Rested Bauer gets ‘2’ start

IF YOU are wondering why Trevor Bauer, not Josh Tomlin, is starting World Series Game 2 for the Indians, a big part is the game is in Cleveland.

Tomlin has been the second most reliable starter this postseason for the Indians (2-0, 2.53), so logic would dictate that he would follow Game 1 starter and ace Corey Kluber. But the Indians are starting Bauer to face the Cubs’ Jake Arrieta.

Bauer faced just four batters in his last start, ALCS Game 3, before a gash on his left pinkie suffered when he was cut while cleaning his drone began bleeding. Both Bauer and manager Terry Francona said he is fine now, but even Francona admitted, “that is what I said last time.”

So the Indians will want to have plenty of bullpen available and pitching coach Mickey Callaway and president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said all the factors that likely mean more relievers available were a factor: 1) The expectation that Kluber will provide length in Game 1, thus not overexposing the pen. 2) An off-day after Game 2, which means the ability to push relievers a little more in Game 2. 3) That Game 2, played in an AL park, has a DH and, thus, no need to hit for pitchers/double switch, and, thus, the ability to use an effective reliever longer if necessary.

For all of those reasons, the Indians would have considered Danny Salazar for Game 2. He has been out since Sept. 10 (including the first two rounds of the playoffs) with a forearm injury. To know they could put Salazar on the World Series roster, they had to let him throw a three-inning simulated game Sunday, which did not give him enough down time to make even an abbreviated start Wednesday.