Francona doesn't want Tribe rotation to over-compensate for Salazar injury
CHICAGO -- When the Cleveland Indians lost starting pitcher Danny Salazar for three-to-four weeks on Monday, manager Terry Francona made it clear he doesn't want the rest of his rotation to over-compensate.
That will start on Tuesday when Trevor Bauer takes the mound against Jose Quintana and the Chicago White Sox. Bauer (11-6) is 4-1 over his past seven starts and will be part of a pitching staff that will try to help the Indians clinch their first American League Central Division title since 2007.
Francona said Salazar -- who will miss the remainder of the regular season with a forearm injury -- isn't a lock to pitch in the postseason. Francona said it's too soon to determine Salazar's future availability, but he doesn't expect Salazar's uncertain status to take a toll on Bauer or anyone else.
"I don't think they need to try to do more than they can ¬-- every time they start it's a big night," Francona said Monday. "Every time somebody does well, it always helps everybody. But that's always the case. Guys can't be something they're not. When you try to start pitching for (someone else), that makes it harder. They just need to do their thing and we'll be OK."
With a win on Tuesday, Bauer would win his career-best 12th game. He faces Quintana (11-10), who reached double digits in victories for the first time in his career earlier this season. And after struggling in the second half last season, Bauer has righted the ship after showing signs that his second-half woes might repeat themselves.
Francona has liked what he has seen of late.
"His stuff is good, he's not afraid and he competes," Francona said. "When he works ahead, he's a lot better -- just like everybody else."
Quintana is 2-2 in his last five starts and is looking for his first win since Aug. 27. At times, Quintana has been the victim of not getting any run support. But now, he -- like the rest of his White Sox teammates -- are looking to finish strong as the White Sox are likely within weeks of seeing their season end.
It's a future that manager Robin Ventura doesn't want his players focusing on.
"For us, you continue to play the game and you try to beat the team that you're playing," Ventura said Monday. "We know where we're at. Guys are still playing hard. That stuff doesn't change, but you realize what you're up against. As far as playing hard, that doesn't change."
As a four-game series continues with two teams moving in opposite directions, Francona -- like Ventura -- is keeping his focus on the present rather than what's coming. The first-place Indians are in position to make a run at home-field advantage, but that's not what Francona wants his players dwelling on with so much still left to play for.
"Those things have a way of figuring themselves out if you play good enough," Francona said before Monday night's 11-4 loss to the White Sox. "If you start looking down the road, you miss what's right in front of you."
