The Indians have set their starting rotation for the American League Championship Series.
They were able to handle the task of a five-game series and three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series without Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in the rotation. Now comes the challenge of a seven-game ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Unlike the ALDS, the Indians are throwing ace Corey Kluber in Game 1, as he's had additional time to rest his mild quadriceps strain following his stellar start in Game 2 of the ALDS. Kluber will face Blue Jays' Marco Estrada, who threw 8 1/3 innings giving up four hits and one run in an ALDS Game 1 victory over the Rangers.
Trevor Bauer will take the mound for Game 2 for the Indians, followed by Josh Tomlin in Game 3. That brings them to Game 4, and perhaps the biggest concern for the club entering this series. For now, the Indians are slated to throw Mike Clevinger in "somewhat of an abbreviated" start, as Indians manager Terry Francona put it. Kluber, Bauer and Tomlin will then throw Games 5, 6 and 7, if necessary.
Clevinger starting Game 4 is the current Plan A, but it could change. He'll be available in the bullpen for Games 1 and 2 if he's needed. Barring something short of the 19-inning game the Indians and Blue Jays played on July 1, Clevinger will be taking the mound in Toronto.
"It's not that we're not moving somebody up if we win a game or lose a game, he's supposed to pitch, again just because he's in the bullpen for the first two games, we reserve the right to make a change if we need to," Francona said.
The Indians decided not to stretch Clevinger out over the week or two, instead keeping him ready out of the bullpen. It means if Clevinger does start, it likely will be for only a few innings. It could put a strain on the bullpen for that game, and potentially affect Games 3 and 5, as those three are played on consecutive days. But the Indians chose this path over pitching Kluber in Games 1, 4 and potentially 7.
"You know what, I just think the way it's set up with two [games], off day, three [games], off day, you're asking guys to do a lot," Francona said. "You see at times where people have guys going on short rest, which we were certainly willing to do with Trevor. I think right now we feel like our best way to win this series is to allow those first three to pitch two games and then pitch Clev in which would be the fourth game."
