Tribe expects to be tested by Yankees By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 12:44 AM ET + 5 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The last time the Indians encountered the Yankees, Cleveland was just starting to shift into a higher gear. The Tribe headed to Yankee Stadium at the end of August, swept the three-game series in the Bronx and continued on winning for the next two weeks straight. The Indians' 22-game winning streak -- an American League record -- across August and September propelled the club up the standings and helped them secure the AL's top postseason seed. That brings us to Tuesday night, when the Tribe's players earned the right to sit back, relax and watch the Yankees defeat the Twins in the AL Wild Card Game. New York will now face Cleveland in the AL Division Series presented by Doosan, beginning with Game 1 on Thursday at Progressive Field. "They're a good team," Indians reliever Joe Smith said. "Obviously, they're an all-around good team. But, if you make your pitches, you can get them out just like anybody else in the league." And, when the cameras are not fixed on Yanks rookie sensation Aaron Judge, pitching will certainly dominate the storylines for this intriguing ALDS. On Cleveland's side, manager Terry Francona boasts baseball's best rotation, which is led by AL Cy Young Award favorite Corey Kluber, and an elite bullpen anchored by relief ace Andrew Miller and closer Cody Allen. While the Tribe's relief corps paced the Majors in ERA (2.89), Yankees manager Joe Girardi's bullpen ranked first in the Majors in WAR (9.2, per Fangraphs), strikeouts per nine innings (10.9), strikeout percentage (29.1) and opponents' average (.201). Against New York, chasing the starter early is not as advantageous as it might be with other teams. "They're probably about as good as it gets," said Miller, who spent time alongside Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances in the Yanks' bullpen before being traded to Cleveland last season. "It's certainly a strength of their team, and Joe's going to have the luxury of picking and choosing who he goes to." The Indians are planning on sending Trevor Bauer to the mound for Game 1 on Thursday, followed by Kluber in Game 2 on Friday and Carlos Carrasco in Game 3 on Sunday in New York. If Cleveland has a mid-game lead, expect Francona to once again lean hard on his bullpen, as he did during the team's run to the World Series a year ago. Beyond Miller and Allen, the Indians will have multi-inning options in Danny Salazar and Mike Clevinger. Bauer went 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his two outings against the Yankees this season. One matchup to watch will be Bauer against Brett Gardner, who has hit .300 with an .862 OPS off the pitcher in 26 career plate appearances. This season, the Yanks ranked second in the AL in runs scored (858) and home runs (241) with Judge -- an AL MVP Award candidate and the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award -- leading the charge with 52 homers, plus one in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Game win. In seven games against the Indians this season, though, Cleveland outscored New York, 31-20, and went 5-2 overall. The Indians' pitching staff set single-season MLB records in strikeouts (1,614) and strikeout rate (10.1 per nine innings). The Yankees' lineup, meanwhile, struck out at a 21.8-percent clip and had the sixth-most punchouts (1,386) as an offense in the AL. "The Yankees, you have the danger factor," Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "They might strike out a little bit more, but there's guys from top to bottom that can hit the ball out of the park, and do some special things that way. The key against them is not to allow three baserunners. Make sure you don't walk guys, and limit the damage. If they're going to hit one, which they are, make sure it's a solo." One key to success this year for Cleveland's pitchers was a heightened level of breaking balls thrown. Per Statcast™, the Indians ranked first in the Majors with 17.6 percent of their pitches being curveballs (knuckle-curves included), and that rate climbed to 19.2 percent from June 1 through the end of the season. Bauer, Kluber and Carrasco eached ranked within the top seven pitchers in curve percentage after June 1, among players with at least 2,000 pitches. The Yanks hit .222 with a .356 slugging percentage against curves, putting them right in line with the MLB averages of .218 and .355, respectively. "Pitching rules in the playoffs," Indians outfielder Jay Bruce said. "My dad and I used to argue about it. He would say good pitching would beat good hitting. I would always be like, 'No, no, no,' but I think the point has been proven. Good pitching usually prevails. Obviously what [the Yankees] have done over there is impressive, but we have our own group of guys over here that I'd put up against them." Bauer geared up to start Indians' playoff run By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 12:14 AM ET + 11 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The decision announced by the Indians on Tuesday might have rattled the team's fan base some, but it's nothing new for Trevor Bauer. The right-hander will take the ball in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, just like he did one year ago in the opener of the Tribe's run to the World Series. "I'm looking forward to it," Bauer said. "Every inning is super important. You go out there like a closer and try to close each inning out. And then whenever I run out of gas, there's plenty of people to pick me up. It's fun, because everything takes on such a big importance and such a big meaning." One year ago, Bauer was named the Game 1 starter for the ALDS against the Red Sox out of necessity. Ace Corey Kluber was dealing with a late-season injury and was given an extra day to rest. This time around, the staff is healthy and the wealth of options allowed the Tribe to weigh many scenarios. By starting Kluber in Game 2 of the ALDS presented by Doosan, he can come back on normal rest for a potential Game 5 against the Yankees. The fact that Bauer is going in the ALDS opener shows how much trust he has earned. Kluber has pitched at an elite level worthy of serious AL Cy Young Award consideration, but Bauer was also a key cog within his club's second-half surge on the mound. Dating to July 21, when Bauer took the hill against the Blue Jays, he closed out the season going 10-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 91 strikeouts over 83 innings.

"He's been one of the better pitchers in the league," manager Terry Francona said of Bauer's showing in the second half. "He's durable. He bounces back really well. That's another thing. We can use him [later in the ALDS], whether it's a second start or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster. That's another factor." • Indians banking on deep 'pen plan for ALDS Bauer's season was an enigmatic one at times, but it's his best body of work to date. In 32 games, Bauer established career bests in strikeouts (196), Fielding Independent Pitching (3.88), strikeouts per nine innings (10), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.3) and walks per nine innings (3.1), while going 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA. There is a reason to point to that July 21 outing in Toronto as a turning point, too. That is when Bauer officially scrapped his splitter -- an offseason project that did not pan out -- and added a new slider to his arsenal. "Now," Bauer said, "I have a mix that I've wanted to have for four or five years now." The idea behind developing the splitter was sound. Bauer has a two-seamer that runs laterally across the zone in the direction of the right-handed batter's box. The right-hander's cutter goes in the opposite direction. Then, Bauer has the high-velocity four-seam fastball and a big curveball that dives below the zone. The intent of the splitter was to offer a pitch with downward action that he could send to the low-third of the zone, or just below it, in the 83-85 mph range. "I never got to a point where I felt like I could reliably command it below the zone when I needed to," Bauer said. "But, when I added the slider in, that had the same movement profile that I was looking for. The horizontal break was secondary to the vertical profile." Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway also noted that right-handed batters have a harder time against sliders (.219 average and .365 slugging percentage this season, according to Statcast™) than against cutters (.243 average and .401 slugging percentage). Callaway said that information also helped convince Bauer to add the secondary breaking pitch to his repertoire. The presence of an effective slider also helped Bauer ease up on overuse of his curveball. "The slider usage went up," Callaway said. "It's been a good pitch for him. It complements his other pitches well and he throws it correctly, which is key." Now, Bauer will get to test out his retooled approach in Game 1 of the Indians' postseason. "He's come a long way and we're proud of him," Francona said. "I mean, for him to get the ball in Game 1 speaks volumes. Trevor will never back down from a challenge and we love that about him." Indians start ALDS with bullpen in spotlight By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | 1:44 AM ET + 2 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- In this brave new world in which the Indians -- the team with the longest World Series championship drought of any in baseball -- are the established postseason juggernaut and the Yankees -- the team with more championships than any team in baseball -- are the unexpected October entrant, we are presented an intriguing and attractive American League Division Series presented by Doosan. The Indians got to Thursday's Game 1 at Progressive Field pretty much as expected, living up to their promise and potential in the wake of last year's crushing World Series Game 7 loss to the Cubs with an all-in effort that included the famous 22-game win streak and a not-so-random roll to the AL Central title. The Yankees, on the other hand, got here arguably ahead of schedule, largely on the back of an insane rookie season from Aaron Judge, whose huge home run helped seal an 8-4 AL Wild Card Game win over the Twins on Tuesday night. Full Game Coverage Regardless of how they got here, what they bring us is a matchup of loaded lineups, bruising bullpens and a little personal history mixed in. Maybe the midges from the 2007 ALDS between these two teams will even make an appearance for old time's sake. "Hopefully we can get the series started with a win in Cleveland," Yankees reliever David Robertson said. "They're a good team, and I look forward to taking them on." Bullpens will be a clear key to this series. The Indians are so confident in the depth of their staff that they've opted to push AL Cy Young Award favorite Corey Kluber to Game 2, giving the Game 1 nod to Trevor Bauer. The expectation is that Bauer will essentially share the game with a deep Tribe 'pen in which would-be starters Danny Salazar and Mike Clevinger and superb setup man -- and former Yankee -- Andrew Miller can shorten things up. "We're going to get to our bullpen if we have a lead," manager Terry Francona said. The Yankees' Game 1 starter was not yet clear in the immediate wake of their Wild Card Game victory, but the assignment seemed likely to go to in-season trade acquisition Sonny Gray, who actually made his Yankees debut against the Indians in August. The Yanks could also turn to former Tribe ace CC Sabathia in either Game 1 or 2. But as the Yankees demonstrated in the wild Wild Card Game -- in which starter Luis Severino recorded only one out and Chad Green, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle and Aroldis Chapman combined to allow just one run the rest of the way -- they can win even if they don't get a strong performance from their starter. "Think about what we did in '96 with Mariano Rivera [seven multi-inning appearances in the postseason]," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "It's hard for starters a lot of times to get through a lot of innings, because there's tough at-bats, because they're good teams, and you do have to rely on your bullpen a lot. We have a wonderful mix down there with guys that we can do it with." The Indians got a lot of love last year for the way they employed their 'pen -- and especially Miller, whom they had acquired in a midseason trade with the Yankees -- en route to the World Series, but the Yanks joined them this year in having a relief corps that struck out north of 10 batters per nine. "They're probably about as good as it gets," Miller said. "It's a strength of their team, and I think it's something that they're going to rely heavily on." Of course, the bullpens have their work cut out for them, too. The Indians' balanced lineup has the amazing up-the-middle talents of Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez, who both reached the 80 extra-base hit mark this year, as well as offseason acquisition Edwin Encarnacion and in-season acquisition Jay Bruce (whom the Yankees also attempted to acquire from the crosstown Mets). Stoked by Judge's historic rookie year and Gary Sanchez's strong sophomore effort, the Yanks had the highest home run total in the game (241) and continued to live by the long ball against the Twins.

"They might strike out a little bit more, but there's guys from top to bottom that can hit the ball out of the park and do some special things that way," Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "The key against them is not to allow three baserunners. Make sure you don't walk guys, and limit the damage." Though this is a rare instance in which the Indians are the favorites and the Yankees are the pesky underdog, this is the fourth time the Tribe and Yanks have met on the postseason stage, joining the 1997 ALDS, '98 AL Championship Series and 2007 ALDS of "Bug Game" fame. Hard to see the bugs coming back, but it's easy to see a scintillating set developing between these two AL powers. Bauer starts ALDS Game 1; Kluber gets Game 2 By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 12:15 AM ET + 105 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- The Indians are keeping their ace in the hole. During Tuesday's workout at Progressive Field, manager Terry Francona announced that Trevor Bauer, not Corey Kluber, will take the ball for Cleveland in Game 1 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan on Thursday vs. the Yankees at Progressive Field. Kluber, who is a leading contender for the AL Cy Young Award, is scheduled to start for the Indians on Friday for Game 2, with right-hander Carlos Carrasco in line to start Sunday in Game 3 on the road. If a Game 4 is necessary, Josh Tomlin will be the probable starter, though Francona said that is subject to change. Kluber would take the mound for Game 5, if the ALDS went that far. "We're trying to get as much flexibility as we can," Francona said. "There are a lot of factors, but I think we set it up [well]. We didn't try to overcomplicate it. The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster basically into like 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen, if need be." Francona said the Indians wanted to strike a balance between winning the first three games and creating contingency plans if the ALDS extends to four or five games. If the series went the distance, for example, this rotation order would allow Kluber to return on normal rest. Staying on a five-day routine, if possible, is the preference for Kluber, who discussed the ALDS schedule with Francona a couple weeks ago. "I think for a number of reasons, it makes good sense," Francona said. "Not that you go into a game thinking you're going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping him on his five-day. That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it." Last October, when the Indians' pitching staff was depleted by injuries, Kluber made six starts, which is a single-postseason franchise record. Two of those outings were on short rest in the World Series, and three of his starts overall came on an abbreviated schedule. Both Francona and pitching coach Mickey Callaway have noted that Kluber was worn down by the end of the playoffs. So while Cleveland plans on leaning on Kluber heavily again, it also wants to delay a short-rest situation, if possible. "The chances of anybody besides Kluber going real deep probably aren't real good," Francona said. "Because we're going to get to our bullpen if we have a lead. And if we don't have a lead, you probably get to your bullpen." Francona also noted that Tomlin will be available out of the bullpen for the first three games, along with right-handers Danny Salazar and Mike Clevinger. If Tomlin were pressed into duty early in the series, Francona has said multiple times that Bauer is the best-equipped pitcher in that group to return on short rest for a Game 4 scenario. "He's durable. He bounces back really well," Francona said. "That's another thing. We can use him, whether it's a second start or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster." The rotation decisions also had a ripple effect on Cleveland's bullpen, which will feature closer Cody Allen, relief ace Andrew Miller, setup men Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith and lefty Tyler Olson. With Salazar, Clevinger and Tomlin also in the relief mix, right-handers Dan Otero, Nick Goody and Zach McAllister were left off the ALDS roster. • Indians going with deep bullpen plan in ALDS "Everybody on the pitching staff has pitched well," Callaway said. "These were the hardest decisions we've ever made, and I'm not even sure they're still made. We're still talking to guys. It was difficult and we're going to have some tough conversations, because everybody can't be on the team. We wish they could be, but they just can't be." 'Bug Game' forever part of Tribe-Yanks lore By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | @castrovince | 1:46 AM ET + 0 COMMENTS CLEVELAND -- Should it happen again -- should some uninvited guests happen to descend upon Progressive Field when the Indians and Yankees reunite in the American League Division Series presented by Doosan that starts Thursday night -- Joba Chamberlain has some friendly advice. "Vinegar or dryer sheets," said Chamberlain, the former Indians and Yankees pitcher. "That's how you get rid of them." On Oct. 5, 2007 -- exactly a decade before this year's Game 1 between the Indians and Yanks -- Chamberlain famously came undone against the Tribe in the "Bug Game." It's a night that still stands as October absurdity at its finest, and it is impossible to see these two teams paired in the postseason without reflecting on that unusual evening. It was the eighth inning of Game 2 of the ALDS, and the then-rookie Chamberlain was on the mound trying to protect New York's 1-0 lead and even the best-of-five set. But a swarm of midges had descended upon the ballpark, then known as Jacobs Field. Chamberlain, with no "Sultan of Swat" to protect him, got pretty bugged out. He walked Grady Sizemore, threw a wild pitch and eventually -- after a mid-inning pause as the Yankees' team trainer sprayed Chamberlain with insect repellent -- threw another wild pitch to let the tying run home. The Indians went on to win, 2-1, on Travis Hafner's walk-off single in the 11th inning, en route to a four-game win in the series. Gnat's all, folks. "Just when you think you've seen it all," Derek Jeter said at the time. "That's home-field advantage." It was an advantage attributable to unseasonable fall warmth in Northeast Ohio. The bugs live in Lake Erie as larvae and pupae, and they fly off in search of a mate once mature. Usually, they come in a few summer bursts, so it is not unusual to see them make an appearance at an Indians game.

