TORONTO—At 6:54 p.m. on Saturday, having just won Game 2 of the ALCS 2–1 to take a 2–0 series lead over the Blue Jays, amid exploding fireworks and fans in blue and red screaming themselves hoarse, the Indians vacated the grass and dirt of Progressive Field. Twenty minutes later, a handful of them walked right back onto it.
Having used just four of its relievers since the postseason began nine days earlier—relief ace Andrew Miller for 7 2/3 over their five games, all wins; closer Cody Allen for five; Bryan Shaw for 2 2/3; Dan Otero for one—the team decided to get the others some work.