A.M. Wahoo’s: Corey Kluber to Start Game 1 of ALCS

Cleveland Indians ace Corey Kluber is set to take the mound for Game 1 of the ALCS this Friday in Cleveland.

In just one day, the Cleveland Indians are set to host the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 American League Championship Series. Who’s excited?

And after being the Game 2 starter against the Boston Red Sox, Corey Kluber has been named the Game 1 starter for the series against the Blue Jays.

Kluber was still recovering from a minor injury in preparation for the ALDS, so it makes perfect sense that he is now back to begin the ALCS. It puts him in position to also start Game 5, while being an option out of the bullpen in Game 7 if the series goes that far.

He is followed by Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin, while the bullpen day may make an appearance in the postseason. That is, if Mike Clevinger is unable to go deep into the game due to performance or if he is needed out of the bullpen earlier in the series.

There is so much room for speculation heading into the series, but Kluber seems to be the one constant on this team. While hitters go through slumps and some pitchers struggle, Kluber is there as a reliable source of domination for the Indians. Things can always change in the postseason, but his one start in the ALDS seemed to show he was not affected by the added pressure of playoff baseball. There is no guarantee this great play will continue in the ALCS, but there is nothing that makes it seem like Kluber is set for a major collapse.

While we wait until tomorrow’s first pitch, let’s take a look at the news surrounding the Indians and the rest of the MLB in today’s edition of A.M. Wahoo’s.

Cleveland Indians News:

Terry Francona Managed His Way to Home-Field Advantage

"Remember the final week of the regular season when Terry Francona decided to rest his starters after his Cleveland Indians clinched the American League Central title?"

96 Years Later, A Look Back at the Tribe’s First Championship

"The year 1920 was significant or a number of reasons, several of which had a direct impact on Major League Baseball and its future."

Tribe Not Alone in Looking to End Championship Drought

"The Cleveland Indians have company this postseason."

Indians Will Use Four-Man Rotation in ALCS (Let’s Go Tribe)

"The Cleveland Indians, like most teams, only used three pitchers in the Division Series."

Tribe, Blue Jays Connected Through Carter (Indians.com)

"When you hear Joe Carter’s name this time of year, your mind drifts back to that Bill Mazeroski moment that quite literally every Little Leaguer dreams of one day doing."

MLB News:

Bud Black Wants to Manage Colorado Rockies (FanSided)

"After a fourth straight season with a below .500 finish (75-87), Walt Weiss resigned as manager of the Colorado Rockies before he could be fired."

Blue Jays Announce Marco Estrada as Game 1 ALCS Starter (Jays Journal)

"The Toronto Blue Jays have announced that Marco Estrada will get the start in game one of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night."

Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg Suffers Setback (Call to the Pen)

"The Washington Nationals are in the thick of the postseason race and are having to manage without one of their aces."