Just a flesh wound: Bauer not concerned

Akron Beacon Journal

CLEVELAND

Trevor Bauer’s American League Championship experience ended in less than an inning when his stitched up right pinkie finger began dripping blood.

The Indians can only hope that the additional time between Game 3 of the ALCS and whenever he is scheduled to start in the World Series is enough for the laceration to heal enough to hold up over a complete start. Bauer injured the finger while repairing his drone last Friday.

Bauer has been playing catch and working with weighted balls as he normally would in-between starts. He joked on Friday that he’ll be available Game 1 — as well as Games 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

“That would be a little better than the last series,” said Francona with a laugh.

The club is still working to ensure it will be healed. Dr. Tom Graham, who’s been working with Bauer since the injury just before game 1 of the ALCS, is suturing part of the wound.

“He (Dr. Graham) thinks it’s healing really good,” Francona said. “There’s just that one area down at the bottom where the skin isn’t quite as healthy as the rest of it. So he’s going to suture it back up so it won’t bleed. That’s really the only issue. And he’s very confident that this is not going to be an issue.”

If Bauer pitches in Games 3, 4, or 5, it would take place in a National League stadium, requiring him to hit. Swinging a bat could open the wound and end his outing. But hitting has never really been an option for Bauer anyway.

“I can’t hit without the finger (injury),” Bauer said.