Indians Playoffs: 10 Players Who Will Decide the Tribe, Red Sox Series

Cleveland Indians Playoffs: 10 Players Who Will Decide The Tribe, Boston Red Sox Series

Aug 19, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (right) heads back to the dugout after pitching change against the Boston Red Sox in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. The Red Sox defeated the Cleveland Indians 6-4. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) delivers in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber is still recovering from a quadriceps injury he suffered when the Tribe clinched the AL Central. The Indians want to give him a little extra time to recover, which means he’ll be given the ball in Game 2, and not Game 1.

When Kluber’s going good, he’s a Cy Young Award candidate. The 18-game winner really wanted to start Game 1, but the Indians are willing to wait.

“Again it wasn’t just me. In talking to everybody … (we) took it out of his hands. Now he can prepare for Game 2 and he doesn’t have the anxiety of rushing,” said manager Terry Francona.

The Indians have won 11 of the their last 12 games in which Kluber was the starter.

The 2014 Cy Young Award winner owns 221 strikeouts, marking the third consecutive season The Klubot has topped the 200-strikeout mark.

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