On the night of the Bug Game, the combination of an 81-degree first-pitch temperature and the bright lights of the ballpark gave the midges a rare case of playoff fever. (For the record, forecasts call for a high of 71 for Game 1 of this ALDS.) For Chamberlain, it was a lesson learned that insect repellent is actually attractive to the midges, who were drawn to him all the more after his in-game spray shower. "That would have been nice to know at the time," he said with a laugh. Then-manager Joe Torre has since referred to the Bug Game as one of his great regrets. "I second-guessed myself for not pulling the team off the field," he told The New York Post earlier this year. "Joba was on the mound and he looked right at me, and I knew he couldn't see. We sent Gino [Gene Monahan, trainer] to the mound, and little did we know that the stuff Gino was spraying on Joba's face was like chateaubriand for those bugs." Chamberlain's reaction to the midges stood in stark contrast to that of Indians starter Fausto Carmona. Though his true name was, years later, revealed to be Roberto Hernandez, "Carmona" was the real deal that night. He didn't let the bugs deter him from pitching nine brilliant innings in which he allowed just one run on three hits. Go to the Indians' Player Development Complex in Goodyear, Ariz., and there, on the Minor League side, you'll find a large black-and-white photo of Carmona calmly peering in for the sign with bugs covering his face. It's a lesson in focus. "It's something that we were all extremely, extremely proud of," then-Indians and current Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis said. "It showed such mental toughness. I can't put into words how difficult that was, and you look at the effect it had on the opposition. It was a tough situation to be in when you're having to focus on getting the best of the best Major League hitters out." So Carmona/Hernandez still has a spot in Indians lore. Chamberlain, meanwhile, has learned to laugh off his ugly outing. He actually made his final big league appearances with the Tribe last year, and he learned that one downtown hotel actually warns its guests about the midges with a notice that references their impact on Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS. "Funny story, too," Chamberlain added. "They had the MLB auction at the end of the year, and they sold that can of bug spray. I actually met the kid that bought it in Spring Training the next year." It's a nice keepsake. Just don't use it to try to fend off the midges. October Confidential: How to beat the Yanks How do you beat the Yankees? MLB.com asked rival players from around Major League Baseball to offer an inside look at how best to face the American League Wild Card Game winner, which booked a trip to the AL Division Series presented by Doosan with an 8-4 win over Minnesota on Tuesday. Luis Severino "You need to have your A-game. He throws hard, he has good stuff. Elite stuff. He's just one of those guys, if he's on, you know it's going to be a tough day. You have to respect his fastball. He throws it so hard. All you can really do is be ready to hit the hitter, and hopefully he makes a mistake with his slider." -- AL outfielder "You know what you're going to get. He forces you to commit early, for sure. The ball gets on you. I would say that slider is definitely the pitch that you have to be concerned about, but you have to see his offspeed up and his fastball down. That's really the best way to put it with him." -- AL East catcher "Obviously he's made strides from his rookie season up until now. There are some guys who light up the radar gun who throw 100 [mph] and it looks like they're throwing 92. There are some guys who throw 100 and it looks like they throw 110. He's one of those guys where the ball really jumps out of his hand and gets on you quick. If he's locating, he's lights-out, and you know it's going to be a long day." -- AL infielder Masahiro Tanaka "If he's on, good luck. If he's commanding his split, keeping it low, he's going to be tough to get up in the air." -- AL East infielder "You really can't have a plan with him, as far as what you're going to look for, as far as a pitch. You have to look in a location with him and stay in that location. He has five, six, seven different pitches. For me, it's about picking a zone where I at least want my eyes to pick up the ball. That's all you can do with him because he has no patterns, he has no sequences. You can't sit on a pitch with him because you might never get it." -- AL outfielder "When he has success, I feel like you're getting yourself out. Great command, obviously, and he's making the ball move all over the place, so it's one of those things where you're trying to get it up in the zone and out over the plate and laying off that splitty that looks good and dives last second that causes you to roll over and hit a ground ball." -- AL infielder CC Sabathia "In big games, he turns up clutch. He's been around the game for a long time, and I think he's re-established himself this year. There were a couple years he kind of struggled a little bit, and he found his stuff again. He's a guy that I want on the mound in a big game." -- AL Central infielder Aroldis Chapman "The most uncomfortable at-bat in the league. It's not close. He doesn't always know where it's going, you aren't sure where it's going. It's tough, man." -- AL Central infielder "Scary, man. Scary. The intimidating part about it is that he doesn't look at the plate when he throws. He's throwing harder than anyone else, but there are a lot of guys who throw hard now. You just start everything a little bit earlier, try to be a little bit shorter. The natural thing to do is

want to swing harder to want to catch up. But you have to understand that he's throwing so hard that all you have to do is touch it. You just try to shorten up a little bit and get ready earlier." -- AL outfielder Dellin Betances "Unhittable. I'm, like, 1-for-30 off of him. It's something you don't want to be off a guy like that. Has a great curveball. Throws 100. Not a guy you want to be facing late in the game when you're down." -- AL East infielder "He's scary, too. There's no secret with him. If his command is on, he's elite. When his command's off, as a hitter, it can be quite intimidating. But he's a guy who you definitely have to pick a pitch. You're either going to hit his fastball or his curveball -- you're not going to hit both." -- AL outfielder "Any time a guy is throwing near 100 mph and can flip you a slider that's just as wicked at any point, that really makes it a challenge." -- AL East catcher "If he's in the zone, he's really tough to hit, but he's also hit or miss. Do we have to go up there being aggressive? Or do we have to go up there looking to make him work and throw strikes? It's one or the other with him. He'll show you what kind of pitcher he's going to be that day by the first batter. But he obviously has plus stuff, and his resume speaks for itself." -- AL infielder Aaron Judge "Dangerous hitter. Really good mistake hitter, but if you make quality Major League pitches, you can get him out." -- AL East pitcher "You've really got to be sure you're executing your pitches to get him out, but even then, as typical power hitters do, they make you pay for your mistakes." -- AL East reliever "I think you've got to show him in, then spin him away. To finish him, elevate." -- AL East setup man "Everybody has holes and everybody has different holes off who's on the mound. That kind of dictates it a lot of the time, but the holes he may have, he's also hit balls 500 feet on at some point. If you run into a situation where he's looking for that pitch, you're in trouble. That's the type of player he is. He's a scary at-bat and he's a difficult out. Certainly if you make your pitches and he ends up hitting a single, a lot of times you feel pretty good about that. He's a great player." -- AL East catcher "I think the biggest thing from him that stands out is his leverage. It seems like because of his length he's able to get off the plate, able to get a couple inches off, a couple of inches in, on both sides. So it really makes it feel like you have to execute your pitch to try to get a mis-hit. It just seems like he has good coverage, but you know he's also going to strike out a lot. It kind of depends on where you're at in the game, what the situation is. Generally, you're trying to get early outs, but when you get to two strikes in a big situation, you're definitely looking for that strikeout with him." -- AL starting pitcher Gary Sanchez "Same kind of thing as Judge, but he's a little more selective. Once you get him swinging, he's going to stay swinging and then you can expand." -- AL East pitcher "He's talented, and maybe the best catcher in the division. He's got a certain arrogance about it, though." -- AL East infielder "I always just two-seam him in, then spin him away." -- AL East setup man "I think 'patiently aggressive' is the best way to describe him. It always seems like he's looking for his pitch, or he has an idea of what pitch he wants and he goes into an at-bat trying to attack that pitch. Of course, he's got a lot of power, too, so he's a guy who can do a lot of damage." -- AL starting pitcher Didi Gregorius "He's a tough one because he's changed a lot over the years. Before you could bounce stuff out of the zone and get him to swing, but now he's kind of grown up a little bit. He does most of his damage down in the zone. I think hard elevation is better, and then expand after that." -- AL East pitcher "Didi is just a good all-around hitter. He's shown more power this year and is another guy that's a very difficult out. He can spray the ball all over the park." -- AL East reliever Starlin Castro "He sort of gets overshadowed by some of the other guys in that lineup, but he can hurt you. He's had some injuries this year, and that bat is hot and cold. When he's locked in, he's a threat. You have to hope he's in a rut and you can take advantage." -- AL East infielder "Another guy with a lot of pop. He likes to take big swings but makes you pay for mistakes. He has a really has a good approach and makes really solid contact all the time." Brantley good to go on Indians' playoff roster By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | @MLBastian | 2:01 AM ET + 11 COMMENTS

CLEVELAND -- Indians manager Terry Francona has described Michael Brantley as the heart and soul of his team. On Tuesday, Francona got to inform the veteran outfielder that he would be included on the roster for the American League Division Series presented by Doosan, following Brantley's comeback from an ankle injury. "Everybody knows what kind of a player he is and what kind of leader he is," reliever Joe Smith said. "Just having him back, with what he went through last year and not being able to play in these games, I know it hurt him. I'm excited for him. I know he's ready to go and pumped up." A year ago, Brantley's right shoulder and biceps problems -- injuries that limited him to 11 games during the season -- kept Brantley sidelined for the Indians' run to the World Series. This time around, Brantley sustained a right ankle ligament injury Aug. 8, returning Saturday as a pinch-hitter. Francona noted the left fielder would start off as a pinch-hitter during the ALDS vs. the Yankees. "I have a lot of confidence in my ability," Brantley said. "We have a great group of guys in this locker room that keep me positive and push for me. I worked really hard to get back. I was working on my swing the whole time. There's always going to be a bit of an adjustment period, but I feel like I can handle it." Joining Brantley among the Indians outfielders for the ALDS will be Jay Bruce (right field), Jason Kipnis (center), Greg Allen (center), Lonnie Chisenhall (all three spots) and Austin Jackson (left and center). Francona noted that Brandon Guyer (left wrist injury) is unlikely to be recovered in time for the AL Championship Series presented by Camping World or World Series presented by YouTube TV, if the Tribe was to advance that far. Worth noting • Francona said third baseman Giovanny Urshela and utility man Erik Gonzalez will make the ALDS roster, but third baseman Yandy Diaz will not make the cut. Francona said the plus defense of both Urshela and Gonzalez -- players who can handle all four infield spots -- helps create scenarios to use Brantley as a pinch-hitter. • Rookie center fielder Bradley Zimmer (fractured bone in left hand) will remain with the team to receive treatment and might be cleared to swing a bat in the near future, per Francona. The skipper quickly added that, "It will be a very long shot of him playing again this year. But, we've had longshots." • Francona noted rookie catcher Francisco Mejia will head to Arizona to work out with his Arizona Fall League team, balancing his time between third base and behind the plate. Mejia will be on call in the event that Major League catchers Roberto Perez or Yan Gomes become unavailable. • Relievers Dan Otero, Nick Goody, Zach McAllister, Craig Breslow and Ryan Merritt will not be on the ALDS roster, but they will remain with the team. Outfielder Tyler Naquin, along with pitchers Kyle Crockett and Shawn Armstrong, have been sent home for the offseason. Indians banking on deep 'pen plan for ALDS By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com | @castrovince | 12:23 AM ET + 2 COMMENTS Amid the instant tweetstorm of frustration and confusion from Indians fans that arrived when word came out that Trevor Bauer -- not the likely American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber -- would be the starter in Game 1 of the AL Division Series presented by Doosan on Thursday vs. the Yankees, there was one optimistic voice in the din: So let's do the sensible thing and start there. Manager Terry Francona has won three AL pennants and two World Series titles and might, in fact, know what the heck he's doing. The Indians' decision-makers, as a whole, have built one of the most successful and arguably the most balanced teams in baseball this season, so, yes, they know what they're doing. There is a not-small chance all this uproar about the Tribe's pitching alignment proves to be nothing more than unnecessary (perhaps even Bauer fuel) in the long run. The Indians' plan dovetails nicely and neatly with what advanced analysts (and even not-so-advanced analysts like myself) love to point out about baseball's postseason: It is, more and more, a bullpen-oriented game. Last postseason, starters worked just 56.8 percent of innings pitched and faced a record-low 255 batters the third time through the lineup. The Indians are carrying Mike Clevinger and Danny Salazar -- young starters with great raw stuff -- alongside Andrew Miller in their 'pen, which means they are loaded with multi-inning options that prepare them for whatever unusual situations the postseason presents. "The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster basically into like 27," Francona said, "by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be." Why is Kluber starting in Game 2? Because Bauer's uniquely conditioned to pitch pretty much every day, if he had to, and the Indians feel they can piggyback him properly in Game 1 -- and possibly in Game 4 if they're up against it. Also, because they like the idea of having Kluber available on regular rest for a potential Game 5 (Game 2 is on Friday and Game 5 would be the following Wednesday). "Not that you go into a game thinking you're going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back," Francona said. "The biggest thing was keeping him on his five-day [routine]. That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it. Again, you don't want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you're fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series." OK, so that, briefly (and without getting into the home/road splits that likely led the Indians to prioritize Bauer over Carlos Carrasco), is why the Tribe is rocking the boat. Now, let's shoot some holes in that boat. First and foremost, there is this: If you lose Game 1, you have surrendered the home-field advantage you worked so hard to earn. Teams that have lost Game 1 of the best-of-five Division Series have come back to win it just 28.2 percent of the time. So if Bauer flounders while one of the best pitchers in the game waits in the wings, it's a bad look. Also, as Francona noted, the Indians are prioritizing having Kluber on regular rest -- as opposed to five days' rest (he last pitched on Saturday) -- for a potential Game 5. But he will have had five days' rest before Game 1. It seems a possibly non-existent Game 5 is being given more weight than a very-much-existent Game 1, which, yes, is odd. If you pitch Kluber in Game 1, he is available on regular rest for Game 5 and available on short rest for a Game 4 on Monday, should the Indians find themselves in a 2-1 hole. The Tribe used Kluber on short rest three times in the postseason last year. He's proven he can do it. So why rid yourself of that option completely? And what about rain? There is only a 10-percent chance for Thursday's Game 1, so that's good. And if Game 1 were to be rained out, you could still have Kluber pitch on Friday (this time in a Game 1) and life is basically back to normal.

But what about Friday? In Cleveland, this stuff can change by the minute, but there is a 90-percent chance of rain on Friday. If Game 2 gets pushed to Saturday, the rest of the schedule is unaffected (unless of course there's rain in the other Division Series city, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves), which means Kluber would now only be available to pitch on short rest in a Game 5. So, yeah, the Indians are definitely taking a risk here. And you could certainly argue it's an unnecessary one. In a vacuum, I love the creativity that takes place in October and, all things being equal, I like the idea of prioritizing your deep 'pen at a time of year when bullpens matter all the more. I get what the Indians are going for, in theory, and, again, there's a really good chance we're wasting our energy analyzing it. But all things aren't equal here, because Kluber has few equals. There's nothing wrong with orthodoxy when it involves starting one of the best pitchers in baseball in a crucial Game 1. Eleven trade acquisitions make up Cleveland core sur ging back into October By Mike Rosenbaum / MLB.com | October 3rd, 2017 + 1 COMMENT MLBPipeline.com is breaking down how each of the postseason teams was built, looking at the composition of their projected Division Series rosters. After coming up short in extra innings of Game 7 of the World Series against the Cubs a year ago, the Cleveland Indians, with a largely unchanged roster, have all the right pieces, as well as the momentum, to contend for a title once again in 2017. To put it simply, no team saw its fortune change during the second half quite like the Indians. Behind an American League-record 22-game winning streak (spanning Aug. 24 to Sept. 14), the Tribe pulled away with a commanding lead in the American League Central and ultimately dethroned the Astros for the circuit's best record to secure home-field advantage through the American League playoffs. The back-to-back division titles were Cleveland's first since the late '90s, when the club won the Central in five straight years. Led by a pair of MVP candidates in shortstop Francisco Lindor and infielder Jose Ramirez, and featuring key offseason free-agent signing Edwin Encarnacion, the Indians' lineup batted .306 with a .551 slugging percentage en route to outscoring their opponents 142-37 (plus-105 run differential) during their historic 22-game streak. Lindor was unstoppable during that stretch, hitting .360 with a .1.195 OPS and nine home runs, while Ramirez produced a .423/.462/.944 batting line with eight homers and 11 doubles. Of course all of that offense would have been for naught if not for a lights-out Indians rotation that, once finally healthy, posted a collective 1.77 ERA over 137 2/3 innings during the streak. Headlined by Cy Young candidate Corey Kluber and fellow right-handers Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer, Indians starters recorded a win in 19 of 22 contests, including seven shutouts. Cleveland's bullpen, meanwhile, was equally dominant in that span, combining to post a 1.17 ERA over 61 1/3 innings, despite a minimal contribution from lefty reliever Andrew Miller. Altogether, the Indians' staff ranked first in the Majors during the regular season in ERA (3.30) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.1 K/9). What's more, the Indians' 26.5 Wins Above Replacement is tops among this year's postseason clubs. After winning 33 of their final 37 games to finish with a 102-60 record -- including a franchise-best 53 road wins -- the Tribe will attempt to put a bow on their record-setting year with a World Series title. Much of the Indians' ALDS roster stems from strong scouting efforts, both domestic and abroad. They struck gold by selecting Lindor with the No. 8 overall pick of the 2011 Draft, and then found a long-term closer in Allen in the 23rd round. The Tribe also signed Ramirez, a teenager at the time, that summer, and all three players have since developed into perennial All-Stars. Ramirez, 25, led all Indians positions players with a 6.8 WAR after finishing the season as MLB's leader in doubles (56). Overall, the 25-year-old switch-hitter batted .318/.374/.583 with 29 homers and 107 runs scored. Lindor, meanwhile, finished with a 5.5 WAR, as he batted .273/.337/.505 with a career-best 33 homers and 44 doubles on top of his usual Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop. Not to be overlooked are some of Cleveland's other homegrown talents such as 2008 first-rounder Chisenhall as well as Kipnis, the organization's second-round pick in '09. Both players were limited by injuries this season, but they each represent key roster pieces in the postseason as left-handed hitters. TRADES/WAIVERS Player, year, acquired from, bWAR (31.7): Carlos Santana, 2008, Dodgers, 3.4 Michael Brantley, 2008, Brewers, 2.0 Carlos Carrasco, 2009, Phillies, 5.4 Corey Kluber, 2010, Padres, 8 Yan Gomes, 2012, Blue Jays, 1.3 Trevor Bauer, 2012, D-backs, 3.1 Bryan Shaw, 2012, D-backs, 0.6 Mike Clevinger, 2014, Angels, 3.1 Tyler Olson, 2016, Royals**, 1.2 Andrew Miller, 2016, Yankees, 3.1 Joe Smith, 2017, Blue Jays, 0.3 Jay Bruce, 2017, Mets, 0.2 *-Purchased **-Selected off waivers The Indians' ALDS roster features 12 players acquired via trades or claimed off waivers, tied for third most among all postseason teams. Such trades are how the Tribe built baseball's best starting rotation, as they landed Carrasco and Kluber in back-to-back years, followed with Bauer two years later and Clevinger after that. The club has since signed both Kluber and Carrasco to long-term deals, inking the right-handers through 2019 and '18, respectively. The duo was truly dominant in 2017, with Kluber going 18-4 and Carrasco 18-6. Kluber also finished first in baseball in ERA (2.25) and WHIP (0.87).

