Cleveland: The Cleveland Indians will give right-handed ace Corey Kluber the ball in game one of the World Series against the Chicago Cubs in Cleveland on Tuesday.
Indians manager Terry Francona said right-hander Trevor Bauer will start game two if his cut finger is healed. Otherwise, right-hander Josh Tomlin will draw the assignment and Bauer will pitch Friday’s game three in Chicago.
The Cubs wrapped up the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night and haven’t yet announced their pitching plans.
In other Indians personnel news, second baseman Jason Kipnis sprained his left ankle after Wednesday’s American League Championship Series clinching win over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Francona said Kipnis is expected to be ready for the opener against the Cubs. He suffered the injury while hugging shortstop Francisco Lindor during the on-field celebration.
Kluber, who won the American League Cy Young Award in 2014, is enjoying an outstanding post-season.
He is 2-1 with a 0.98 earned run average in three starts with 20 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.
Bauer cut his right pinky finger while performing maintenance on one of his drones during the ALCS against the Blue Jays. He tried to pitch in game three but departed in the first inning when the cut began to bleed.
