Corey Kluber, 32, is coming off of a 20-win season and has been the Indians' opening day starter for the last four seasons. The former Cy Young Award winner has yet to pitch in a Cactus League game.
“We want to see where Kluber is,” Francona said on Thursday. “Ideally we would have Trevor (Bauer) in between Kluber and Carrasco early in the season just because Trevor is usually the one guy who can go deeper into games earlier than the other guys. So if you can separate them that will help our bullpen. We have time to get to that.”
Carlos Carrasco and Kluber will throw 50 pitches in a simulated game before they pitch this spring. Both are expected to start within the next week. Carrasco could start as soon as this Sunday. Francona decided to take it slow with the veterans because of the workload they took on last season. Carrasco pitched in 32 games and 192 innings in the regular season last year. Kluber started 33 regular season games and threw 215 innings.
Taking it slow with Carrasco and Kluber makes all the sense in the world. The Indians have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. If they're going to make a run in October, their starting pitching will be the biggest reason why.
Trevor Bauer made his third start of the spring on Thursday in a 4-3 win over Arizona. He allowed two runs in four innings. He’s posted a 2.45 ERA in 11 innings this spring.
The Indians' offseason has been a let down to most, but if their starting rotation holds up, they'll be in a good spot to win a fourth-straight American League Central Championship.
Corey Kluber 5/2
Chris Sale 3/1
Luis Severino 7/1
Blake Snell 16/1
Carlos Carrasco 16/1
Justin Verlander 16/1
David Price 20/1
Gerrit Cole 20/1
James Paxton 22/1
Trevor Bauer 22/1
Jose Berrios 28/1
Masahiro Tanaka 28/1
Rick Porcello 40/1
Andrew Heaney 50/1
Charlie Morton 50/1
JA Happ 50/1
Marcus Stroman 50/1
Michael Fulmer 50/1
Mike Clevinger 50/1
Nathan Eovaldi 50/1