While Kluber and Carrasco deservedly receive much of the credit for the team's success, Bauer and Clevinger's contributions have been equally, if not more important, giving the Indians impactful starting depth beyond their top two arms. Together they combined for a 17-5 record after the All-Star break. The Indians made a splash at the 2016 Trade Deadline by acquiring Miller for a prospect package that included Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield, and the big left-hander was every bit as good as advertised in the postseason. He continued his dominance of opposing hitters in 2017, posting a 1.45 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP with 93 strikeouts in 62 innings across 56 appearances. Acquired off waivers from the Royals, Olson emerged as another key left-handed bullpen piece for the Tribe as he went unscored upon over 30 appearances while holding opposing hitters to a .188 batting average against. Cleveland used this year's non-waiver Trade Deadline to once again improve its roster, most notably through the acquisitions of Bruce and Smith from the Mets and the Blue Jays. Smith became an immediate fit in the Tribe's bullpen, while the addition of Bruce, in the wake of injuries to Michael Brantley and Bradley Zimmer, provided the offense with a much-needed left-handed power bat. FREE AGENTS Player, year, bWAR (4.7): Edwin Encarnacion, 2017, 2.8 Austin Jackson, 2017, 1.9 Not known for giving sizeable free-agent contracts to veteran players, the Indians did just that prior to the 2017 season, inking Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million deal as a replacement for Mike Napoli. Though he struggled out of the gate, the 34-year-old slugger recovered in time to finish with at least 38 home runs and 107 RBIs for the third straight season. The signing of Jackson to a one-year, $1.5 million deal didn't come with much fanfare at the time, though he's certainly played a major role in Cleveland's overall success. In 84 games with the Tribe this season, the 30-year-old outfielder has shown improved ability to hit for average, as well as some power, while offering defensive depth at all three outfield positins. Corey Kluber's two-seam fastball should lead to his second Cy Young Award -- Bud Shaw By Bud Shaw, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - There are cooler magazine cover debuts than the one Corey Kluber made in 2015, unless your idea of hip is Popular Mechanics. The publication's list of "42 Things You Should Know How to Do" included throwing a curve ball like Kluber, the reigning Cy Young Award winner. The cover made sense on a couple of levels. The nickname, of course. "Klubot." Half man, half machine, the inspiration for the Corey Kluber mini-team baseball doll having red Terminator eyes. As for the curve, it's his best pitch. But the other reason to feature the curve over another pitch in his arsenal? Well, he could show you the two-seam fastball but it's like the old joke: he could but then he'd have to kill you. Kluber came to the pitch out of trust and necessity. He has gone further, using the word "desperation." In a bullpen session in Columbus in May of 2012 - a time Kluber remembers for the realization that "something needed to change" -- pitching coach Ruben Niebla asked Kluber to try the two-seamer. Terry Francona on Corey Kluber's preparation He had experimented with it playing catch but that's as far as it went. Now seemed like a good time to explore the possibilities again. In his previous start on May 21 he'd allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings to Scranton-Wilkes Barre. "Never really got anything out of (experimenting)," Kluber said. "It was pretty much the same pitch as my four seam. So we adjusted the grip and played around with it. For whatever reason it felt better in my hand. I kind of worked on it the rest of the bullpen." Kluber doesn't "kind of" work on anything. Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway says you know where you can find Kluber based on the day and the hour. His schedule doesn't vary. Gotta go to work. He punches an internal clock. "It's that calculated," Callaway said. "(Between starts) it's the full routine precisely every time. It's a long season. He's the only guy I've seen who's been able to do it." So it wasn't a surprise when Kluber committed to the two-seam fastball for the length of that long bullpen session with Niebla. Or that he carried it to the mound with him in his next start at Syracuse and threw it all game. Over the next several starts, he began eating innings, accumulating swings and misses, limiting bases on balls. He still talks of it as a "turning point." "Something that hasn't been said is that Corey himself was courageous enough, for lack of better word, to go into next game in Syracuse and not throw any four seamers at all after being a four-seam pitcher his entire career," said Niebla.

Niebla is adamant Kluber is the one who deserves all the credit. Bestowing career-saving power to the two-seamer or to Niebla's suggestion he try it sells Kluber short. "Sure it helped him move up and figure it out a little quicker," said Niebla. "But he already had a lot of attributes that were significant to a major-league pitcher." Kluber had size and strength, velocity, that now legendary demeanor. He was overlooked early in his career, not drafted out of high school, not heavily recruited. A fourth-round pick. "The medicals were still a concern for teams in the draft," said B.B. Abbott, his agent at Jet Sports Management. "It's why he went as late as he did. Probably was a Top 75-100 talent. "Some saw the injury as a precursor to Tommy John. Not sure it would be viewed any differently today. I mean not many young men walking around with two screws in their elbow pitch at the level he's pitching." Those early obstacles along with the minor-league struggles that followed him to Columbus shaped an already strong work ethic. It didn't come easy. It didn't come quickly either. "Even now," said Indians reliever Dan Otero, "he doesn't' carry himself like he's the best pitcher in baseball. And the conversation is him and (Clayton) Kershaw in my opinion. "He can make the ball go both ways laterally. That's the hardest thing to do. He has not only been able to strengthen his weakness but he's still strengthening his strengths." Otero drops former Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay into the conversation. Halladay is one of 18 pitchers in major league history to win multiple Cy Youngs. In a separate conversation, totally unprompted, Jay Bruce mentions Halladay, too. "There are very few guys you can hand the ball to and say, 'Hey, win us a game," said Bruce. "He's one of them. I've mentioned a couple times recently that he reminds me a lot of Halladay by his demeanor, the way he competes on the mound, not a lot of frills. "He's out there to work. He's prepared. He's ready. He expects a lot out of himself, very intense and obviously the stuff speaks for itself." The AL Cy Young is expected to come down to Kluber and Boston lefty Chris Sale. They have the same agent, Abbott, who isn't about to pick between them. There are obvious differences beyond which arm they use to baffle hitters. Indians fans would say one is how strong Kluber finished the season. He was the Pitcher of the Month in September, going 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA. Sale, meanwhile, had some blowup starts - most recently allowing four home runs in a loss to Toronto. "Chris is the kind of guy who will run through a brick wall," said Abbott. "If he gives up a home run he's going to execute that pitch until he gets the results he wants. He reminds of "Tin Cup" in that regard. "Corey is more like, "OK, that didn't work." And he's on to the next pitch. That's just his personality. It's perfect for this team. And I think they're the best team in baseball." A second Cy Young aside, Kluber gives the Indians what they didn't have in the '90s. An ace they can count on every time he takes the mound. There is strength in numbers this time around, unlike a year ago when Kluber pitched on three days rest three times in the postseason and ran out of gas in Game 7. "That was the only time I've seen him when he looked like he was expending great effort," said former Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd, who named the Kluber trade as one of the five franchise-changing deals still affecting baseball in a 2015 article for MLB.com. "He was on fumes. "(Otherwise) he looks like a kid in the backyard playing catch and that ease of motion takes his movement to another level. "You saw it with Orel Hershiser and his sinker. That front end two-seamer (Kluber) throws to lefthanders is pretty much an unhittable pitch. It's beautiful to watch." And the continuation of a beautiful relationship, five years in the making, after a bullpen blind date in Columbus. Tito Francona Sr. on son Terry's success: 'He didn' t need any help' By Marc Bona, cleveland.com mbona@cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - It was a moment in time when a father's pride equals his son's, the way it's supposed to be.

The beaming smiles, the arms around each other. It was a 1980 photo in the Sporting News, son Terry on the left smiling at the camera, a full head of hair and the Francona nose. Dad is on the right. There is something about the photo, the two of them side by side. It was one of those years I had alternated my subscriptions between Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News. Not long after it had arrived in my mailbox I found Tito's Pennsylvania address. I tore out the photo and mailed it. It came back, with two signatures, the father who used to play and the son about to start his career. I have written in the past how, as a kid, I wrote former major leaguers for autographs, at a time when it was a hobby and not a business. Most signed the photo or index card I sent and returned the self-addressed, stamped envelope I had included. Terry grew up watching Tito play, was raised around clubhouses and players and diamonds. But Tito, reached recently at his Western Pennsylvania home, says all the credit goes to his son. "He earned it," said Tito, who will be 84 in early November. "He worked hard and learned how to be a good manager." Asking if he ever gave Terry advice over the years, you expect to take in anecdote after anecdote about the sage offerings from a father who enjoyed 15 years in the majors, six in Cleveland. You won't get it. It's humbling to hear. "No," Tito said. "I never helped him. He asked me once, 'How come you never help me?' I had a nephew. 'You're always helping him,'" Tito said. "In the long run," dad told son, "if you're going to play ball, you do it yourself. No one is going to be there with you. "He didn't need any help." It must have been kind of obvious, from the father's standpoint, that the son would be a success. Scouts will talk when you hit over .700, as Terry did for New Brighton High School in Pennsylvania, where Tito still lives, about 30 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. When I showed the photo to Terry Francona right before the season began he stared for a few seconds, reminiscing. I had always wanted to know about that moment. "That would have been after the College World Series, right when I signed and was headed to Memphis with the Expos," he said. "That was taken probably the day I signed." Francona initially was drafted in 1977 out of high school, but opted for the University of Arizona. The Montreal Expos selected him as the 22nd overall player in 1980. The son was drafted 10 years after Tito retired. (About that draft: Darryl Strawberry was taken No. 1 by the New York Mets. At No. 10, the Indians selected Kelly Gruber, who would play nine of his 10 seasons for the Toronto Blue Jays. White Sox manager Rich Renteria, whose team faced the Indians in the final three regular-season games for both clubs this year, was drafted 20th by Pittsburgh. And Billy Beane of "Moneyball" fame was chosen 23rd by the Mets, immediately after Francona.) If you think dad groomed son or pushed him or saw the manager in him during his playing days, you'd be wrong. Did Tito ever see the manager in him? "No," he said. "He was a player, but he was desperate, he always got hurt. He had injuries and was out of the game for a while, and Buddy Bell called him and got him back in. "The thing is he got hurt right before the draft," Tito said. "In high school he broke his shoulder bone. He was Montreal's pick. I felt so bad because he was a pretty good hitter when he played, but was always hurt. "He had about 10 or 12 operations on his knees, and then all of a sudden he was going to start school to sell insurance and that's when Buddy Bell got him and away the books went." It was managing Michael Jordan during the basketball star's sabbatical from the court in 1994 that Tito says drew attention to his son's ability to manage players. Few minor-league managers have had a media spotlight on them as bright as the one that shined that year on Francona, the hoops star and the Birmingham Barons, a Class AA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. "He kept moving on when he got in there," Tito said. He did move on, eventually guiding the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. It's no surprise Tito took the time to sign and return photos, Terry said. "He always does. It's unbelievable," he said before the season. "I get more cards that have his signature on it first. We have the father-son card. His is always signed. So I have to sign it."

That particular card, from Topps in 1985, is of a slightly smiling, crew-cutted mug of the father, while the son, adorned in his Expos uniform, smiles with a bat on his shoulder. "The bubble-gum cards, I signed all of them," Tito said of the requests and self-addressed envelopes that find their way to the family home. "When the kids get too many balls, that means I have to go to the post office. With the cards all I have to do is sign and the mailman takes them." In addition to their smiles, they had almost identical batting averages in their careers, son edging dad .274 to .272. But unlike the son, when Tito hung up his spikes, they stayed put away. (Cleveland was good to both Franconas as players: Tito hit .284 in six years with the Tribe; Terry hit .311 in 62 games in 1988 with the Indians.) "I never wanted to get back into baseball," Tito said. "You're away from your family." Tito threw out the first pitch before Game 1 of the American League Division Series last year at Progressive Field, and might make it back for a game this postseason, he said. He's hobbled by a bad ankle and recently had to trade his golf game for swimming at the YMCA, but is hoping to see a game in Cleveland. The two have shared time in the past during spring training. But no matter the topic, dad's pride comes through, quietly. The learning process, the soaking up the game, that's all on Terry. "He's learned a lot," Tito said. "He's my son." How Trevor Bauer went from clubhouse outsider to spa rking team unity By Scott Patsko, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio - It was early September when Trevor Bauer and Carlos Carrasco held the most unlikely of press conferences at Progressive Field. The two Indians pitchers sat in the media room behind a table covered with their handiwork - baseball caricatures of themselves and most of their teammates - and explained how the team was bonding over arts and crafts. "Like the Cavs have, what was it, mini Kev? Lil' Kev?" Bauer said, referring to how the Cavaliers' Richard Jefferson used a Kevin Love doppelganger in a Tommy Bahama ad to bring the team closer. "This is kind of like our Lil' Kev-type thing." Trevor Bauer. Bringing teammates together. There have been a lot of stories written about Bauer, but that isn't one of them. Bauer's stories have headlines and excerpts like this: UCLA's Trevor Bauer takes a different approach to pitching ("These ideas and actions have made Bauer ... somewhat unusual.") Trevor Bauer and his fall from Diamondbacks grace ("Was Bauer uncoachable? Was he a complete ass?") Is Cleveland Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer living in a state of denial? ("He'll brush off any unsightly stat line with a pat on his back for his execution.") You get the picture. So does Bauer. He understands the narrative that has followed his baseball career. That he's a loner. That he's not the best teammate. That he's really not interested in your advice or opinions. Which brings us back to that table with all the baseballs and Bauer talking about camaraderie and bringing fans closer to the team. Would he be sitting there two years ago? "Yeah, probably not," Bauer said recently. "I don't think that my teammates would've involved me with it and I don't think I would've made an attempt to get involved with it." It was a long road to get here. Tribe mini baseballs: Trevor Bauer & Carlos Carrasco on how they came to life *** When the Indians faced the Cubs in last year's World Series, it was a high point of Bauer's career. And sitting over in the Cubs dugout was a reminder of the low point. Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery was a year ahead of Bauer at Hart High School in California, and was one of the older players who made life difficult for Bauer. His freshman teammates didn't like him very much. Neither did the older varsity players. Bauer is a kid who started experimenting with training methods as early as 10, first inspired to think outside the box by his engineer father, and later by the concepts he learned in high school physics class. He started spending summers at a Texas baseball ranch where he could practice these different approaches.

By now, Bauer's practice and pregame routines are well known. There's the long toss, the weighted balls, the flexible shoulder tube and the hop-and-a-skip warm-up pitch that makes it look like he's trying to hit somebody with a dodge ball. "The pregame routine and the bands and the blade thing that he does, all that stuff combined - we all looked at each other like, 'What is this guy doing?'" Montgomery told USA Today. Bauer is pretty blunt about his high school career: "The high school coach hated me and did a lot of stuff to try and make me unsuccessful. Same with many of the coaches on the staff and a lot of the players." Bauer's baseball experience combined with his dislike of high school's popularity-based culture, led to him skipping his senior season and graduating early. UCLA was more understanding of his methods, and he thrived in three seasons there. Arizona was a different story.

