Cleveland Indians: Three Keys to an Indians World Series Championship

The Cleveland Indians bullpen has been nothing short of masterful throughout the 2016 postseason, but the banged-up Indians starting rotation will need the help of Trevor Bauer to keep the bullpen fresh in a series that has a high likelihood of going the distance.

Bauer, who we all know likes to fly drone airplanes (just ask the White Sox about their brand new scoreboard earlier this season) injured the pinky finger on his throwing hand prior to the American League Championship Series against the Blue Jays. Bauer received stitches to repair the cut, but was pulled early in his Game 3 start in the ALCS after he re-opened the injury and caused it to bleed profusely while on the mound. This left the Indians bullpen to cover nearly the entire game.

Reports seem to indicate that Bauer will in fact be able to go when he takes the mound in Game 2 on Wednesday night in Cleveland, but you have to wonder if that is in fact accurate and if it is, how long or effective will Bauer be having not thrown a baseball in about a week. This is the time of the year, when a pitcher’s arm begins to shut down when they stop throwing, to begin the recovery process that allows a pitcher to prepare for the following season.

In order for Terry Francona to manage his bullpen in a fashion that will allow relievers to enter in key swing situations each and every game, Bauer will have to hope that his wicked cut-fastball is the only cut that has an impact on the game Wednesday night.