CLEVELAND: The Indians have set their starting rotation for the American League Championship Series.
They were able to complete a 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 best-of-seven ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Unlike the ALDS, the Indians will have ace Corey Kluber for Game 1 at 8:08 p.m. Friday. Kluber, who pitched seven shutout innings in a 6-0 Game 2 victory over the Red Sox, had additional time to rest his mild quadriceps strain after that stellar start. Trevor Bauer will take the mound for Game 2 (4:08 p.m. Saturday), followed by Josh Tomlin in Game 3 (8:08 p.m. Monday).
Game 4 is perhaps the Indians’ biggest concern entering the series. For now, they plan to pitch Mike Clevinger in “somewhat of an abbreviated” start, as Indians manager Terry Francona put it. Kluber, Bauer and Tomlin will then start 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,” Francona said. “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.
The Indians decided not to stretch Clevinger out over the last 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.
That could put a strain on the bullpen for that game, and potentially affect Games 3 and 5, as those three games 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 what would be the fourth game.”
Wait continues
It sounds as if Salazar won’t be helping out the Indians’ bullpen during the ALCS.
Salazar has been throwing in Arizona in an attempt to reach the point of being available for an inning or two out of the bullpen. He’s ditched his curveball, which put additional strain on his forearm and was a pitch he might not have used anyway in a short outing. But he hasn’t yet built up enough strength for the Indians to feel comfortable with him on such an important stage.
“I don’t think so. I really don’t,” Francona said when asked if Salazar might be on the ALCS roster. “I don’t think he’s progressed quite to the point where [he’s ready]. He’s doing pretty good. He’s not back yet where he’s throwing all his pitches or letting it go 100 percent. I think if we ask him to do that, he might be reaching right now.
“We’ve been pretty vocal about the first priority is getting him back healthy. I think this proves it. We wouldn’t do that to somebody.”
Pitching coach Mickey Callaway said he “wouldn’t rule it out totally yet,” but added that it’s getting “late in the game” for Salazar to make up ground for the ALCS.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