Before the 2012 draft, Bauer arranged meetings with numerous teams interested in drafting him. He wanted to see who was on board with his way of doing things, because he didn't want to change it. The Diamondbacks drafted him third overall. They knew what they were getting in a pitcher. What they probably didn't realize is what they were getting in a personality. Bauer is quiet. He calls himself shy. If he's not in a group of people he knows, he doesn't talk. He just sits back and watches. So when the quiet kid from UCLA showed up in Arizona, "it wasn't that I was just a quiet kid coming up," said Bauer, "it was that I was just too good for everybody. That's how it was interpreted by my teammates and stuff, that I didn't want to talk to anybody." Bauer clashed with Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero over the number of times Bauer shook off signs, as well as his apparent unwillingness to take advice from the veteran. "He never wanted to listen," Montero said in 2013. "It's not like he wants to learn. He's got his way and it's tough to change it. ... Good luck, Carlos Santana." Bauer's Diamondbacks experience highlighted the fundamental difference between his way of thinking and pro baseball's way of thinking. On one side, you have a group of people who have spent their lives in baseball, analyzing what works and what doesn't. On the other, you have Bauer, who believes in his numbers and scientific approach, and that his success proves that the process works. "When I got to pro ball, I think a lot of that was frowned on," said Bauer. After he left Arizona, Charles Nagy, the Diamondbacks' pitching coach at the time, called Bauer an introvert who doesn't try to make friends with everybody. Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall admitted that Bauer had a really tough year with his teammates. The final straw might have been his anger over being lifted from the 2012 Triple-A national championship game. It resulted in Bauer apologizing to his teammates. That was the last time he pitched for the Diamondbacks' organization. He went to the Indians in a three-team, nine-player deal three months later. *** Another team meant it was another opportunity for Bauer to fit in, but it was tough going at first. According to former Indians catcher Chris Gimenez, Bauer was the butt of jokes in 2014, with his training methods and his disagreeability on the mound providing the punch lines. "They'd call him bobblehead," Gimenez told USA Today. "Because he'd be out there shake, shake, shake. It makes the game go slow and they'd wear him out about that." But something happened in Cleveland that didn't happen anywhere else during Bauer's baseball career. He stuck around. The 2016 season marked the first time Bauer was on the same team - and around many of the same teammates - for more than three seasons. Bauer knows now that it takes him a few years before he feels he can open up. "Being around here for an extended period of time and a few years in a row around the same guys, and experiencing different cultures and different teams year-to-year," he said, "now I'm much more aware of how experience matters, and communication. "Being around the culture of the team enough, you notice when something's off about the chemistry, and you find a way to fix that and address that and be conscious of that. Because before, that stuff didn't hold much value to me." There's no a-ha moment here, although Bauer said his circle of people outside of baseball have talked about communication, because "I think about things and communicate differently than other people, especially in an athletic (setting)." And don't take all this the wrong way. Bauer is still Bauer. "He's the same guy," said Cody Allen. "He was a very young guy when he came here. He didn't really know anybody. There's a comfort level that comes with time. But he's the same guy, he hasn't changed." He still talks as candidly as any athlete ever has. (See: Toronto, May 8). He still has his emotional flair on the mound (See: Garcia, Avisail). And he still has his drones, well most of them. Bauer isn't sure if, once his career is over, he'll be one of those players who says that camaraderie is the thing he misses the most.

But for now he's got a 17-win season, a starting nod in Thursday's American League Division Series opener, and an understanding of how a little creativity can boost team chemistry. "As (the caricatures) got going I recognized the value it had so we continued it, and it's been a good thing for the team," Bauer said. "And that's something I never would've recognized a couple years back Trevor Bauer, not Corey Kluber, will be starting Ga me 1 of AL Division Series

By Ryan Lewis

CLEVELAND: Trevor Bauer, and not Corey Kluber, will be taking the ball in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.

Indians manager Terry Francona unveiled the Indians’ rotation plans for the ALDS on Tuesday, which begins with Game 1 on Thursday at Progressive Field. Kluber might win the second Cy Young Award of his career, but the Indians like the way their pitching can be lined up with Bauer starting Game 1 and Kluber starting Game 2. Carlos Carrasco will start Game 3.

It seems to indicate more of a longer-term view than the Indians employed last postseason, and it certainly puts more of a spotlight on Bauer.

“Since whatever date, he’s been one of the better pitchers in the league,” Francona said of Bauer. “He’s durable. He bounces back really well. That’s another thing. We can use him, whether it’s a second start, or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster. That’s another factor. The chances of anybody besides Kluber going real deep probably aren’t real good because we’re going to get to our bullpen if we have a lead.”

Another reason is that if Kluber pitches Game 2, he would then start either Game 5 of the ALDS if necessary or Game 1 of the American League Championship Series, and it would keep him more in line with his regular pitching schedule through that time.

“I think on a number of reasons it makes good sense,” Francona said. “Not that you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping him on his five-day. That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it. Again, you don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you’re fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series.”

Bauer also started Game 1 of last year’s ALDS against the Boston Red Sox, but that was due to Kluber coming back from an injury. This year, Kluber is likely the AL Cy Young winner, posting an 18-4 record and 2.25 ERA with 265 strikeouts. Bauer has also been solid in the second half the season, sporting a 3.01 ERA in his final 15 appearances.

Flexibility was also a factor. As of now, according to Francona, Josh Tomlin will throw Game 4, which was one of the major questions remaining around the roster heading into this week. According to Francona, Tomlin could also be available out of the bullpen early in the series. In addition to Mike Clevinger being available out of the bullpen, it was also announced that Danny Salazar will be on the roster as a “wild card.” It gives the Indians a number of options and the ability to adjust to a number of scenarios, including a potential rainout.

“We didn’t try to overcomplicate it,” Francona said. “The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster basically into like 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be.”

Tomlin likely starting Game 4 and Salazar being available in the bullpen meant there were fewer spots among the Indians’ regular relievers. The club will carry 11 pitchers and 14 position players on the roster, in part due to Michael Brantley making it. One pitcher who did make it was Tyler Olson, who threw 20 scoreless innings this season and gives the club an additional left-hander available in the bullpen.

With Tomlin, Salazar and Clevinger all on the roster, it meant Nick Goody, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister were all off the ALDS roster. All three relievers posted a sub-3.00 ERA this season. But after Andrew Miller, Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith as sure things to make it, the Indians ran out of room. It’s certainly a different pitching situation than the one the Indians walked into last October.

“We just brought in all three of those guys, Goody, Otero and McAllister together,” Francona said. “When I said it was unfair, those are the three I was talking about. They all three have pitched terrific this year. It’s nothing they did or didn’t do. We just have to plan for the things I’ve been talking about. And for the first series, they’re not going to be on and that was not a fun message to deliver, because all three have been outstanding and good teammates and done their job. That’s one of the tougher things about this.”

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

Indians report: Michael Brantley makes ALDS roster p rimarily as pinch hitter

By Ryan Lewis

CLEVELAND: The Indians’ roster for the American League Division Series is set, and it will include outfielder Michael Brantley, at least in a pinch-hitting role.

Brantley was activated off the disabled list over the weekend. He had been rehabbing from a sprained ankle since being placed on the DL on Aug. 9. His status was one of the major question marks as to the construction of the ALDS roster. He is one of the club’s key pieces to the lineup, but one who had only been able to make three plate appearances since returning.

“He’s going to be on the roster and to start it will be in a pinch-hitting role,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Hopefully at some point that can start to expand.”

Brantley’s inclusion played a key part in the Indians carrying only 11 pitchers instead of 12. With Brantley unable to play the field, the Indians are still carrying five outfielders into the series, including Jason Kipnis, Jay Bruce, Austin Jackson, Lonnie Chisenhall and Greg Allen.

The addition of Allen, a speedster and potential defensive replacement who can provide value off the bench, also makes it easier to carry Kipnis as the club’s primary center fielder. Kipnis held his own there at the end of the season, but Allen often entered late in games as a defensive upgrade. The Indians believe Kipnis has done well enough to warrant keeping his bat in the lineup after he posted a .797 OPS in 11 games in September once he returned from a hamstring injury.

“I think Kip is just fine,” Francona said. “Like I said the other day, if he makes a mistake out there, I’ll take the blame for it because I’m appreciative of him embracing it because I think it has a chance to help us win games. I guess that’s how I view it. It has a heck of a lot more chance of helping us win than it has of hurting our chances to win.”

The Indians will also have Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez on the roster, something that also ties back to Brantley’s inclusion. It means Yandy Diaz will not be on the ALDS roster, as Gonzalez offers more of a defensive presence in the event of Brantley pinch-hitting for Urshela or anyone else in the lineup.

“His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon,” Francona said. “You can keep a guy like Brantley, which we really wanted to. But then to make it realistic and helpful, you have to have Gonzalez. It’s easy to say, ‘We’ll hit for him,’ but if we don’t have somebody to put in for defense, it doesn’t really help. So one move necessitated another.”

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

The power behind Indians manager Terry Francona rest s with the relationships built in his office and th e clubhouse

By Ryan Lewis

CLEVELAND: As the 2012 regular season came to a merciless close, the Indians were in disarray.

They had just finished a disaster of a 68-win season and a week earlier had fired manager Manny Acta. It was their third 90-plus loss season in the past four.

Top prospect and hope for the future Matt LaPorta, the centerpiece of the CC Sabathia trade, had flamed out, never to again reach the majors. Roberto Hernandez, the pitcher formerly known as Fausto Carmona, had lost the success he had found earlier in his career. And on and on.

Three days after the Indians hobbled to the conclusion of that season, they hired Terry Francona away from a short stint on ESPN to be their next manager. The Indians haven’t had a losing season since, came within one run of winning the World Series and are now entering the 2017 postseason among the favorites to win it all.

Of course, that isn’t to say a manager is the lone reason for that success. Far from it. The Indians have developed their prospects, acutely signed their core in-house players to club-friendly and market-friendly long-term deals and recently, owner Paul Dolan has brought out his checkbook to supplement the roster with higher-priced free agents and expensive trade targets. All of it has come together to mold the Indians’ success. All of it has been vital.

But at the epicenter of the fluid ecosystem that is a baseball clubhouse housing a team that finds and then holds on to success has been Francona.

Francona has his principals, views and mantras, like any manager. He isn’t a big fan of routinely holding the big team meeting, unless he thinks a specific message will do the club good. Otherwise, he won’t yell just to make himself feel better. In fact, he won’t do anything if it can’t be turned into something the Indians can use to their advantage — if it doesn’t help, throw it out.

He doesn’t like to talk about himself, and he absolutely will not judge other managers on their decisions or abilities. Even when he required a heart procedure, which forced his exit from the team and prevented him from managing the All-Star Game, Francona still didn’t want to talk about it much, mostly saying he was just embarrassed he had to go through it. To the end, he’ll brag about his players and change the subject when it turns to him.

He’s also widely viewed as one of the biggest player’s managers, one who will defend his guys to a fault. Managers are prime suspects to be second-guessed with every pitching change and lineup card they fill out, but few managers would be second-guessed less than Francona, who boasts a strong resume already. But none of those things are what the players inside the Indians’ clubhouse view as his biggest strength.

That’s his ability to relate with people. It’s something that can’t be quantified with numbers, of course. But to a man, that’s what has stood out.

“It’s the fluidity of how he handles things and the way he gets the best out of players, and how he respects players, understands them and how he speaks the players’ language,” said Josh Tomlin, who plays cribbage in Francona’s office nearly every day. “He’s just got that feel for what players think and how to manage and how to push the right buttons and what to say to get the best out of them.”

Francona came to Cleveland already with a Hall of Fame resume with the two World Series rings he won in Boston, ending the Curse of the Bambino there. He’s now a two-time American League Manager of the Year, and guiding the depleted Indians to within one game of winning it all a year ago was universally praised. After all, the Indians somehow won an ALCS game in Toronto with a bullpen game after Trevor Bauer and his bloody pinkie had to exit in the first inning.

When he first took over in Cleveland, he brought with him a sense of “awe,” as Cody Allen put it. He wasn’t an up-start manager — he had already found success. But none of the clout from his resume came with him to Cleveland, something that quickly became apparent.

“Once you meet him, he’s instantly humanizes himself,” Allen said. “You’re like, ‘Holy cow, this guy’s going to be in Cooperstown but he’s the most down-to-earth guy you’ll ever meet. That’s definitely part of it. … One thing I’ve always said is that if he’s an expert in anything, it’s people. It’s not baseball. He’s great at all those things, but the reason he’s such a great manager is because he knows people and knows how to get the most out of everyone.”

Allen added that that’s especially true for younger players. Francona’s message to rookies is to ensure that you prove to your teammates that you care about winning above everything else. He also gives rookies freedom to find their own path, within those boundaries, something that’s appreciated by the likes of Francisco Lindor and others.

“The first thing he told me was, ‘Be yourself and show your teammates you want to win.’ If you do that, I guarantee you’ll win the clubhouse and win the respect of every guy on the team,’ ” Lindor said. “He lets you make mistakes and he lets you have fun. If we aren’t having fun, if he’s not, then that’s not him.”

The door to Francona’s office is essentially always open to players, one way that helps the communication between the manager’s office and clubhouse remain strong. Much of that takes place over a cribbage board or a game of cards. Last year, Tomlin, Michael Brantley and others downloaded a cribbage app to learn the game before taking on Francona. He now takes part in daily matches, but it’s about more than the cribbage.

“He allows guys to come in, play cards, have a conversation, shoot the bull,” Tomlin said. “Once you understand the type of career he’s had as a manager, it’s pretty unbelievable. Whenever he invites you in there to play cards or just to have a conversation, you listen. And you know he loves being part of it, part of baseball, part of the Indians.

“You understand he’s just one of us, he’s just had more time in the game.”

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

Ryan Lewis: Indians of 2017 enter postseason in a b etter position and as a better team than in 2016

CLEVELAND: The Indians are set to enter the postseason as divisional champions for the second consecutive season, but much has changed regarding the perception of this team from a year ago.

The Indians entered the 2016 postseason, at least on paper, just trying to hold on. They were going to have to scratch and claw and fight their way through the postseason after their roster — specifically the pitching staff — became depleted with injuries.

They were the underdogs, entering their first divisional series since 2007 and trying to do it without two of their top three starting pitchers and their No. 3 hitter. Objectively, their chances didn’t look particularly high. Francisco Lindor at one point commented there was almost no pressure on them, considering the circumstances, because so few thought they’d advance.

This October is different. There’s no more underdog label to be found, the moniker the Indians sported right up until Game 7 of the World Series 11 months ago. This time around, it’s been replaced with a target on their collective backs as by many accounts, they are perceived as the best team in baseball sitting atop the power rankings.

Statistically, this 2017 team is better than the 2016 counterpart nearly across the board.

The Indians of 2016 scored 777 runs and allowed 676 in the regular season, a run differential of plus-101. This season? They scored 818 runs and allowed only 564, a margin of plus-254, the best run differential in baseball by 56 runs. If you only counted the Indians’ 22-game winning streak, they still had a better run differential in those 22 games (plus-105) than during the 2016 season.

The Indians won the second-most games in franchise history, trailing only the 1954 club, which won 111 games. In 2016, the Indians’ 14-game winning streak elevated the club to the favorites in the division. This season, that 22-game streak, arguably the best stretch of 22 games ever played in baseball history, lifted the Indians to the top of the power rankings.

The Indians’ 2016 pitching staff was good. Really good, even after the injuries. The 2017 staff was much better.

A statistical argument can be made that the 2017 Indians had the best pitching staff in baseball history. According to FanGraphs, the Indians’ pitching staff posted 31.8 WAR, besting the 1996 Atlanta Braves for the most in baseball history. Last year, they had 18.6 WAR. They also set the single-season strikeout record this season with 1,614. Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer became the first three teammates to all win at least 17 games and strike out at least 190 batters in the same season. Kluber is probably the favorite to win the Cy Young, and Carrasco, who was hurt last postseason, could finish in the top five. Bauer, took a big step forward in the second half. Not to mention the contributions from Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, Mike Clevinger and arguably the game’s best bullpen, the backbone of last year’s postseason run, led by Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.

