Baltimore Orioles

3 reasons why Terry Francona's bullpen management was magnificent

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:45 p.m. ET

Chris Bahr

The Cleveland Indians won Game 1 of the ALDS largely because manager Terry Francona treated it like a Game 7.

In fact, it was the exact opposite of the way Orioles manager Buck Showalter used his bullpen when he made the ill-fated decision to preserve Zach Britton for the 12th inning (and beyond) during the AL Wild Card Game loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Not only did Francona call upon his best reliever on Thursday, he did it in the fifth inning.

Here’s why Francona put on an absolute clinic in terms of handling a bullpen in the postseason:

1. He used his two best relievers in the highest-leverage situations of the game. Starter Trevor Bauer was yanked after 4 2/3 innings, costing him a chance at a win but giving the Indians their best shot at one. Andrew Miller, who arguably possesses the nastiest stuff of any reliever in the game, got the final out in the fifth inning, retired the Red Sox in order in the sixth and got the first two outs in the seventh. Cody Allen took over for Bryan Shaw with one out in the eighth and recorded the final five outs in the win. Miller and Allen each threw a season-high 40 pitches, but that isn’t as big a concern as you might think because …

2. Corey Kluber is pitching Game 2. Assuming he has recovered from the groin injury that slowed him late in the regular season, Kluber is more than capable of pitching late into the game. The ace was fifth in the AL with 215 innings pitched this season -- his third consecutive season with at least 215. His 10 complete games since the 2014 rank fourth in the majors, and he went the distance three times in 2016. Klubot is the closest thing Cleveland has to an off day for the bullpen, and speaking of off days …

3. There’s no game on Saturday. Because they didn’t have to make up that rainout against the Tigers on Monday, the Indians hadn’t played since last Sunday. And they won’t play again until Game 3 this Sunday afternoon in Boston. All of that rest means Miller and Allen both could/should be available again Friday, albeit in shorter doses. If there’s a critical situation at any point in Game 2, expect Francona to be bold again in his usage of his top two bullpen weapons. And expect Miller and Allen to answer the call.