TRIBE WILL START BAUER, NOT KLUBER

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 their AL division series, the defending league champions will pitch Trevor Bauer on Thursday against the American League wild-card winner. Kluber, who has been baseball’s most dominant pitcher for months, is scheduled to start Game 2.

Scherzer confident.

WASHINGTON» Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer said he definitely plans to pitch in the NL division series against the Cubs despite tweaking his right hamstring during his final regular-season start.

Verlander gets nod.

HOUSTON» The Astros will start Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the AL division series against Chris Sale and the Red Sox on Thursday.

Left-hander Dallas Keuchel, who won the AL Cy Young Award in 2015, will start Game 2 on Friday.

Bautista out.

TORONTO» The Blue Jays will decline their mutual option on outfielder Jose Bautista, making the six-time all-star a free agent.

Tear-down?

Derek Jeter was noncommittal when asked about Giancarlo Stanton’s future with the Marlins, saying he doesn’t like “the word ‘tear-down.’ ”

Yet Jeter acknowledged that he will probably make “unpopular decisions” as part of the franchise’s new ownership group.