A year ago, the issue was finding enough impact pitching to get through the postseason. This year, it was who to leave off the roster, the Indians’ depth becoming a good problem to have.

The lineup is also more dangerous. Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor are each MVP candidates, both taking a major step forward offensively by each slugging more than 90 extra bases, the first two Indians teammates to do that since Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez in 1996. And the Indians have added two sluggers — Edwin Encarnacion, one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball who belted 38 home runs and drove in 107 runs, and Jay Bruce, a late addition to add insurance for Michael Brantley. Brantley’s health is still a question mark, but he was able to pinch-hit over the weekend.

And both catchers are healthy, something that wasn’t the case last October. Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez have each been playing well in the past several weeks. Essentially from top to bottom, this Indians roster is in better shape than it was heading into Game 1 of the ALDS a year ago. Nearly every key piece is back, with the real exception being Rajai Davis and his bedlam-inducing home run in Game 7. Austin Jackson has more than made up for Davis’ offense, but is not the same threat on the bases. Others were added in the offseason or at the deadline. Others took steps forward to make bigger contributions. Others are now healthy.

Baseball is a fickle sport. The Indians proved that last year. Being the favorite doesn’t actually mean anything once the jets fly overhead and the first pitch is thrown. Being better on paper counts for nothing. The run the Indians went on last year was improbable if not incredible, and it was certainly a fall to remember for fans. This year? A 22-game winning streak, 102 wins, another division title. And, some health heading into October.

The question is if it’s enough to win the one game they couldn’t last November.

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

Carlos Carrasco ready to make postseason debut for d efending American League champion Indians

By Michael Beaven

CLEVELAND: The Indians are entering the 2017 Major League Baseball playoffs with a healthy Carlos Carrasco.

That wasn’t the case last year as Carrasco dealt with a broken fifth metacarpal in his right hand after Ian Kinsler of the Detroit Tigers hit a line drive up the middle on the second pitch of a game on Sept. 17.

Despite not having Carrasco and Danny Salazar a season ago, the Indians dispatched the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays in the American League playoffs before losing to the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series.

Indians manager Terry Francona relied on Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin to man the starting rotation with assistance from Ryan Merritt.

This year, the Indians (102-60) have Carrasco back in the fold as the American League Central Division champions open up the playoffs this week.

“I’m really excited for it,” Carrasco said on Thursday. “So, I’ve been in two postseasons, 2013 and then last year, but this year I am able to pitch so it’s going to be same game, more people but you know what nothing is different, it’s the same baseball. I’ll pitch the same way I did in regular season, it’s going to be the same in the playoffs, too.”

Carrasco is 18-6 this season with 200 innings pitched in 32 starts. He has a 3.29 ERA with 226 strikeouts and 46 walks. He joins a postseason rotation that will include Kluber (18-4, 2.25 ERA, 29 starts, 203⅔ innings, 265 strikeouts, 36 walks) and Bauer (17-9, 4.19 ERA, 31 starts, 176⅓ innings, 196 strikeouts, 60 walks).

“He’s a bona fide ace in our mind,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said about Carrasco. “The guy goes out there, and when he’s on, he’s pretty lights-out and he’s pretty hard to hit. He’s a perfect complement to Corey, back-to-back guys that just have a plan, that know what they want to do and get it done. It takes usually more than one swing to score runs off them, and that’s what you want out of pitchers.”

Carrasco was locked in in his final start on Thursday afternoon when the Indians beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 5-2 to secure their 100th win of the season. Carrasco pitched 8⅓ scoreless innings, struck out 14 and walked one. He Kennys Vargas on his final pitch, a fastball, that popped into the glove of Indians catcher Roberto Perez.

“He’s huge for us,” Perez said of Carrasco. “He was consistent all year long, and for him to be able to pound the strike zone and throw strikes, he’s pretty consistent with his work ethic and every five days he gets the ball, he wants the ball, so and he’s one of our leaders out there in the field and I’m happy for him.”

The crowd in attendance at Progressive Field gave Carrasco a standing ovation as Francona approached the mound for a meeting with six guys smiling. Third baseman Giovanny Urshela and shortstop Francisco Lindor patted Carrasco on the back. First baseman Carlos Santana and second baseman Ramirez shook his hand.

Carrasco gave the baseball to Francona, who patted his 30-year-old right-hander on the back as AC/DC’s Thunderstruck blared over the loudspeakers.

“For the first time in his career he gets to 200 innings,” Francona said. “I think this was a really good way for him to lead into a playoff start. I think he feels really good about himself. … He looks like it’s the first day of the season. I think that’s a credit to his ability to work and his routines.”

Francona said he is “excited to have” Carrasco on the postseason roster, and so is Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway.

“He was on a mission this year and I think he really was disappointed he didn’t get to help us out in the playoffs last year and he was on a complete mission the whole year,” Callaway said. “He was out there every fifth day making great starts for us. He is in a really good spot and had a great outing his last time. He wants to go out there and show everybody what he can do in the playoffs.”

Carrasco can’t wait to get his postseason opportunity.

“I work really hard to pitch every five days and pitching every five days is really fun, and having my teammates behind me make great plays, but I’m happy the way I pitched this year, then I think … what can I say, all the hard work has paid off,” Carrasco said. “I’m really happy for it.”

He isn’t the only one excited about his next start.

“I have been seeing the usual him,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “He locates his pitches, he throws strikes, he attacks the hitters and I am looking forward to having him this postseason.”

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

Indians reliever Andrew Miller returns to health, r eady to have fun in the postseason

By Michael Beaven and Ryan Lewis

CLEVELAND: There were 10 games in last year’s playoffs that Indians manager Terry Francona enlisted the services of Andrew Miller.

The 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher trotted out of the bullpen and compiled a 2-0 record, one save and a 1.40 ERA in 19⅓ innings. He struck out 30 batters, walked five and allowed 12 hits as the Indians marched to Game 7 of the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs.

Francona has mentioned this season that the volume with which he used Miller last October almost made him “uncomfortable,” but the manager called on the 32-year-old relief ace nonetheless.

When asked if he felt gassed by the end of October last year, Miller said Saturday: “No.”

“When it was over was when it hit me, but I felt great,” Miller said. “I felt like Game 7 of the World Series, it was as strong as I had felt. There’s some fatigue and there were outings when I was sharper, but I felt strong. I felt like I wasn’t pitching with any pain or fatigue that was really there at all. The adrenaline of those games made such a difference. Honestly, I felt great.

“There’s so much going on and between the energy of the stadium and the importance of the games and all of that, I was so far distracted from anything that was going on physically that I was just having fun out there.”

Miller is looking to once again have fun in the 2017 Major League Baseball playoffs on an Indians team that posted a 102-60 record, won the American League Central Division title and earned home-field advantage in the first two rounds of the postseason.

“I feel good,” said Miller, who has battled patellar tendonitis in his right knee that put him on the disabled list from Aug. 2-17 and Aug. 22-Sept. 13. “I feel like I can still be better. I feel like hopefully that’s always the case. I think I’m glad I had this amount of time to come back that I did. The goal is to be as sharp as possible going into these games. I think everybody wants to be that way. I think I can make some better pitches and sharpen up a few things. All in all, I’m pretty happy with where I’m at.”

Miller, an All-Star this season, made 57 appearances and compiled a 4-3 record, two saves, a 1.44 ERA in 62⅔ innings, struck out 95 batters, walked 21 and allowed 31 hits.

Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said Miller “looks great,” and likes what he sees from a bullpen that includes closer Cody Allen.

“I think that what happened to him is going to end up being a blessing in disguise,” Callaway said. “The little bit of a break before he really has to get after it in the playoffs. He got back early enough to be able to get his stuff where he wants it — his breaking ball, his fastball, everything feels great. His arm feels good. His knee feels great. I think we are going to look back on him missing some time and thinking it was a blessing in disguise for sure.”

Indians catcher Roberto Perez said Miller looks strong and ready for playoff games.

“His velo is up, his slider is sharp, so I think he looks like he is in form,” Perez said.

Miller’s injury affected the way he was able to plant his right leg during his delivery. He said the time off helped him to pitch like normal.

“I just think the more opportunities I get to test it — I went back-to-back and all that stuff, there’s a reason a reason you have that checklist,” Miller said.

When Miller came back from his DL stints, his fastball velocity was down a bit but has since returned to its regular speeds. Francona mentioned once that Miller can be at a certain velocity and then if the situation gets more dire, he ramps it up.

“Yeah I’ve always pitched that way,” Miller said. “Even when I was a starter, when I was younger, high school, college, I don’t know how guys are so consistent with their velocity. I guess I’m kind of the outlier. I pitch a certain way and I think I kind of have a little extra in the tank that I can include if I need to. That’s just kind of the way I’m comfortable throwing.”

Miller displayed that extra fire last year when he opened the postseason with 15 scoreless innings and baffled the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

“In the postseason, everything counts so I am sure he will be back to being as dominant as he has always been,” Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “I am looking forward to seeing it, and I am looking forward to the whole entire thing — seeing everybody competing.

“[Winning over 100 games] is a big accomplishment, but we all understand that’s not our goal. Our goal was to make it to the playoffs. And then once we’re in the playoffs, go as deep as we can in the playoffs.”

Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 10.04.2017

Cleveland Indians: Can total domination continue? -- Terry Pluto

By Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I called Cleveland Indians broadcaster Tom Hamilton.

I wanted to talk to one of only two radio broadcasters alive to ever call a 22-game Major League winning streak, the other being his partner Jim Rosenhaus.

"I never thought about that," said Hamilton, who finished his 28th year calling Tribe games.

The New York Giants were probably not on the radio during their 26-game winning streak in 1916.

"If they were, that guy is probably not around to talk about it," I said.

Then we started to talk Tribe.

"At one point this season, the Indians were 48-45," said Hamilton. "They had a 1 1/2 game lead in the Central Division. At that point, who could have imagined this?"

This is the Tribe with a 102-60 final record, the second-highest victory total in team history.

This is the Tribe's historical 22-game winning.

This is the Tribe in the playoffs for back-to-back years, the first time it's happened since the late 1990s.

Hamilton said Cody Allen told him about a team meeting, how the players said "It's time to kick it in gear."

This was during the Tribe's mid-season malaise.

Allen said one of the players mentioned, "Guys, we can't sit around and think we're going to have another 14-game winning streak like last year."

Hamilton laughed.

The player was wrong. From August 24-September 16, the Indians won 22 in a row.

TOTAL DOMINATION

"I don't pay attention to winning streaks until they get to 10 in a row," said Hamilton. "Then, it's pretty amazing."

The Indians set a franchise record with a 14-game winning streak in 2016. That set up a 94-68 final record for a team that lost to the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series.

"When the month of August came, all the teams we were playing had records of at least .500," said Hamilton. "It was a pretty safe bet no 14-game winning streak was on the horizon."

On August 22 and 23, the Indians lost to Boston. They were outscored 15-2 in those games.

The next day, they beat the Red Sox, 13-6.

"The winning streak started against Chris Sale," said Hamilton. "Next, they throw three straight shutouts against Kansas City. Then they sweep the Yankees in a three-game series, including a doubleheader ... and the next day, they beat Detroit in a doubleheader."

Hamilton claims winning back-to-back doubleheaders was one of the most remarkable aspects of The Streak, one that is often forgotten.

"After The Streak got to 15, I was thinking, 'This is hard to fathom ... no one in Hollywood would believe a script like this,'" said Hamilton.

Hamilton said the average score in The Streak was 7-2.

"There were no real nail-bitters until the last game," he said. "That was the only win in the last at-bat. There were only four games they won by one run. It was total domination."

OCTOBER BASEBALL

Hamilton believes the Indians are well-positioned for a strong postseason run.

"During the streak, there was no giddiness in the clubhouse," he said. "No one was saying, 'Can you believe what we're doing?' They were playing good baseball, period."

The Indians were 11-4 after The Streak to finish the season.

"That showed me a lot," said Hamilton. "I was just thinking how they haven't lost two in a row since August. Unbelievable."

The Indians have adopted the "Win Today's Game" motto of manager Terry Francona.

Don't think streak. Don't dwell on yesterday. Don't worry about tomorrow.

"Win today," said Hamilton. "I think it's why this team has stayed away from long losing streaks. The longest losing streak last year was three in a row. This year, it was four in a row. After the Indians were 48-45, they finished the season 54-15."

But Hamilton admitted October baseball is different.

"Especially a best-of-five series," he said. "The thing that frightens you is the better team can be upset in a shorter series."

He compared the first round of the playoffs to "March Madness."

Last year, the Indians swept Boston in the first-round. Few people saw that coming, even those who believed the Tribe was the better team.

"This year has been so much fun," he said. "Let's not take any of this for granted."

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 10.04.2017

Trevor Bauer to start Game 1 of ALDS as Terry Franco na names Cleveland Indians' roster

By Paul Hoynes

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Manager Terry Francona said Trevor Bauer will start Game 1 of the AL Division Series for the Indians on Thursday night at Progressive Field. The rest of the rotation will go as follows: Corey Kluber in Game 2 on Friday, Carlos Carrasco in Game 3 on Sunday and Josh Tomlin in Game 4 on Monday.

There was speculation that Bauer (17-9, 4.19) could start Game 1 over Cy Young contender Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25), the Indians' ace. Francona turned the speculation into fact before Tuesday's workout.

"We're going to start out with Trevor in Game 1, Kluber in Game 2, Carrasco in Game 3 and Tomlin in Game 4," said Francona. "Saying that, we've gotten a little creative with our roster so Tomlin will be available in the bullpen for the first couple of games so the Game 4 starter could change.

"Then Trevor could be available later in the series as a starter or reliever. We're trying to get as much flexibility as we can. No. 1, you want to win every game. No. 2, you don't know about weather this time of the year."

Bauer started Game 1 of the ALDS last year against Boston, but that was because Kluber was coming off a right hamstring injury.

Francona said Kluber is starting Game 2 to keep him on his regular five day's rest. But Kluber, who started Saturday against the White Sox, would have been on his normal rest for Game 1 on Thursday. Kluber, by starting Game 2, would be on regular rest for Game 5, if needed, or he would be ready to start Game 1 in the ALCS if the Indians advance without the ALDS going the distance.

The Indians will play the winner of Tuesday night's wild card game between the Yankees and Twins in the best of five ALDS.

Terry Francona on Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber starting Games 1 and 2

"We tried not to over complicate it," said Francona. "I think the main reason we did this was to try and turn a 25-man roster into, maybe, 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be."

When asked if the decision not to start Kluber in Game 1 was difficult, Francona said, "Not really. I talked to Kluber about it a couple of weeks ago. For a number of reasons, I think, it makes good sense.

"You never go into a game thinking you're going to lose, but if you do you have your ace coming back in Game 2. But the biggest thing was keeping him on his five days. That was really important to Kluber and that was the only way we could do it.

"You never put the cart before the horse, but if you're fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series."

Bauer, in his last 14 games, went 10-1. He finished with 196 strikeouts in 176 1/3 innings in 32 appearances, including 31 starts.

"Since July 21, he's been one of the better pitchers in the league," said Francona. "He's durable. He bounces back really well. And that was another thing -- we can use him whether it's a second start or in the bullpen probably better than anyone else on our roster."

In other roster news: Michael Brantley is on the club as a pinch-hitter, while Danny Salazar will open in the bullpen.

Relievers Nick Goody, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister, who did heavy lifting during the season, did not make the club. They made a combined 158 appearances, striking out 176 in 176 2/3 innings.

"That's one of the tougher things about this," said Francona.

Rookie Greg Allen made the club as a defensive replacement for Jason Kipnis, who will start in center field.

Francona said third base will be manned by Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez. Yandy Diaz did not make the roster.

Regarding Brantley, who has had just three at-bats since Aug. 8, Francona said, "He'll start out in a pinch-hitting role. Hopefully, at some point, that can start to expand."

Francona said Brantley could fit in nicely as a pinch-hitter for Urshela or Gonzalez.

Asked about Salazar, Francona said, "Danny is on the roster and he'll be kind of a wild card. The forecast for Thursday and Friday is a little iffy. The last thing we want to do if get caught short."

Here's the roster breakdown:

Catchers (two): Yan Gomes, Roberto Perez.

Starting rotation (four): Bauer, Kluber, Carrasco and Tomlin.

Bullpen (seven): Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith, Andrew Miller, Mike Clevinger and Salazar, Tyler Olson.

Infielders (six): Carlos Santana, Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Urshela, Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion.

Outfielders (six): Jay Bruce, Austin Jackson, Kipnis, Allen, Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall.

