CLEVELAND — Trevor Bauer’s stitched finger has improved, but the Indians won’t be certain of his effectiveness until he pitches.

And even that is somewhat up in the air.

Bauer sliced open his right pinkie while repairing a drone Thursday night, an odd-as-it-gets October injury that has thrown Cleveland’s pitching plan – already jumbled after the team lost two starters in the season’s final months – into more confusion.

Bauer, who needed 11 stitches to close the wound, had been scheduled to pitch Game 2 of the AL Championship Series on Saturday, but is now slated to pitch Game 3 on Monday in Toronto. At least that’s the current plan as Manager Terry Francona indicated the team is literally moving forward on an inning-by-inning basis.

Francona said the Indians remain confident Bauer will make his now-delayed start.

“You hope that it wouldn’t interfere with his touch and feel,” he said before Game 2. “I don’t think that’s an issue. He’s already thrown twice. Then, we just have to make sure that that thing doesn’t open up where it’s bleeding, because then they won’t let him pitch. It needs to close. So, while he’s doing his throwing and things, he needs to make sure he keeps this thing not aggravated or pulling the stitches away. So far, he’s done a good job. The thing is healing nice.”

Francona said Bauer has played catch and reported no problems. Doctors considered putting more stitches in Bauer’s finger, but backed off after it appeared to be healing well.

BLUE JAYS: Second baseman Devon Travis returned to Toronto on Saturday for more tests on his injured knee.

And while the team awaited the results, Major League Baseball approved a roster substitution. Travis was replaced by first baseman Justin Smoak, meaning Travis will not be eligible for the World Series if the Blue Jays advance.

Travis left Friday night’s ALCS opener after aggravating a bone bruise in his right knee while covering first base in the fifth inning. He missed the final two games of Toronto’s AL division series sweep over Texas with the injury.

ANGELS: Garrett Richards is expected to be ready for spring training after the right-hander completed his instructional league work with no problems with the partially torn ligament in his right elbow.

Richards is hoping to avoid Tommy John surgery with rest, stem-cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections.