CLEVELAND — Terry Francona’s message to Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin: You can get all the rest you need over the winter. The Cleveland manager said he plans to use his top three starters on three days’ rest for the rest of the World Series.

Kluber, who dominated the Chicago Cubs in a 6-0 victory in Game 1, will start Game 4 on Saturday in Wrigley Field. Barring any setback, Bauer and Tomlin will go in Games 5 and 6, if necessary, with Kluber potentially available for Game 7.

“We tried to look at our team and how we best set up, and what’s in our best interest to win four games before the Cubs do,” Francona said.

Francona admitted that was the plan all along when he pulled Kluber in the top of the seventh on Tuesday night after watching his ace baffle the Cubs with his 88 pitches.

“He’s all set to pitch (Game 4),” Francona said. “That was probably Plan A.”

And then there’s Bauer and Tomlin.

“Trevor’s a guy that can pitch all the time,” Francona said. “Tomlin, we were a little concerned. He’s been pitching great but he doesn’t have the biggest frame in the world. But he hasn’t pitched that much, so I think we’re OK.”


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