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 10.04.2017

Cleveland Indians ALDS roster will not include reli evers Nick Goody, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister

By Joe Noga, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Relief pitchers Nick Goody, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister were among the players informed Tuesday that they had been left off the Cleveland Indians' roster for the American League Division Series.

Manager Terry Francona announced his tentative roster for the ALDS after speaking individually to several players who were left off the list. Goody, Otero and McAllister, who combined for 158 appearances during the regular season, were informed during a group meeting with Francona.

"All three have been outstanding and good teammates and done their job," Francona said. "It's the reality that you're allowed to have 25, but it didn't make it any easier. The message wasn't fun to give and I know they didn't enjoy hearing it. And I don't blame them."

The three right-handers posted a combined 2.25 ERA with 176 strikeouts against 50 walks in 176 2/3 innings. Each played a big role in helping the Indians to 102 victories and the best regular season record in the American League.

Francona announced that he would go with 11 pitchers on the ALDS roster, including starter Danny Salazar, whom he referred to as a "wild card" in his role for the playoffs.

"We didn't try to overcomplicate it," Francona said. "The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster into 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be."

Salazar made 19 starts during the regular season, including a Sept. 29 outing against Minnesota in which he struck out nine batters in 4 2/3 innings. He made four relief appearances, including a pair in mid-September against Detroit and Kansas City.

Francona said starter Ryan Merritt and reliever Craig Breslow were also informed that they were not on the opening round roster. Merritt pitched in a simulated game at Progressive Field on Tuesday, and Francona said coaches will come in to work with both players while the team is traveling during the ALDS.

Merritt appeared in five games (four starts) and allowed just four earned runs in 20 2/3 innings including wins against Kansas City and the New York Yankees in late August. Breslow appeared in seven games after joining the club Aug. 26 from AAA Columbus. He pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed four earned runs, striking out five.

Another group of players that have been with the team all year, which could ostensibly include Goody, Otero and McAllister, will travel with the club during the playoffs, Francona said.

The club also sent relievers Kyle Crockett and Shawn Armstrong home along with outfielder Tyler Naquin. Armstrong spent the season riding a shuttle between Columbus and Cleveland. In nine stints with the big-league club, he posted a 4.38 ERA in 21 appearances.

Crockett appeared in four games, striking out two in 1 2/3 innings and allowing two earned runs. Naquin, who finished third in last year's AL Rookie of the Year balloting, hit .216 in 19 games while spending most of the season at Columbus.

Francona said the club reserves the right to make changes to the roster up until the deadline on Thursday morning. And in light of last year's drone incident with Trevor Bauer, there's no telling what could happen.

Infielder Yandy Diaz was also left off the ALDS roster. Francona instead decided to favor a more defensive option at third base with Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez.

"That's where (outfielder Michael) Brantley comes into play," Francona said. "His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon. So we'll have someone over there who's really good defensively. If we feel the need to hit, we can."

Francona also opened up the possibility of bringing Jason Kipnis in to play second base and moving Jose Ramirez to third base in a late-game situation.

Meanwhile, prospect Francisco Mejia is heading to the Arizona Fall League where he will play third base and get reps at catcher.

"Because if something happens to one of our catchers, he's next in line," Francona said. "But sitting around here, we need to keep him busy and keep him in more playing shape."

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 10.04.2017

Here's why the Cleveland Indians won't start Corey Kluber in Game 1 of the ALDS

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com phoynes@cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The easiest thing for the Indians to do would be to start Corey Kluber in Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Thursday night at Progressive Field.

He's a fully-rested Cy Young candidate on a monster roll. He'd be pitching in front of a sellout crowd against the second-best starter of whichever team comes out of Tuesday night's AL wild card game between the Yankees and Twins. He'd be facing that team's second-best starter because the Yankees and Twins started their No.1s - Luis Severino and Ervin Santana - in the wild card game.

For a team that has stressed win the game at hand all season, why not give yourself the best chance to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series? Who doesn't like a 1-0 lead?

Kluber has made one start against the Twins this year, striking out 13 and allowing two unearned runs in seven innings. He's 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in two starts against the Yankees. He struck out 18 in 17 innings.

But the Indians aren't going to do it that way. They're going to have Trevor Bauer start Game 1 and use Kluber in Game 2 on Friday.

No doubt, Bauer has pitched well this year. He's 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA. Over his last 14 games, including 13 starts, he's 10-1 with a 2.60 ERA. He's done a nice job against the Twins and Yankees as well. Bauer is 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA in five games, including four starts, against the Twins this year. He's 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Yankees.

But when you have a pitcher who is the equivalent of a Joe Frazier left hook, why would stop him from taking the mound at the first opportunity?

Here's the reason the Indians aren't starting Kluber in Game 1.

Terry Francona on Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber starting Games 1 and 2

They do not want to pitch Kluber on short rest in the postseason. They were forced to do so last year because their rotation was injured and it finally wore Kluber down in Game 7 of the World Series.

So the math goes like this: Kluber was going to start Game 1 and Game 5 or Game 2 and Game 5 in the ALDS. If he started Game 1, he was not going to come back and pitch Game 4 on short rest.

Manager Terry Francona went to Kluber a couple of weeks ago and asked him what he preferred to do. Kluber said he preferred to start Game 2 and come back for Game 5, if necessary, on normal rest.

Should the Indians advance to the best-of-seven ALCS in fewer than five games, Kluber would be in line to start Games 1, 4 and 7. The ALCS starts on Oct. 13. If the Indians qualify, they will have home-field advantage.

Carlos Carrasco, arguably the second-best starter on the staff, will start Game 3 at Yankee Stadium or Target Field on Sunday. Carrasco, like Kluber, won 18 games and struck out more than 220 hitters this year. While Kluber has pitched like a homebody this year - he's 10-2, with a 1.81 ERA at Progressive Field - Carrasco likes the road. He went 11-2 with a 2.65 ERA in 17 road starts.

That's another reason why the Indians won't open this series with the traditional alignment of Kluber, Carrasco and Bauer in the rotation.

Francona told reporters Tuesday that the Josh Tomlin would be the fourth starter, but that assignment is in flux. Tomlin will be in the bullpen for the first two games. Depending on if he's needed to pitch, and how the Indians are doing in the series, he could start Game 4 on Monday or Francona could turn to other options presented by this roster.

Bauer, depending on how much he pitched in Game 1, is durable enough to start Game 4 on short rest. Or it could be converted starters Mike Clevinger or Danny Salazar. They will open the ALDS in the bullpen, knocking heavy-duty relievers Dan Otero, Nick Goody and Zach McAllister off the roster.

The addition of Michael Brantley brings some of that flexibility to the position player side of the roster. Right now, Brantley is only a pinch hitter, and it would not be surprising if Francona doesn't try to use him at the first opportunity. He could bat for third baseman Giovanny Urshela or Urshela's replacement, Erik Gonzalez.

If the Indians run out of third basemen - Yandy Diaz did not make the club - they could bring Jason Kipnis in from center field to play second and move Jose Ramirez to third. Rookie Greg Allen made the roster to replace Kipnis in such situations.

The roster has a lot of moving parts, a lot of flexibility. From the outside looking in, it's healthier and more talented than last year. But is it as desperate?

That's what drove the Indians and Francona last year. No Brantley, no Carrasco, no Salazar. Bauer was wounded by his own drone. Francona managed every game as if it was his last. His players played like that as well and just missed winning the whole thing.

They are back again this year as the top seed with 102 wins. They have compiled a resume of gleaming stats stretching from the shores of Lake Erie to the Arizona Fall League. But they best not forget about desperation.

Cleveland Plain Dealer LOADED: 10.04.2017

FAQ: The Indians' thought process on selecting thei r ALDS roster and playoff rotation order T.J. Zuppe 3 hours ago The avalanche of information Tuesday afternoon was enough to fill every corner of a blank notebook page and bury anyone in its path.

What started as a simple question about the Indians' rotation order became an unofficial revelation of the Tribe's 25-man roster for the American League Division Series, with Terry Francona offering piece by piece in a manner that would have put the most elaborate and complex line of dominoes to shame. In the aftermath of Francona's chat with reporters, we finally answered some important questions. A few new inquiries were created in the process. But before we get to that growing list of uncertainties, here are the 25 players the Indians will carry in the first round of the postseason against the Yankees. Keep in mind, this roster will not become official until Thursday morning. Pitchers Corey Kluber, SP Trevor Bauer, SP Carlos Carrasco, SP Josh Tomlin, SP Danny Salazar, RHP Mike Clevinger, RHP Tyler Olson, LHP Andrew Miller, LHP Cody Allen, RHP

Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Catchers Roberto Perez Yan Gomes Infielders Carlos Santana Edwin Encarnacion Jose Ramirez Erik Gonzalez

Giovanny Urshela Francisco Lindor Outfielders Jason Kipnis Austin Jackson Lonnie Chisenhall Jay Bruce Greg Allen Michael Brantley

So, how did they arrive at each of those decisions? Well, we've done our best to organize any of those potential questions into a helpful guide, offering some insight into how the coaches and front office came together to make their selections based on Francona's comments Tuesday. First, let's start with … Why is Trevor Bauer pitching Game 1 and Corey Kluber pitching Game 2? The way they set it up allows for Bauer, if necessary, to come back on short rest in Game 4. Kluber, meanwhile, would pitch Game 2 with an extra day of rest but would then be available for Game 5 on his normal schedule. As Zack Meisel laid out and as we discussed on this week's Selby Is Godcast, the decision to pitch their ace in Game 2 is risky business and sort of went away from the way things were pieced together last October. Their reasoning? “I think for a number of reasons, it makes good sense,” Francona said. “Not that you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping (Kluber) on his five-day routine. That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it. You don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you’re fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series.” While lining up their rotation this way offers multiple pitching options throughout the series, it could also horrifically backfire. That choice also certainly puts a lot of pressure on Bauer, something they believe he can handle. His outstanding production down the stretch increases that thought. Francona: “Trevor will never back down from a challenge. We love that about him.” Why do they have so much faith in Bauer on short rest? Simply because he's the most physically equipped to do it. Bauer has a unique way of training and maintaining his arm and body. He's put endless amount of study into the best ways to avoid injury, and to his credit, outside of a drone incident last October, his ability to take the ball every five days is never impacted by arm fatigue. In fact, Bauer is one of the few who seems to get stronger the deeper he pitches in games. “He’s durable,” Francona said. “He bounces back really well. That’s another thing. We can use him, whether it’s a second start, or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster. That’s another factor.” It's also an indication that the Indians plan to lean heavily on their strong bullpen. Don't be surprised if a number of the club's starters get pulled in the middle innings in favor of more appetizing match-ups. “The chances of anybody besides Kluber going real deep probably aren’t real good,” Francona added. “We’re going to get to our bullpen if we have a lead. And if we don’t have a lead, you’ll probably still get to your bullpen.” Why push Carlos Carrasco back to Game 3? Francona didn't say Carrasco's road splits were a factor. But he also didn't stay they weren't a factor. Should they be? Home-road numbers can be among the most fluky, random things in baseball, but there is no denying the huge discrepancy in Carrasco's splits this year (2.65 ERA, 2.74 FIP on road vs. 3.99 ERA, 3.51 FIP at Progressive Field in 2017). And for what it's worth, Carrasco owns a 1.40 career ERA in four starts at Yankee Stadium. “We didn’t try to overcomplicate it,” Francona said. “The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster basically into like 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be.” In that regard, Josh Tomlin, currently the scheduled Game 4 starter, will be available in relief in Games 1 and 2. Bauer could either start Game 4 in place of Tomlin or be available in relief for Games 4 and 5. See? Not overcomplicated at all. So, what is Danny Salazar's role going to be? Francona referred to Salazar as a “wild card.” While he doesn't appear to be lining up for a start in the first round, his ability to go more than one inning gives them even more ability to be aggressive in how quickly they pull the plug on a starter. How will they handle the starting duties at third base? A lack of Yandy Diaz on the roster means the club is putting a premium on infield defense. Giovanny Urshela figures to get the bulk of the starting at-bats, but don't be surprised if the Indians are super aggressive when it comes to pinch hitting for the guys at the bottom of the lineup. “That’s where Brantley comes into play,” Francona said. “His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon. “We’ll have someone over there who’s really good defensively. If we feel the need to hit, we can. And if we ever have to, we can actually bring Kip in to play second and move Ramirez to third. So, you have the ability to pinch-hit twice if you want.” How can they afford the luxury of carrying Brantley as a pinch hitter?

By having Tomlin, Salazar and Mike Clevinger on the roster, they have multiple arms capable of logging multiple innings. That reduces the need to carry an additional reliever, creating a spot for a high-leverage bench bat. Brantley still isn't ready to play the outfield, but he can certainly hit in some key situations, making his presence about far more than just getting three or four plate appearances in the series. “That’s part of the reason why we did (what we did),” Francona said. “You can keep a guy like Brantley, which we really wanted to. But then to make it realistic and helpful, you have to have (Erik) Gonzalez. It’s easy to say, ‘We’ll hit for (Urshela),’ but if we don’t have somebody to put in for defense, it doesn’t really help. So, one move necessitated another.” Why aren't Nick Goody, Dan Otero or Zach McAllister on the roster? By carrying Tomlin, Salazar and Brantley, there weren't enough spots to get one of the three relievers on the playoff roster. “They all three have pitched terrific this year,” Francona said. “It’s nothing they did or didn’t do. We just have to plan for the things I’ve been talking about. And for the first series, they’re not going to be on and that was not a fun message to deliver, because all three have been outstanding and good teammates and done their job. That’s one of the tougher things about this.” Why did rookie Greg Allen make the roster? With Kipnis now starting in center field, they needed someone capable of upgrading their center-field defense late in games. Allen is certainly more than capable of that, plus his speed makes him a possible late-game weapon on the bases. Will we see Bradley Zimmer at some point? Zimmer continues his normal progression, recovering from the fractured hand he suffered in September. He's finally to the point where he can fit a baseball glove on his left hand, but he's still pretty far from returning to game action. Their biggest concern for the rookie is doing what is best for his long-term health and career. “I don’t think you ever shut the door on anything,” Francona said. “But I don’t know how realistic (him playing in the postseason) would be.” Other than the trio of right-handed relievers, will they have any other pitchers staying ready just in case? Lefties Ryan Merritt and Craig Breslow didn't make the ALDS roster, but both will continue throwing. They won't travel with the club to New York. Merritt, however, will continue to remain stretched out like a starter. “We’re going to have coaches come in when we travel to work these guys out,” Francona said. “There will be another segment of guys who travel with us, the guys that have been with us all year.” What happens to some of the other guys? Kyle Crockett, Tyler Naquin and Shawn Armstrong? The Indians sent the trio home for the postseason. What about Brandon Guyer? It sounds like Guyer's wrist injury is going to keep him out for the first round and beyond. Thankfully, Austin Jackson has essentially filled Guyer's role this year against left-handed pitching, contributing a 171 wRC+ against them. “We’re working through that, but it’s just not going the way we all want it to,” Francona said of Guyer's wrist. “When we have some clarity on that, we’ll certainly share it.” What's next for Francisco Mejia? The Indians are sending Mejia out to Arizona to prepare for his upcoming Arizona Fall League season. The catcher will earn some significant reps at third base in the AFL, but before it gets underway, he will continue staying sharp behind the plate. “If something happens to one of our catchers, he’s next in line,” Francona said. “But sitting around here, we need to keep him busy and keep him in more playing shape, so that’s what he’ll do.” Rotation plans are a bit of a head-scratcher, but t he Indians are usually a bit ahead of the game Zack Meisel 13 hours ago Quick, name the quirky, quadricopter-constructing pitcher who started the Indians’ postseason opener last year. It’s the same guy (Trevor Bauer) who will take the hill Thursday, when the Indians start another October journey, with the intent — and, this time, with the widespread expectation — of snapping a seven-decade championship drought. OK, so the reasoning behind the decision is a bit different. Carlos Carrasco’s hand is intact. Corey Kluber isn’t rushing back from a minor injury. But if the club’s decision to arrange its ALDS rotation in atypical fashion (Bauer, Kluber, Carrasco, Josh Tomlin) has your head spinning or has you talking to yourself, wondering what in the name of Cy Young is happening, you’re not alone. The Indians aren’t desperate from a roster standpoint like they were last year. But doesn’t this ordering seem desperate? This brain trust is often a step ahead of everyone else, so let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Terry Francona has twice captured the AL Manager of the Year award during his Cleveland tenure, and he’s a lock to be a finalist for the honor again this season. They know what they’re doing. I think. Why not arrange it Kluber-Carrasco-Bauer and address Games 4 and 5 if/when you arrive at that point? That’s the thing: I understand the Indians’ thought process. I just don’t know that it makes more sense than the traditional order, which would place your top two starters on the field from the get-go. We’re so accustomed to teams traveling this route. You want to start a series with your best. And this is a team that has obsessed over the “win today’s game” cliche. Why does it seem like they’re abandoning that concept? So why Bauer first? The Indians trust Bauer to pitch on short rest more than any other starter. Bauer quipped the other day that he hoped he was starting Games 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. He later expressed a desire to one day be granted the opportunity to do that, though he knows it would never actually happen unless he was the lone survivor on his pitching staff of a pre-playoffs plague. If Bauer opens the series, he can come back in Game 4 if need be. If the Indians trail, 2-1, Tomlin probably won’t be taking the hill. Assigning Kluber to Game 2 allows him to pitch Game 5 on regular rest, since he’ll benefit from two off-days. Still, that seems like a lot of conjecture and focus on games that might or might not ever take place. Why even have Tomlin on the roster, then, if he might not pitch at all?

