Francona laughs off Bauer's drone-related injury

Who hasn't suffered a drone-related injury before?

That's how Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona explained Thursday's drone accident that forced the team to delay Trevor Bauer's start against the Blue Jays until Game 3 and move Josh Tomlin up two days to pitch at Progressive Field.

According to Indians president Chris Antonetti, Bauer required multiple stitches to his right pinky finger after injuring it repairing one of his drones, which he builds and designs as a hobby in his free time. During Friday's media availability before Game 1, Francona dismissed any notion Bauer acted irresponsibly, suggesting it could have just as easily happened while opening a box in the kitchen.

"Things happen," Francona told reporters, courtesy of ASAP Sports. "I wish it wouldn't have, but like I said, it wasn't done maliciously, it wasn't done by being silly. Just happened."

Francona said Bauer was examined by a hand specialist in Cleveland and it was determined he should be ready to start Game 3 in Toronto, where the right-hander pitched five scoreless frames of relief during the Indians' 19-inning victory over the Blue Jays on July 1.

"I think we've all, probably everybody in here probably at some point or another had a drone-related problem," Francona joked.

Bauer's drone mishap will likely add further fuel to his rivalry with Blue Jays fans, who targeted the outspoken pitcher on social media after he posted a patriotic tweet after Cleveland's Canada Day victory. The rift appeared to be all in good fun, though, as just three days later Bauer tweeted support for his followers north of the border ahead of the Blue Jays' July 4 game against Cleveland's division rival, the Kansas City Royals.