Indians have thought about using Bauer as reliever in playoffs

Cleveland Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer hasn't appeared in a major-league game since suffering a stress fracture in his right leg on Aug. 11.

The injury was initially given a four-to-six week timeline, and Bauer is now inching toward a return to the mound in time for the postseason. The Indians may not wind up using him as a starter, however, as team president Chris Antonetti told MLB Network Radio they've discussed using him in relief.

Bauer has made one regular-season relief appearance over the last two years, and was used occasionally out of the bullpen prior to that. His primary role, dating back to his time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been as a starter.

He took the next step toward his anticipated return on the weekend when he threw 40 pitches off a mound after completing a bullpen session earlier in the week, according to Tom Withers of The Associated Press.

It went well, but he said he isn't at full strength yet.

"Mechanics were a little out of sequence," he said. "But I haven’t really been on a mound a whole lot in a month and a half. I expect those will come back pretty quickly. Physically it felt good."

He's slated to throw his next bullpen session on Tuesday, and it could involve live batters.

The 27-year-old was vying for the AL Cy Young after going 12-6 with a 2.22 ERA and 214 strikeouts in 166 innings before the injury derailed his campaign.