USA TODAY International Edition
Indians mulling 3- man rotation
The Chicago Cubs failed to crack Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber in Game 1 of the World Series, and now they’re facing the prospect of battling him again sooner than they thought.
Indians manager Terry Francona said Wednesday that Kluber was all set to pitch Game 4 on three days’ rest and that he was prepared to go with a three- man rotation in the World Series.
“What’s in our best interest to win four games before the Cubs do? That’s how we came to this conclusion,” Francona said before Game 2. “We reserve the right to change it if someone needs it.”
Kluber, who threw 88 pitches in taking a shutout into the seventh inning of Game 1, pitched on three days’ rest in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed two earned runs and struck out seven over five innings but was the losing pitcher.
Francona said he expected Game 2 starter Trevor Bauer and Game 3 projected starter Josh Tomlin to follow suit and start on three days’ rest behind Kluber. Bauer started Wednesday for the first time since a bleeding finger cut short his ALCS start, throwing 87 pitches over 32⁄ innings and giving up 3 six hits and two earned runs.
“We tried to think it through ahead of time,” Francona said. “Finger aside, Trevor’s a guy who can pitch all the time.”
Aaron winners:
Even after retiring as an active player, David Ortiz continues to collect awards for his on- the- field exploits. The longtime Boston Red Sox designated hitter, who led the majors in slugging percentage this season at age 40, was named the American League recipient of the Hank Aaron Award.
It’s the second time in his career that Ortiz has won the Aaron award, given to the best overall hitter in each league. The Cubs’ Kris Bryant was the National League honoree after posting a .292 average with 39 homers and 102 RBI.
In his 20th and final MLB season, Ortiz batted .315 with 38 homers and 127 RBI in leading the Red Sox to the AL East title. The Indians swept the Red Sox in the AL Division Series.
Both players made light of the 16- year difference in their ages, with Bryant noting that he “grew up watching Big Papi,” and Ortiz calling Bryant “the baby boy over there at the end of the table.”
Ortiz and Bryant were joined at the news conference before Game 2 by the award’s namesake, former home run king Hank Aaron, as well as MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Aaron praised both players and said the game was in good hands with the number of young stars in the majors. He even said he joked with fellow Hall of Famer Willie Mays recently that the players are so good today, “You and I would probably be in the minor leagues compared to these guys.”