guys are happy when they’re doing good and mad when things aren’t going their way.

“I just have to keep going out there and controlling what I can control. If I do that, I think I have a pretty good chance of having success.”

o o o SIZZLING SIZEMORE: Grady Sizemore stole his 30th base Sunday and now needs three homers to become just the second player in Indians history — Joe Carter (1987) — to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a single season. Sizemore, who entered the game on pace to hit 36 homers and steal 39 bases, has been successful in 23 of his last 24 stolen base attempts.

o o o REHAB ROUNDUP: Travis Hafner’s minor league rehab assignment will begin today at Triple-A Buffalo, where he will be joined by catcher Victor Martinez, who is expected to arrive Tuesday after playing two games for Double-A Akron. Martinez went 2-for-4 Sunday in the Aeros’ 8-2 loss to New Britain, hitting his first home run after failing to go deep in 54 games on the big league level prior to landing on the disabled list. He is expected to catch (six innings) for the first time Tuesday. Second baseman Josh Barfield, who went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a pair of rehab games at Akron, was transferred to Buffalo, where he will join Hafner in the lineup tonight against Lehigh Valley (7:05). Wedge did not have a timetable for the trio’s return to the big league roster. “We’ll probably evaluate those guys after a week and go from there,” he said.

o o o NEXT UP: The Indians are off today, wrapping up a 10-game homestand with a three-game series against Kansas City that begins Tuesday night at 7:05. Anthony Reyes (3-2, 3.67) opens the set against RHP Luke Hochevar (6-11, 5.44), while Zach Jackson (0-0, 5.19) and RHP Gil Meche (10-9, 4.43) pitch Game 2 on Wednesday (7:05). Lee (17-2, 2.43) is the scheduled starter in the series finale Thursday (12:05), while the Royals counter with RHP Zack Greinke (9-8, 4.09). Cleveland led last-place Kansas City by a half game in the Central Division standings entering Sunday, splitting eight games with the Royals this year.

o o o MINOR DETAILS: Nine-year big league veteran John Halama improved to 8-4 with a 4.00 ERA for Buffalo on Saturday, pitching seven shutout innings on two hits in a 1-0 victory over Pawtucket. Halama was out of baseball last year after being released by the Orioles in 2006. … Right fielder Lucas Montero had half of Class A Kinston’s hits in a 6-4 loss to Frederick on Saturday, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Montero is a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic. … Single-A Lake County third baseman Jeffrey Hehr led a slugfest in a 12-6 victory over Rome on Saturday, going 2-for-5 with a triple and four RBI. Hehr was selected in the 20th round of last year’s draft.

o o o ROUNDIN’ THIRD: Jhonny Peralta entered Sunday hitting safely in 31 of his last 35 games, batting .345 (49-for-142) with 15 doubles, two triples, seven homers and 31 RBI over the span. His 19 homers lead all AL shortstops. … Cleveland entered Sunday scoring as many runs (573) as the Angels, baseball’s best team. … The Indians are 9-13 in one-run games.

Assenheimer may be reached at cassenheimer@chroniclet.com or 440-329-7137.