Kluber likely for Game 4 in wake of Bauer outage

TORONTO — The Indians announced rookie left-hander Ryan Merritt as the scheduled starter for Game 4, but manager Terry Francona noted that he could opt to go to ace Corey Kluber in Game 4 should Trevor Bauer, trying to pitch with 10 stitches in his right pinky finger, be unable to pitch deep into Game 3.

“We’re not making a switch [based] on winning or losing the game,” Francona noted. “We’re doing it on Bauer’s availability.”

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Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 14   CLE 2, TOR 0 Gm 2 Oct. 15   CLE 2, TOR 1 Gm 3 Oct. 17 CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS Gm 4 Oct. 18 4 p.m. CLE @ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 5 Oct. 19 4 p.m. CLE@ TOR TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 6 Oct. 21 8 p.m. TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS *Gm 7 Oct. 22 TBD TOR @ CLE TBS/SNET/RDS * If necessary | All times listed ET  • ALCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Blue Jays | Indians

Bauer was lifted after two-thirds of an inning as the wound was bleeding profusely, leaving Francona to get at least 8 1/3 innings from his bullpen. It seems likely that he now will opt for Kluber in Game 4.

• Bauer’s bloody pinkie forces exit in Game 3

Merritt now looks likely to start Game 5, with right-hander Josh Tomlin available to pitch Game 6 on normal rest as the Indians attempt to close out the American League Championship Series and earn a berth to the World Series for the first time since 1997. Should the series push to a seventh game, Kluber would be set to go again on short rest.

Merritt has logged just 11 innings in his Major League career, including five frames in his lone start Sept. 30 in Kansas City, where he …

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