Corey Kluber will start the Indians’ first World Series game since 1997 Tuesday night. That’s a no-brainer.
Other than that, the rest of the rotation is a hazy mist. With Halloween around the corner, it is a scary, hazy mist.
Terry Francona revealed the club’s rotation order for the Fall Classic, which begins next week. Kluber will take the hill against the Cubs on Tuesday. Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin will start the next two games, in some order, depending on the healing process of Bauer’s right pinkie. Bauer claimed on Friday that he would be ready to pitch in each and every game of the upcoming series. He’ll throw either live batting practice or a bullpen session on Monday.
[mlbvideo id=”1208820283″ width=”400″ height=”224″ /]If Bauer starts Game 2, that would allow Tomlin to start at Wrigley Field, with National League rules in place. Tomlin has six hits in 12 career at-bats. Bauer, on the other hand with an interview with Zack Meisel, said he “couldn’t hit little league pitching. I’m certainly not going to hit World Series pitching.”
If Bauer’s finger does not heal properly, the Indians could give the right-hander an extra 48 hours by pushing him back to Game 3 on Friday. The teams have a travel day on Thursday. Beyond those three, the Indians’ rotation is up in the air.
Ryan Merritt and Danny Salazar could factor into the equation as well. Salazar was scheduled to throw a three-inning simulated game on Sunday night. Merritt, the man with the most famous wedding registry in Northeast Ohio, directed the Indians to an American League pennant-clinching victory in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series against the Blue Jays. Salazar has not pitched in a big-league game since Sept. 9, when he exited a start in Minnesota because of a right forearm strain.
To sum up:
Game 1: Kluber
Game 2: Bauer or Tomlin
Game 3: Bauer or Tomlin
Games 4-7: TBD
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