Francona said Tomlin would be in the bullpen early in the series and is penciled in for a Game 4 start. But I can’t see him pitching in relief in any high-leverage spots, which is why, to me, it would’ve made more sense to have Danny Salazar or Mike Clevinger fill that tentative-Game-4-starter role, and to have Nick Goody or Dan Otero assume Tomlin’s spot on the roster. Would the Indians have assembled things this way if they weren’t facing the Wild Card team? See, that’s another interesting angle. The Indians know they’ll avoid Luis Severino or Ervin Santana until Game 3. In the Twins’ case, that’s a bonus, since Minnesota’s rotation is thin on talent. And, perhaps, the Indians felt they’d be better aligned if Carrasco opposes Santana. There’s less of a drop-off with the Yankees’ rotation. What’s the ideal scenario for the Indians? Obviously, a three-game sweep — which the team completed against Boston in the ALDS last year — is the dream for the Tribe. That would prevent the club from using Bauer on short rest or from relying on Tomlin or a glorified bullpen day. It would also permit Kluber to start Game 1 of the ALCS, but that’s getting ahead of things. The Indians will undoubtedly rely heavily upon their bullpen. Salazar and Clevinger can log multiple innings at a time. There’s no reason for Bauer to burn through the opposing lineup more than twice on Thursday if Kluber is pitching the next day and if Bauer is going to return to the mound in Game 4. The off-days also should permit Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and the rest of the bullpen brigade to appear in just about every game. And, still, this all seems sort of strange. Francona and Co. are certainly leaving themselves open to criticism if the plan flops. The Indians haven’t been this well-positioned entering October in a long time. Why starting Trevor Bauer over Corey Kluber in Game 1 makes sense David Schoenfield ESPN Senior Writer Corey Kluber is probably the best pitcher in baseball at this moment in time. You've seen the stats! They're awesome. His ERA is under 2.00 since the beginning of June and 1.42 since the beginning of August. Lots of strikeouts, few walks, complete domination. As a result, Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona's decision to start Trevor Bauer in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the wild-card winner (now known to be the New York Yankees) and Kluber in Game 2 seems like a puzzling choice. General rule of thumb: You start your ace in the first game of a series, especially in a short series when winning Game 1 is even more important. The team that wins Game 1 wins best-of-five series 71 percent of the time. But let's talk our way through this. For now, Francona's announced rotation is Bauer, Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Josh Tomlin, with Kluber pitching again if the series goes five games. The first key is understanding that with days off after Games 2 and 4, the Game 1 starter could potentially start Game 4 on three days of rest and the Game 2 starter on the regular four days of rest. In that regard, if the series goes five games, it doesn't really matter if Kluber starts Games 1 and 5 or Games 2 and 5. "We wanted to keep Kluber on his day. That was really important to Kluber, and that was really the only way we could do it," Francona said on Tuesday afternoon. "If you’re fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series.” Still, that doesn't explain the decision. Bauer is the team's third-best starter behind Kluber and Carrasco. 1. Francona wants Bauer to start at home. Bauer had a 3.93 ERA at home and 4.54 ERA on the road and saw an even bigger difference in his strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.64 at home, 2.29 on the road). That's also just one season of data. Last year, Bauer was better on the road. Plus, if you wanted to give Bauer a home start, you could still go Kluber in Game 1 and Bauer in Game 2. 2. Obviously, Francona doesn't want Kluber starting on short rest in Game 4, even though he started three times last postseason on short rest due to injuries in the Cleveland rotation. Note the difference in results. On full rest, he allowed no runs in 19⅓ innings. In his three starts on short rest, he allowed seven runs in 15 innings. 3. That, however, still doesn't explain this. To me, it seems the plan is likely that Bauer will start Games 1 and 4. He's known for his rubber arm, and Francona did say that Tomlin would be available out of the bullpen in the first three games. That suggests Francona is not locked into Tomlin starting Game 4. Remember how loaded this pitching staff is. Mike Clevinger, who had a 3.11 ERA and 137 strikeouts in 121⅔ innings, and Danny Salazar, who had the fourth-highest strikeout rate among all pitchers with at least 100 innings, will be available out of the bullpen. The bullpen is so deep with those two that Nick Goody, Dan Otero and Zach McAllister, who each had an ERA under 3.00, won't even make the division series roster (barring a last-minute change). With Clevinger and Salazar available for multi-inning stints if needed -- plus Andrew Miller -- Francona doesn't need Bauer to go deep into the game. His plan no doubt is to get two turns through the batting order from Bauer, assuming he's pitching well, and then turn the game over to Clevinger or Salazar, Miller and closer Cody Allen. He can then let Kluber goes as long as necessary in Game 2 without worrying about pitch counts, just as he did last postseason. The only risk to the plan is if the Indians are trailing in the series after three games, Francona won't have the option of starting Kluber in Game 4. If Francona had gone Kluber-Carrasco-Bauer, he could go Kluber on short rest and then Carrasco on regular rest. The Indians clearly have mapped this out and decided Kluber isn't going to start on short rest.

The key is that no situation is going to catch Francona off guard. We saw this last postseason. In the postseason, too many managers are reacting midstream to the action on the field. The Indians had a clear plan heading into each game; even when Bauer's bloody pinkie forced him to leave Game 2 of the ALCS after two outs, Francona was ready with his stream of relievers, going with a short reliever in Otero, even in the first inning. Now, there's a chance this could all backfire. If Bauer pitches poorly in both games, or Bauer and Tomlin pitch poorly and the Indians don't even get to a Game 5, this rotation order will be questioned. But if the Indians wrap it up in four games or fewer, then they are lined up in the ALCS -- Kluber in Game 1, Carrasco in Game 2. Indians ace Corey Kluber to start Game 2 of ALDS on normal rest Associated Press CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber has been relieved already. The Indians will open the playoffs with their ace on hold. Instead of starting their Cy Young favorite in Game 1 of the AL Division Series, the defending league champions will pitch Trevor Bauer on Thursday against the New York Yankees. Kluber, who has been baseball's most dominant pitcher for months, is scheduled to start Game 2. Starting the playoffs with a No. 3 starter on the mound over the Cy Young favorite seems strange, but there's a method to Terry Francona's madness. Manager Terry Francona said part of his decision to go with the rubber-armed Bauer in the opener is so he can use his best pitcher -- Kluber -- in a potential Game 5. "I think on a number of reasons it makes good sense," Francona said Tuesday before the Yankees beat Minnesota in the AL wild-card game. "Not that you go into a game thinking you're going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping him on his 5-day (schedule). That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it. "Again, you don't want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you're fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series." The decision to go with Bauer over Kluber -- or even ahead of scheduled Game 3 starter Carlos Carrasco -- is curious on a number of levels. Kluber has been overpowering this season, going 18-4 with a 2.25 ERA on his way to a likely second Cy Young win. The right-hander went 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA in six September starts and would seem to give the Indians their best chance to win. But Francona is more concerned with giving his ace normal rest, and with off days after Games 2 and 4, Kluber will have his usual recovery time between starts. The move seems risky, and could backfire if the Indians drop the opener, but Francona isn't worried about Bauer, who last year nearly cost the Indians a trip to the World Series after he cut his finger while fixing a drone. "The growth he's made, not just being a teammate but as a pitcher, he's come a long way and we're proud of him," Francona said. "And he's continuing to work and he takes feedback, he asks for feedback. Trevor's done a heck of a job. I mean, for him to get the ball in Game 1 speaks volumes. "Trevor will never back down from a challenge and we love that about him." Kluber didn't start last year's ALDS opener against Boston, but that was because he was coming off a hamstring injury. This is different. Bauer shook off a slow start and went 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA in 31 starts. Since he began throwing a slider, Bauer is 10-1 with 2.60 ERA in 14 games. "He's been one of the better pitchers in the league," Francona said. "He's durable. He bounces back really well. That's another thing. We can use him, whether it's a second start, or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster. That's another factor. The chances of anybody besides Kluber going real deep probably aren't real good." Josh Tomlin is penciled in for Game 4, but he will be available in the first three games. Also, All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley will be on the ALDS 25-man roster as a pinch-hitter. Brantley was sidelined for 50 games with an injured ankle ligament before returning last week and getting a single in his first at-bat since Aug. 8. Francona said the hope is for Brantley's role to expand if the Indians advance. The 30-year-old was sidelined during Cleveland's run to the World Series last year following shoulder surgeries. Francona had some other tough roster decisions, including at third base where he's chosen to platoon Giovanny Urshela and Erik Gonzalez, dropping Yandy Diaz.

"And that's where Brantley comes into play," Francona said. "His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon. So we'll have someone over there who's really good defensively. If we feel the need to hit, we can." The Indians are the real winners after Yankees tax bullpen to survive wild card Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports Published 1:39 a.m. ET Oct. 4, 2017 | Updated 2:23 a.m. ET Oct. 4, 2017 Major League Baseball engineered the wild card game to punish its participants, to create a disadvantage for the victor and as many spoils as possible for division winners who earned the right to avoid a one-game knockout. And it’s clear the New York Yankees’ conquest of the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night will leave a mark as they aim to advance past the next round. Awaiting them in the American League Division Series are the deep and dangerous Cleveland Indians, who emerged as the real winners even as the Yankees outlasted the Twins 8-4 on Tuesday night in the Bronx. The script couldn’t have gone much better for the Indians, who will start Trevor Bauer in Game 1 on Thursday night in Cleveland, followed by Cy Young Award favorite Corey Kluber in Game 2; he’ll be available for a second start should the series stretch to a fifth game. The Yankees? Well, they certainly earned the right to spray champagne after surviving Round 1. But here’s why one day off won’t be sufficient to cure any hangover: No relief: Chad Green and David Robertson were gallant out of the bullpen Tuesday, chewing up 5⅓ innings after Luis Severino’s one-out-and-done pratfall. They combined to give up one run, tipping the game’s balance until the Yankees ran away with it. It was a performance that will surely inspire more “bullpen revolution” narratives and compel the most analytic among us to consider that maybe teams ought to employ such aggressive relief pitching by choice, and not out of desperation. Alas, the bill for this duo's gallant relief work comes due on Thursday. Green threw 41 pitches, hardly an obscene amount for a right-hander who as recently as last year was a starting pitcher. It’s a total he equaled or exceeded eight times in 2017. Trouble is, the Yankees will have just one day off before Game 1. And when Green threw 41-plus pitches this season, he always got at least two and up to four days of rest. Most often, it was three. Green also wasn’t as effective in his first appearances after those eight outings, posting a 3.38 ERA; his ERA for the season was 1.83. Robertson, meanwhile, is in truly uncharted waters. His 52 pitches were a career high, with his previous high of 48 coming in 2008. This season, he only threw 31 or more pitches on five occasions. He received an average of more than three days’ rest after those appearances. You’d have to think he’d be unavailable for Game 1, which would be a significant loss for the Yankees. Even two days’ rest for Game 2 seems like pushing it. At this point, however, the Yankees don’t have much choice. Starts and fits: The bullpen blowout was necessary, of course, because Severino had a nightmare outing. The good news is, the Yankees survived it. The bad news is, what do they do with the guy now? The Yankees’ best strategy – for player and staff – is probably willful ignorance. Wipe that start away, do your best to pretend it didn’t happen and trot Severino out again, maybe in Game 3, back at home. Maybe he takes advantage of the mulligan and rediscovers the form that produced a whopping 11 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.04 WHIP, third in the AL. Deep down, however, the Yankees have to wonder how much they can trust the 23-year-old after he failed in such a big spot. Joe Girardi acknowledged after the wild card win that the state of the bullpen will affect ALDS roster composition. Do they dump Severino for another reliever? Stash him in the bullpen? It figures to be some combo of CC Sabathia and Sonny Gray in Games 1-2, a combo whose inconsistency and/or lack of length does not inspire significant confidence. The Yankees may find themselves piecing the outs together night after night, a strategy that usually delivers diminishing returns. What not to do: Naturally, the Indians already have reams of scouting reports and hours of video on the Yankees. Still, there’s nothing like real-time examples to drive home certain points. Such as: Don’t give Aaron Judge anything to hit. Don’t give Didi Gregorius anything to hit. The Indians knew that already. But now it’s even more likely those fellows won’t see anything straight over the next several games. The Yankees have enough thunder in their lineup to beat you in any number of ways.

They'll just have to do it against a pitching staff that gave up, by far, the fewest runs in the American League. The Yankees do have history on their side: Wild card winners are 5-5 in subsequent Division Series, a testament that continuity and momentum matter to some degree. Everything else, however, tilts in favor of the Indians. How the Yankees can beat the Indians David Schoenfield Maybe the American League wild-card game didn't exactly follow Joe Girardi's preferred script -- you don't usually expect to win when your starter gets knocked out in the first inning. But the offense came to the rescue with home runs, from Didi Gregorius, Brett Gardner and Aaron Judge, and the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 8-4 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. With the Twins out of the way, the Yankees face the real test: the Cleveland Indians. The Indians are the consensus World Series favorites after winning 102 games and going 42-8 in their final 50 games, including that AL-record 22-game win streak. By one measure, they had the best pitching staff in major league history, and they gave up 96 fewer runs than the second-best run prevention team in the AL, which happened to be the Yankees. That's what gives the Yankees a chance in the series. They're unlikely to pile up the runs against Corey Kluber & Co. the way they did against Ervin Santana and Jose Berrios, so they're going to have to outpitch the Indians. The way to do that is bullpen, bullpen and more bullpen. Here's what kind of depth the Yankees have: Among relievers with at least 50 innings pitched, Yankees relievers rank third, sixth, eighth, ninth and 16th in strikeout rate. The fifth guy on that list? That’s Aroldis Chapman. Chad Green, Dellin Betances, Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson all had higher strikeout rates, and Chapman struck out nearly a third of the batters he faced (32.9 percent). That list of five doesn't include Adam Warren, who had the sixth-lowest wOBA allowed among relievers. As such, Girardi should have the quickest of quick hooks with his starters. He managed the wild-card game with the right urgency, pulling Luis Severino as quickly as is reasonably possible (you could argue he waited one batter too long, as Green had to escape a one-out jam with runners on second and third). After Green loaded the bases in the third, Girardi went to Robertson and let him throw a career-high 52 pitches. Girardi should manage each game against the Indians with the same urgency, even Game 1. With two days off in seven days, worrying about pitch counts becomes less important than it was in the regular season. Nobody will pitch three days in a row in this series. Heck, Chapman should be able to throw five innings over seven days if needed. Green is the secret weapon in the pen, a guy Girardi regularly used for multi-inning stints in the regular season. Green posted a 1.83 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 69 innings. He pitched at least two innings in 17 of his 40 appearances. As the veteran Robertson showed Tuesday, he can be extended for multi-inning stints as well. In a short series, there's no reason to give away a game. The Yankees carried 10 pitchers for the wild-card game but probably will carry 12 for the division series. Lefty Chasen Shreve is more of a matchup guy (he was on the roster against the Twins), and the Yankees probably will add starters Masahiro Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery (or Jaime Garcia), with Montgomery or Garcia working as a third lefty out of the pen. That will create some matchup scenarios for Girardi if he so desires. Jay Bruce, for example, hit .268/.341/.542 against righties but just .222/.285/.433 against lefties. Lonnie Chisenhall doesn't usually start against lefties, but injuries in the Indians' outfield limit Terry Francona's platoon options (the right-handed platoon for Chisenhall would be rookie Greg Allen, who has 39 major league plate appearances). In general, however, the Indians are tough to get the platoon edge against, with switch-hitters Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Carlos Santana not showing any significant platoon splits. Girardi should focus simply on using his best relievers. 2017 MLB Postseason Keep up with the latest as baseball's top teams contend for the title. The key is having a plan ahead of time. Too many managers react in the postseason, and sometimes that means leaving a pitcher in a couple batters too long. Just because a starter has thrown five good innings doesn't mean he's going to pitch well in the sixth. Go to the pen before the starter gets into trouble in the middle innings. Even if we dismiss Severino's poor performance Tuesday as a young kid's playoff jitters, remember that he threw 193 innings in his first full season as a starter. He finished strong, but you have to be careful about his level of fatigue. Sonny Gray isn't close to an ace. Although he had a decent 3.72 ERA with the Yankees, he gave up 11 home runs and issued 27 walks in 65.1 innings. His FIP was 4.87. Don't let him lose a game in the middle innings. Here's another reason to bet on the Yankees: As good as the Indians were, 100-win teams are just 12-11 in the division series in the wild-card era (since 1995). The Indians won 11 more games than the Yankees, but think back to 2003, when the 88-win Chicago Cubs beat the 101-win Atlanta Braves and the 91-win Miami Marlins beat the 100-win San Francisco Giants. In 2011, the 90-win St. Louis Cardinals beat the 102-win Philadelphia Phillies.

