World Series 2016: Danny Salazar could be healthy enough to start for Indians

Joe Rodgers

World Series 2016: Danny Salazar could be healthy enough to start for Indians image

The Indians' makeshift rotation could receive a big boost in the World Series with the return of All-Star starter Danny Salazar.

The right-hander, out since Sept. 9 with a flexor strain in his pitching arm, is making progress in his throwing program, manager Terry Francona said Friday. Francona did not dismiss the idea of having Salazar make a start.

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"If Danny pitches and he pitches healthy," Francona said, via MLB.com, "and he's throwing the ball over the plate, we have a really good pitcher for however amount of innings he's built up for, which can potentially help us."

Salazar was scheduled to miss three to four weeks, which puts him on a timetable to possibly start Game 3 or 4 in Los Angeles or Chicago. 

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Left off the postseason roster thus far, Salazar spent time rehabbing at the Indians' spring training facility in Arizona during the ALDS and joined the club in Toronto for a two-inning simulated game Sunday during the ALCS. 

"I think he's ready to pitch," Francona said, adding Salazar is scheduled to throw a simulated game this weekend at Progressive Field.

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Salazar, 26, was 11-6 with a 3.87 ERA and 161 strikeouts this season, but he struggled after June, allowing 36 earned runs in 44 innings (7.36 ERA) over 10 starts.

Joe Rodgers