Indians hold on to ace
Bauer, not Kluber, the choice to start Game 1 of ALDS
CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber has been relieved already.
The Indians will open the playoffs with their ace on hold.
Instead of starting their Cy Young favorite in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, the defending league champions will pitch Trevor Bauer on Thursday. Kluber, who has been baseball’s most dominant pitcher for months, is scheduled to start Game 2.
Manager Terry Francona said part of his decision to go with the rubberarmed Bauer in the opener is so he can use his best pitcher — Kluber — in a potential Game 5.
“I think on a number of reasons it makes good sense,” Francona said Tuesday as the Indians awaited the winner of the TwinsYankees wild-card game. “Not that you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping him on his 5-day (schedule). That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it.
“Again, you don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you’re fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series.”
The decision to go with Bauer over Kluber — or even ahead of scheduled Game 3 starter Carlos Carassco — is curious on a number of levels. Kluber has been overpowering this season, going 18-4 with a 2.25 ERA on his way to a likely second Cy Young win. The right-hander went 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA in six September starts and would seem to give the Indians their best chance to win.
But Francona is more concerned with giving his ace normal rest, and with off days after Games 2 and 4, Kluber will have his usual recovery time between starts.
The move seems risky, and could backfire if the Indians drop the opener, but Francona isn’t worried about Bauer, who last year nearly cost the Indians a trip to the World Series after he cut his finger while fixing a drone.
“The growth he’s made, not just being a teammate but as a pitcher, he’s come a long way and we’re proud of him,” Francona said. “And he’s continuing to work and he takes feedback, he asks for feedback. Trevor’s done a heck of a job. I mean, for him to get the ball in Game 1 speaks volumes.
“Trevor will never back down from a challenge and we love that about him.”
Kluber didn’t start last year’s ALDS opener against the Red Sox, but that was because he was coming off a hamstring injury. This is different.
Bauer shook off a slow start and went 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 31 starts. Since he began throwing a slider, Bauer is 10-1 with 2.60 ERA in 14 games.
“He’s been one of the better pitchers in the league,” Francona said. “He’s durable. He bounces back really well. That’s another thing. We can use him, whether it’s a second start, or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster. That’s another factor. The chances of anybody besides Kluber going real deep probably aren’t real good.”