CLEVELAND: The Indians are still unsure as to how he might be used, but All-Star pitcher Danny Salazar is back.
Salazar was informed on Monday that he was being added to the Indians’ World Series roster. Cody Anderson will not be on the roster.
“Excited. I got really excited,” Salazar said of learning the news. “I’m just really happy to be able to throw a ball without any type of soreness.”
Salazar has missed the entire postseason while dealing with a strained forearm. He threw a three-inning simulated game Sunday night with positive results. It’s possible that Salazar could be the Indians’ Game 4 starting pitcher in Chicago. He could also be another option out of the bullpen.
“It’s really strong,” Salazar said of his arm. “I don’t have any type of things bothering me. I feel really strong every time I go out there. Throwing the sim games, the rest in between innings, every time I was coming back, I was feeling really strong.”
Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway said Salazar is built up to throw 65-70 pitches, or about four innings. It would be a start with a length similar to what Ryan Merritt gave the Indians in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series. Salazar has ditched his curveball, throwing primarily his fastball and change-up with a couple of sliders.
“The [velocity] was respectable at the beginning, but the last inning he was up there topping out at 97,” Callaway said. “When you’re doing that in a sim game, that’s pretty good. That’s hard to do in a sim game. His stuff his there. … I suspect that he’s going to have a full arsenal whenever he goes out there and pitches.”
Merritt is also on the World Series roster, giving the Indians additional options for Game 4 or for some length out of the bullpen. Indians manager Terry Francona indicated that Game 4 could feature a combination of Merritt and Salazar, as neither can pitch a full game.
Although, considering the craziness before the ALCS, the Indians haven’t sent in the official roster yet.
“Nothing’s official, so if we have another drone incident or anything with model airplanes or anything, we reserve the right [until] we have to turn it in,” Francona said.
Hurt wheel
Jason Kipnis expects to be ready for Game 1 despite the low ankle sprain he sustained while celebrating on the field in Toronto. Kipnis took part in the simulated game Sunday and ran the bases Monday.
“I should be good. We’re feeling good,” Kipnis said. “We’re progressing the way we had hoped. Right now, we’re just getting out the swelling, getting range of motion back. If we can get it to where I can move around, the doctors have got stuff that can take pain away. I’ll be all right [Tuesday] night.”
Francona added that Kipnis might not be at 100 percent, but that it wouldn’t get in the way of his status in the starting lineup.
Aces
Two of baseball’s hottest pitchers will be facing off in Tuesday’s Game 1. For the Cubs, it’ll be left-hander Jon Lester, who has a 0.86 ERA in 21 innings this postseason. Corey Kluber, for the Indians, has stayed right with him, with a 0.98 ERA in his three starts.
If Game 1 is low-scoring, it won’t come as a surprise.
Get it started
The ceremonial pitches for the fist two games of the World Series will feature a blast back to the Indians teams of the ‘90s. The club on Monday announced that Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga, two key pieces on the 1995 team, will throw out the ceremonial first pitches for Games 1 and 2, respectively.
It was also announced that pop star Rachel Platten, most well known for her hit song Fight Song, will sing the National Anthem prior to Game 1.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com.