Holding Kluber for Game 2 has its benefits

CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber gets it.

He understood why he was sitting in front of a microphone in the interview room Thursday, talking about facing the Red Sox in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Friday (4:30 p.m. ET, TBS), while Trevor Bauer prepared himself for the series opener.

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 6 BOS @ CLE TBS Gm 2 Oct. 7 4:30 p.m. BOS @ CLE TBS Gm 3 Oct. 9 4 p.m. CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 4 Oct. 10 TBD CLE @ BOS TBS *Gm 5 Oct. 12 TBD BOS @ CLE TBS *- If necessary | All times listed ETShop for postseason gear: Red Sox | Indians • Complete Postseason coverage

He gets waiting an extra day for his postseason debut, despite being the unquestioned ace of the Indians’ staff, despite having not pitched since leaving his start in Detroit a week and a half ago with a mild quadriceps strain. He gets it, in part because he knows he also gets a potential Game 5 on regular rest.

Even though Kluber doesn’t open the series, there’s a chance he’ll be the pitcher to end it.

“I don’t think there was disappointment,” Kluber said. “We talked about it as a group and came to the decision that if it comes to a point where somebody has to pitch on short rest [in Game 4], Trevor is better equipped to do that.”

Kluber’s comments are his first since he strained his quadriceps on Sept. 26, the game the Indians went on to win and clinch their first division title since …

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