CLEVELAND _ The Indians believe Trevor Bauer will be able to get through his start in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night without much of an issue from his lacerated pinkie.
Though they said that before Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, and he couldn't get out of the first inning without covering his cleats and pants in blood in Toronto. With an extra week for his finger to heal, the confidence is the same. They just hope the result is different.
"I was confident last week, and I said that I didn't think the finger was going to get in the way, and I'm going to say the same thing again this week," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "I don't think that finger's going to be the reason he wins or loses. Now, I said that last week, too."
Bauer threw about 20 pitches Monday night to test the finger and it held up, allowing him to start Wednesday's Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs' Jake Arrieta. Josh Tomlin will then start Game 3 in Chicago. If something does go wrong again, the Indians will have the off-day to support the bullpen should it be called into extra duty.
Another benefit of Bauer throwing Game 2 is that he won't have to bat, which could have been an issue as he tries to be careful with his finger. When the World Series turns to Chicago for Games 3, 4 and 5 if necessary, the Indians will lose the designated hitter spot in the lineup.
"You can just say, 'Well OK just let him stand there.' It's hard to do," Francona said. "It's hard to give a really good team a couple outs right off the bat. If he put his finger and took it _ I don't know. I was more worried about that than probably the pitching."
As Bauer prepares to pitch in the biggest start of his career, he isn't overly concerned about his finger or the Cubs' lineup.
"I'm not concerned about anything," Bauer said. "They're obviously very talented, but the Red Sox were very talented, and the Blue Jays are obviously very talented, too. At the end of the day they're just hitters. They get outs nine out of 10 times, like all the rest of them. It comes down to executing pitches, executing a game plan."
