Kluber set for Game 4 in wake of Bauer outage

TORONTO — With Trevor Bauer pulled after 2/3 of an inning in Game 3 due to bleeding from his injured pinky finger, manager Terry Francona announced during an on-air interview with TBS that Corey Kluber will get the start in Game. 4.

“Kluber just slotted up into tomorrow, as we talked about, which is kind of reassuring,” Francona said. “But when I went to the mound, when I saw blood on the rubber, that’s not a real good sign that things are going well.”

ALCS Game 3: Live on TBS/Sportsnet/RDS

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

The Indians had announced rookie left-hander Ryan Merritt as the scheduled starter for Game 4, but Francona said he would go to Kluber should Bauer, trying to pitch with 10 stitches in his right pinky finger, be unable to pitch deep into Game 3. With Bauer exiting early, Francona was forced to get 8 1/3 innings from his bullpen.

“Everybody’s available,” Francona said. “We’ve got to hold Merritt back because he’s going to start, but other than that, everybody’s available. Tomlin even came to me and told me he wanted to be available tomorrow. We’re all pulling in the same direction, and we’re going to need it.”

• Bauer’s bloody pinkie forces exit in Game 3

Merritt now will 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 …

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