CLEVELAND _ Corey Kluber never wanted so bad not to have to pitch.
The Indians righthander, lights-out all postseason, was slated to take the mound in Game 7 of the World Series if his team failed to close out the Cubs in Tuesday night's Game 6.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks would go for Chicago.
"I'll be rooting as hard as anybody for us to win (Tuesday night)," said Kluber, who is 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA in five starts this postseason. "But I think that my mindset (since his Game 4 start) was I'd rather be prepared and not have to pitch than try to will us to not get to a Game 7 and then not be ready when it comes."
Kluber has been ready at all times this postseason. He pitched Game 4 on short rest _ just the second time in his career he'd started on three days' rest _ and would do the same should this series go to Game 7.
"I still get in the same amount of work in between (starts), it's just a little bit more condensed," Kluber said. "I haven't, for me personally, I haven't found much of a difference yet in the way I feel when I go out on three days' rest as opposed to four."
In an odd coincidence, Kluber earned the victory in the AL's 4-2 victory over the NL in July's All-Star Game in San Diego, striking out one in a perfect second inning. That victory gave the AL, the Indians as it turned out, home-field advantage for the World Series.
"I never connected those dots at that point in time," Kluber smiled. "If it does get to a Game 7, then hopefully that works in our favor."
