Trevor Bauer will start the season in the bullpen for the Cleveland Indians.
The Tribe announced Wednesday that Cody Anderson and Josh Tomlin will be their fourth and fifth starters.
Bauer, who has started 64 games over a four-year career, was 11-12 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 30 starts last season. In 14 innings this spring training, the 25-year-old allowed 10 hits and five earned runs.
In a shorter sample, Tomlin was effective coming off of injury last season, going 7-2 with a 3.02 ERA and .838 WHIP. Tomlin surrendered nine earned runs and 21 hits in 11 innings this spring.
Anderson made his MLB debut in 2015 and, like Tomlin, provided the Indians a steady hand in the back of the rotation. In the month of September, Anderson gave up no more than two runs in each of his six starts.
Tribe pitching coach Mickey Callaway said during a spring training game on SportsTime Ohio the decision would be bigger than spring numbers.
"We are going to look at what their pitches are doing, what did they do in the offseason to prepare and who's going to give us the best chance to succeed and win," Callaway said.
Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar front the Indians' rotation, which some baseball observers have said has the potential to be one of the league's best.
It'll be Kluber on the mound Monday for a duel with new Boston Red Sox ace David Price.
