Series Insider

Bauer won’t drone on, set for Game 2

CLEVELAND – Trevor Bauer is set to start Game 2 of the World Series for the Indians Wednesday night, and the most famous drone enthusiast in the country is confident his injured right pinkie finger won’t be an issue when he takes the mound.

Bauer, who suffered a severe laceration on the finger before the ALCS, didn’t make it through the first inning of his Game 3 start against the Blue Jays after the cut opened up, causing blood to drip continuously from his hand.

The righthander threw a 20-pitch simulated game on Monday and experienced no issue, leaving him feeling good about his Game 2 start against the Cubs.

“I threw it with max intent, just like in a game, as close to game intensity as I could possibly get to,” Bauer said. “There’s no pain, no blood. I was able to execute all my pitches to a high level, and I’m really encouraged by it. I feel like I’m on a regular preparation for my start.”

Terry Francona also felt confident that Bauer was ready to go, though the Indians manager noted that he said the same thing prior to the ALCS start.

“He threw the ball pretty well the other night and there was no blood,” Francona said. “I don’t think that finger’s going to be the reason he wins or loses.”

Francona then added, “Now I said that last week, too.”

OLDEST INDIAN

Eddie Robinson may get a call after all.

The 95-year-old Robinson, the last living member of the 1948 Indians World Series champion team, told the Daily News last week that he was upset that his old club had not reached out to him yet during the current Tribe’s march to the World Series.

“That’s the funny thing about it. I haven’t heard a damn word from Cleveland. Not a word,” Robinson said last week from his home in Fort Worth, Texas. “I’m disappointed.”

Kenny Lofton threw out the first pitch for Tuesday’s Game 1 and Carlos Baerga will throw out the ceremonial first pitches in Game 2 on Wednesday, but should the Fall Classic extend to Games 6 and 7 – when the Series would resume in Cleveland after three games in Chicago – the Indians are considering having Robinson be part of any pregame festivities.

“It’s in the cards,” Indians spokesman Bart Swain told The News Tuesday.

Robinson, when told of the Indians’ response, said he was pleased but will hold no grudge if he doesn’t make it back to Cleveland during the 2016 Fall Classic.

Robinson played on the 1948 team that featured Hall of Famers and Negro Leagues stars Larry Doby and Satchel Paige and fellow Cooperstown inductees Bob Feller, Bob Lemon, Joe Gordon and player-manager Lou Boudreau.

The ’48 Indians beat the Boston Braves in six games, and Robinson drove in what would be the decisive run in the clinching 4-3 Game 6 victory.

GAME 2 AT 7 p.M.

With heavy rain in the forecast for Wednesday, Major League Baseball announced that the start of Game 2 would be moved up from 8:08 p.m. ET to 7:08 p.m. ET.

The Cubs and Indians are scheduled to be off Thursday, leaving an easy date for a makeup in the event that the game can’t be played.

There is a Yankee at the World Series, after all, and we don’t mean former ace relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller.

Luis Cessa, the 24-year-old righty who was 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA in 17 games this season for the Yanks, is working as an analyst for Fox Sports Latin America. He’s already made an impression, too.

Yankee teammate Gary Sanchez, watching the postseason from his home in the Dominican Republic, recently contacted Cessa to say he had been watching him on television.

Sanchez told Cessa the pitcher might have a future in TV after his playing career. “It’s a good experience,” Cessa said, though he also admitted something every TV personality — and pitcher — has likely experienced: nerves.

FOR GRAMpS

— Christian Red

Cubs players are hoping to end the team’s 108-year title drought for the legions of fans aching for a championship, but there’s another motivating factor.

“We want to send David Ross out with a ring,” third baseman Kris Bryant said. The 39-year-old Ross, nicknamed “Gramps” by his younger teammates, has announced he plans to retire after the season.

— With Anthony McCarron