The Yankees might have even been handed a bit of a gift in Game 1, with the Indians electing to start Trevor Bauer instead of Kluber. The Cleveland ace could still start Game 5 if the series goes that far, but the Yankees' bullpen is a little thinner for the opener. Girardi almost certainly will avoid using Robertson, and Green, after throwing 41 pitches, probably is available for only a shorter stint. Betances and Warren didn't pitch Tuesday, however, and even Severino could be available after he threw only 29 pitches, depending on Girardi's rotation plan for the series. So bullpen, bullpen and more bullpen, and anything can happen. Or just hope Judge hits a lot of home runs. Indians’ Trevor Bauer kept faith in himself, team By David Glasier, The News-Herald Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer never lost faith, both in himself and his team. That faith has been validated and rewarded. On Oct. 3, before the Indians worked out on a sun-bathed fall afternoon at Progressive Field, manager Terry Francona announced Bauer would start Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Oct. 5 at home against the New York Yankees or Minnesota Twins. In the regular season that saw the Indians blaze their way to a 102-60 finish and win a second straight American League Central Division title, Bauer finished 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA. In 32 appearances (31 starts) covering 170 1/3 innings, he finished with 190 strikeouts and issued 60 walks. The victory and strikeout totals were career-highs for the former UCLA standout traded in December 2012 by the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Indians in a three-team deal. The journey that carried Bauer to this point of his fourth big-league season followed a winding path. He got off to a slow start, bottoming out on July 16 in a 7-3 road loss to Oakland. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning, yielding four runs on three hits before Francona decided he had seen enough and made the call to the bullpen. Sitting at 7-8 with a 5.59 after that truncated outing, Bauer seemed to be going nowhere fast. Nor did the Indians, who were 47-43 after the loss and had a 1 1/2 game lead over the second-place Twins. Three days and two losses later, the Indians were 48-45 and a mere one-half game ahead of the Twins. “The numbers were what they were at that point, but I felt in general I’d pitched better than the numbers,” Bauer said before the workout. “I never doubted that if I kept believing in myself and trusted the process, the numbers would get better.” At that conspicuously low point of the season, Bauer was convinced there were brighter times in the offing for the Indians as a team. “I told (outfielder Michael) Brantley we’d figure it out and go 25-4 or something crazy like that,” Bauer said. “I don’t know if he believed it, but I did.” The Indians did better than that, winning a franchise-record 22 straight games and 33 of their last 37 games. Bauer was right about himself, too. He won 10 of his last 11 decisions after the drubbing in Oakland, posting two victories each over the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. The Yankees and Red Sox are playoff teams, so Bauer did some of his best work against elite line-ups. ”I thoroughly enjoy playing this game at the highest level for the highest stakes,” Bauer said. “As a pitcher, you want to prove yourself to be better than the batter you’re facing.” With so much riding on the outcome, Bauer said he wouldn’t be nervous taking the mound in Game 1 of the ALDS. “There is no reason to be nervous,” Bauer said. “The game is the same. I’ll be ready. All the work is done.” Bauer is no stranger to this setting. He got the start in Game 1 of the ALDS last season, working 4 2/3 innings and surrendering three runs in what ended as a 5-4 victory over the Red Sox. The Indians went on to sweep the Red Sox and advance to the AL Championship Series against Toronto. Between the two series, Bauer became the center of attention when he suffered a deep cut on the pinky finger of his right hand while working on one of his drones. He got the start in Game 3 of that series in Toronto but was forced from the mound in the first inning when the sutures in the injured gave way and blood poured from the wound.

The Indians won that game and the ALCS in five games en route to the World Series, where they were beaten in seven games by the Chicago Cubs. Francona had referred to what he calls “the drone incident” several times in recent weeks and did so again while talking to reporters on Oct. 3. Bauer said he’s at peace with that chapter of his professional past and is focused on the present and Game 1 of the ALDS. “It’s time for me to get out there on the mound and perform,” he said. Francona picks Bauer, not Kluber, to start ALDS for Indians on Oct. 6 By Jeff Schudel, The News-Herald & The Morning Journal Corey Kluber, the likely Cy Young Award winner in the American League, will have to wait an extra day to make his first start in the playoffs this year. Indians manager Terry Francona on Oct. 3 announced Trevor Bauer will start Game 1 of the ALDS on Oct. 5 at Progressive Field. Kluber will pitch Game 2 the next day. The Indians will face the winner of the wild-card playoff game between the Yankees and Twins to be played on Oct. 3. “Trevor’s done a heck of a job,” Francona said. “I mean, for him to get the ball in Game 1 speaks volumes. Trevor will never back down from a challenge and we love that about him.” Carlos Carrasco is scheduled to pitch Game 3 on Oct. 8 in Yankee Stadium or Target Field. Josh Tomlin would get the start in Game 4, Francona said. Francona said he chose to save Kluber for Game 2 because Kluber would have a normal four-day rest in case he has to pitch Game 5. He said the decision to go with Bauer and then Kluber was an easy one; Kluber was 18-4 with a 2.25 ERA. Bauer was 17-9 with a 4.19 ERA. “I talked to Kluber about it back even a couple of weeks ago.” Francona sad.” I think on a number of reasons it makes good sense. Not that you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. “The biggest thing was keeping him on his five-day. That was really important to Kluber. That was really the only way we could do it. Again, you don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you’re fortunate enough to win in four, you have your ace ready for the next series.” The Indians do not have to announce their official 25-man playoff roster until Oct. 6, the opening day of the ALDS, but Francona said outfielder Michael Brantley will be part of the roster. So will outfielder Greg Allen, utility infielder Erik Gonzalez and flashy third baseman Giovanny Urshela. Yandy Diaz is not on the roster Relief pitchers Dan Otero, Nick Goody and Zach McAllister will not be on the roster, but any or all of the three could be part of the roster if the Indians advance to the ALCS or the World Series. “That was not a fun message to deliver, because all three have been outstanding and good teammates and done their job,” Francona said. “That’s one of the tougher things about this” Danny Salazar, Mike Clevinger, Tyler Olson, Bryan Shaw, Andrew Miller, Joe Smith and Cody Allen will work out of the bullpen. Salazar and Clevinger are both right-handers capable of long relief. It is fascinating listening to Francona explain his reasoning while preparing for any scenario. One of those is a rain delay forcing a starting pitcher to cut his night short. Catcher Francisco Mejia is not on the roster, but he will be in the Arizona Fall League staying sharp in case anything happens to Roberto Perez or Yan Gomes. “Danny is on the roster and kind of a wild card,” Francona said. “The forecast for Thursday and Friday is a little iffy. The last thing you want to do is get caught short and not be able to account for something.” The plan for this series is to use Brantley as a pinch-hitter. Brantley was out for more than seven weeks with a sprained ankle before being activated on Sept. 30. Brantley could play a bigger role as the playoffs progress. “We’ll have Urshela and Gonzalez (at third base),” Francona said. “That’s where Brantley comes into play. His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon. So we’ll have someone over there who’s really good defensively. If we feel the need to hit, we can. And if we ever have to, we can actually bring Kip in to play second and move Ramirez to third. So, you have the ability to pinch-hit twice if you want.” Jason Kipnis is on the roster as a center fielder. Lonnie Chisenhall is also part of the playoff roster. SPORTS Indians: Terry Francona tabs Trevor Bauer, n ot ace Corey Kluber, to start Game 1 of ALDS Chris Assenheimer ByChris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-TelegramPublished on Oct. 3, 2017 | Updated 6:53 a. m.

CLEVELAND — Ace Corey Kluber is on track to win his second Cy Young award, but he won’t be on the mound for the Indians when the American League Division Series opens Thursday night at Progressive Field against the Yankees. That honor will go to right-hander Trevor Bauer. Manager Terry Francona made the announcement Tuesday prior to a team workout. Kluber is scheduled to start Game 2 on Friday night, with right-hander Carlos Carrasco starting on the road in Game 3 on Sunday and right-hander Josh Tomlin in Game 4 on Monday. Kluber would be the starter in Game 5, with Tomlin available out of the bullpen before his start, and Bauer available in a relief role after his outing. “That’s how we’re trying to get as much flexibility as we can,” Francona said. “One, to win every game, two, you never know on weather this time of year. There’s a lot of factors. We wanted to keep Kluber on his day. So that was the reason … the Games 2, 5. It will be on his regular day. That’s some of the reasoning why we did it. “There’s a lot of factors, but I think we set it up, we didn’t try to overcomplicate it. The main reason is trying to turn a 25-man roster basically into like 27 by having some of your starters available in the bullpen if need be.” The Indians also want to avoid overworking Kluber, who logged 200-plus innings for the fourth straight year and pitched on short rest three times last postseason — twice in the World Series. “(I) talked to Kluber about it back even a couple of weeks ago,” Francona said. “I think for a number of reasons it makes good sense. Not that you go into a game thinking you’re going to lose, but if you do, you have your ace coming back. The biggest thing was keeping him on his five-day (schedule). That was really important to Kluber. “That was really the only way we could do it. Again, you don’t want to put the cart ahead of the horse, but if you’re fortunate enough to win in four (games), you have your ace ready for the next series.” The Indians had received inconsistent efforts from Bauer since he was acquired in a trade with Arizona prior to the 2013 season. But after a slow start, he put it all together this year, posting a 17-9 record and 4.19 ERA over 32 games (31 starts). “Five years ago, the growth he’s made, not just being a teammate but as a pitcher, he’s come a long way and we’re proud of him,” Francona said of the third overall draft pick in 2011. “And he’s continuing to work and he takes feedback, he asks for feedback. I think (catcher) Roberto’s (Perez) done a really good job with him, earning the trust, but Trevor’s done a heck of a job. I mean for him to get the ball in Game 1 speaks volumes. “Trevor will never back down from a challenge and we love that about him.” Bauer was brilliant after the All-Star break, going 10-1 with a 2.60 ERA and striking out 91 over 83 innings. “Since whatever date, he’s been one of the better pitchers in the league,” Francona said. “He’s durable. He bounces back really well. That’s another thing. We can use him, whether it’s a second start or in the bullpen, probably easier than anybody on our roster.” With two members of the rotation — Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar — sidelined by injuries, the Indians entered last postseason as decided underdogs. This year, they enter as the AL’s top seed. “When the game starts, none of that means anything,” Francona said. “I mean, whoever plays better is going to win. I didn’t last year give it one single minute of thought that we were under the radar. We’re playing whoever we play and whoever plays better is going to win.” “I think I still feel the same,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “I still have that mentality of, ‘I can’t wait to get started.’ It feels the same. Showing up today and seeing all my gear for the postseason is pretty cool, it’s pretty special. I’m looking forward to the whole thing. “We’re just trying to win it. We’re trying to win it. This is what we play for. I’m looking forward to it. This is the most exciting time of the year. This is the dream.” Indians notes: Terry Francona unveils unofficial AL DS roster ... and it includes Michael Brantley CLEVELAND — The Indians have until Thursday to announce their 25-man roster for the American League Division Series, but manager Terry Francona revealed a tentative one Tuesday prior to a team workout at Progressive Field. A notable addition is left fielder Michael Brantley, who made pinch-hit appearances in the final two games of the regular season after missing nearly two months with a right ankle injury.

“He’s going to be on the roster and to start it will be in a pinch-hitting role,” Francona said of Brantley, who made the All-Star team with a Comeback Player of the Year-worthy first-half performance. “Hopefully at some point that (role) can start to expand.” Brantley’s addition was costly to relievers Nick Goody, Zach McAllister and Dan Otero, all of whom were left off the roster. “We had to make some difficult decisions for sure, especially because we got a little creative with our roster because of ‘like’ Brantley,” Francona said. “So there were some relievers that we felt deserved to be on our roster, but we weren’t able to do that. You know, it’s the reality that you’re allowed to have 25, but it didn’t make it any easier. The message wasn’t fun to give and I know they didn’t enjoy hearing it and I don’t blame them.” According to Francona, Cleveland’s bullpen will consist of RHP Cody Allen, LHP Andrew Miller, RHP Bryan Shaw, RHP Joe Smith, RHP Danny Salazar, LHP Tyler Olson, RHP Mike Clevinger, with starters Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer also possibly pitching in a relief role. The biggest surprise position player-wise, was the omission of third baseman Yandy Diaz. It means the Indians will start Giovanny Urshela at third, with Erik Gonzalez serving as the utility infielder. “That’s where Brantley comes into play,” Francona said. “His ability to hit for one of those guys, we view it kind of as a weapon. So we’ll have someone over there who’s really good defensively. If we feel the need to hit, we can. And if we ever have to, we can actually bring Kip in to play second and move Ramirez to third. So, you have the ability to pinch hit twice if you want. “To make it realistic and helpful, you have to have Gonzalez. It’s easy to say, ‘we’ll hit for him,’ but if we don’t have somebody to put in for defense, it doesn’t really help. So one move necessitated another.” Cleveland’s crowded outfield will consist of Jay Bruce, Austin Jackson, Lonnie Chisenhall, Jason Kipnis and Greg Allen. Abe Almonte was left off the roster, with injuries taking Brandon Guyer and Bradley Zimmer out of the picture. Francona said the team sent outfielder Tyler Naquin and pitchers Shawn Armstrong and Kyle Crockett home. Left-handers Ryan Merritt and Craig Breslow will continue to throw in case they’re needed in the ALCS, should Cleveland advance. Catcher Francisco Mejia, who joined his team in the Arizona Fall League, is the third catcher behind Yan Gomes and Roberto Perez and would be available in the next round if needed. Brantley was in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the second straight year after a shoulder injury sidelined him for all of Cleveland’s World Series run in 2016. “He’s one of the best players in the league. He’s an All-Star, and it will be huge having him,” shortstop Francisco Lindor said. Bruce almighty The Indians have benefited from the latter stages of a career year for right fielder Jay Bruce, who was acquired from the Mets in a waiver-wire trade in early August. Bruce reached a career-best 36 home runs, while driving in 100-plus runs for the second time in nine seasons. “(I) haven’t had a ton of time to think about it,” Bruce said. “My general thought after every year is that there’s always something more to be desired. I understand that the numbers I put up were solid and I felt like I was an impact player all year. I just want to get better. It becomes harder to get better every single year. It’s a challenge I look forward to next year. Figuring out a way to improve on everything I’ve done.” Bruce, who is a free agent at the end of the year, has gotten something from the Indians as well— a trip to the postseason with the AL’s top-seeded club. “I feel like I was the heir of a pretty good situation here,” he said. “I was fortunate to be put in this position and have this opportunity. I definitely don’t take it for granted. In my career, I’ve been able to go to the playoffs four times. A lot of people get to play a long time and never get to go to the playoffs. Much less be a part of a team of this caliber that has this opportunity in front of us. I couldn’t ask for anything more as a pro. Honestly.” Bring ’em on Francona said he has no preference on who he’d like his team to face in the ALDS, the Twins or Yankees. “No, I hope they play like 40 innings,” he said. “I mean it’s hard, I mean we, personally, I mean, everybody knows how much we like (former Indians executive and Twins chief baseball officer) Derek Falvey. We can’t help it, he’s one of our friends, but I hope they beat each other up for a long time.” The Indians went 12-7 against Central Division rival Minnesota, while winning five of seven games against the Yankees