TORONTO _ The Indians believed that Trevor Bauer's injured pinkie could get through Monday night's start.
The digit didn't make it through one inning.
As a result, manager Terry Francona said Corey Kluber will start Tuesday night's Game 3 on three days' rest, a career first for the right-hander.
Bauer originally was scheduled to start Game 2 in Cleveland on Saturday, but while repairing a drone Friday, the right-hander suffered a right pinkie laceration that required at least 10 stitches to close, and his start was pushed to Game 3.
Spotted a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on Mike Napoli's two-out double, Bauer struck out leadoff man Jose Bautista but walked Josh Donaldson. During Edwin Encarnacion's at-bat, cameras caught Bauer's pinkie _ which before the game looked as if Hannibal Lecter had taken a bite out of it _ dripping blood. Encarnacion flied to center but Bauer, his finger still hemorrhaging, walked Troy Tulowitzki on six pitches.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons alerted plate umpire Brian Gorman and, after Cleveland's training staff worked on Bauer, his night was done. He threw 21 pitches, nine for strikes.
Right-hander Dan Otero retired Russell Martin on a groundout to end the inning, but Michael Saunders homered to lead off the second to tie it at 1. Napoli homered off Marcus Stroman in the fourth to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead and Jason Kipnis homered off Stroman in the sixth to put the Indians ahead 3-2. Napoli then drew a walk off Stroman, who was relieved by Joe Biagini, stole second and scored on Jose Ramirez's single.
Such is the state of the Cleveland rotation that several hours before Game 3, Francona could not say for sure who would start Game 4, as it was contingent on the health of Bauer.
"If [Bauer is] OK, Ryan Merritt will pitch tomorrow," Francona said beforehand. "If something happens with Bauer and we have a little bit of a malfunction in his finger ... then we would bring Kluber back tomorrow, and then Merritt would pitch the next day [Game 5]. And then that would allow Kluber to pitch a Game 7 if need be. If Trevor is OK, then we slot Corey in two days _ everybody stays on normal rest."
Kluber, 30, shut out the Blue Jays in his 6 1/3 innings in Game 1 and has not allowed a run in two starts and 13 1/3 innings this postseason.
The Indians' rotation shined in the first five games of this postseason with a 1.88 ERA, but it is short-handed.
The group took two brutal hits toward the end of the regular season when stalwarts Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco were lost to injury (Salazar might be able to return for the World Series if Cleveland makes it).
Last weekend Francona indicated that Mike Clevinger, who started and relieved this season, would get the ball in Game 4, turning that contest into "a bullpen day."
Ultimately, the Indians decided that might be asking a bit too much out of a relief corps that's been leaned on so heavily in the playoffs. But the bullpen day turned out to be Monday night and, depending how Kluber handles short rest, possibly Tuesday night as well.
"When Trevor had his drone accident, we decided we'd better make sure we had some length," Francona said. "With Clev ... if Clev pitches really well, he's probably going to go a couple, maybe three [innings]. If Ryan throws really well, he's stretched out where he could give us some innings."
Odd as the circumstances continue to be for the rotation, Francona said the attitude of the players involved has made it easier to deal with.
"It helps when every single player we've talked to just says, 'OK,' " Francona said. "Kluber didn't even bat [an eye]. He said, 'Just let me know when and I'll be raring to go.' And same thing with Merritt. Everybody just kind of tries to do what you ask."
