Cleveland Indians: Corey Kluber’s spring opener nothing to worry about

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber had a rough 2017 debut, but it is nothing for fans to worry about moving forward.

Monday provided Cleveland Indians fans with Corey Kluber‘s long-awaited return to the mound. Unfortunately, it was not a pretty sight.

Kluber allowed six runs in 2.1 innings of work against the Milwaukee Brewers, walking two batters and striking out four in a 14-4 loss.

This start was less than ideal, but it really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of the season. The point of March starts are to get back into the routine of pitching, while working on the basics before the regular season ultimately begins.

Fans know this, but it is still easy to get a tad concerned when seeing Kluber’s final line. But regardless of his numbers, it was just nice to see him back on the mound in what was his first start since Game 7 of the World Series.

There may have been some concern about his status for the regular season, but he will have plenty of preparation once the season begins on April 3. And if he does need a few extra days, the rotation is not at a shortage of guys who can step in and have a great outing.

The key for the Indians will be to manage Kluber’s workload all season. The later start to spring training helps keep him fresh for the regular season, while a few off-days during the season can ensure his availability for another deep postseason run.

And with a stacked bullpen, Kluber also won’t have to go deep in regular season games if the offense gives him a lead. He can go five or six innings and turn it over to what should be one of the best bullpens in all of baseball, keeping his total innings around the 200-mark for the entire season.

Next: Carlos Santana and the inevitability of moving on

There is no question that Kluber is this team’s ace, so simply having him back on the mound is a great sign. Outings like the one he had on Monday should be rare once the regular season gets underway.