His team's got bite, but Francona loses tooth with chew

Corey Kluber will start Game 4 of the ALCS on short rest because a bleeding pinky forced Game 3 starter Trevor Bauer to leave his start after just 21 pitches Monday.

"No, shoot, I was so embarrassed when somebody told me that", Francona said. At the time of publication, the Indians trail the Blue Jays 2-0, with Aaron Sanchez besting Kluber thus far, but lead Toronto 3-0 in what's been a competitive, but ultimately one-sided, series. There was also the matter of Indians manager Terry Francona's middle finger.

Meanwhile, Toronto goes with Aaron Sanchez, who hasn't pitched in nine days, not since starting the Jays' clinching Game 3 of their division series against the Rangers. All things considered, Schilling cost his team a game trying to pitch through an injury.

The 24-year-old spent most of the 2016 season pitching for Cleveland's triple-A Columbus team, where he posted a 3.70 ERA in 143.1 innings as a starter.

"They've had me throwing a few simulated game in Arizona in their Instructional League", said Merritt on Monday.

For the Jays to do that, they'd nearly certainly have to see Kluber again - either as a starter in Game 7 or out of the bullpen at some point. He would then be set up to start Game 7 should the series extend that far. Midway through the first inning of Game 3, the stitches popped open and his finger started gushing blood, and the Indians had no choice but to remove him and go to the bullpen for the final 25 outs.

After sweeping the Red Sox in the AL division series if the Indians can complete another sweep of the Jays it put Cleveland back in the World Series since 1997 and chance to win their first Fall Classic in 68 years.