Indians’ Bauer cuts finger fixing drone, won’t start Game 2

CLEVELAND » Trevor Bauer cut his finger fixing one of the drones he likes to fly and won’t start Game 2 of the AL Championship Series, again diverting the Cleveland Indians’ pitching plans for the playoffs.

The right-hander needed several stitches to close the cut on the pinkie on his pitching hand. The enigmatic Bauer has built and flown drones for years, and was hurt while repairing a propeller.

The Indians were set to open the ALCS at home tonight against Toronto.

Bauer’s setback was the latest for the Indians’ staff, which lost Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to injuries late in the regular season.

Josh Tomlin, who was scheduled to pitch Game 3 in Toronto on Monday, will replace Bauer on Saturday. Bauer is slated to pitch Monday when the best-of-seven series resumes at Rogers Centre.

Bauer made his postseason debut in the AL Division Series opener and pitched into the fifth inning against Boston. Earlier this season, he came out of the bullpen and pitched five innings of shutout ball when the Indians outlasted the Blue Jays in 19 innings.

Manager Terry Francona has been forced to adjust his rotation for weeks after Carrasco (broken hand) and Salazar (forearm tightness) sustained injuries as the Indians were closing in on their first AL Central title since 2007.

Corey Kluber is pitching Game 1 against Toronto’s Marco Estrada. The Indians plan to use Mike Clevinger in Game 4, but they aren’t sure how long he can pitch because he’s only gone in short stints this season and isn’t stretched out.

Francona has had to rely on his bullpen to carry the Indians.

Tomlin started Cleveland’s series-clinching win in the ALDS against Boston and effectively pitched into the sixth inning of his postseason debut despite the crowd at Fenway Park taunting him throughout his outing.