Indians' Trevor Bauer exits in first for bloody finger from drone injury

— -- TORONTO --? Indians?right-hander Trevor Bauer faced only four batters Monday night before being pulled from Game 3 of the AL Championship Series after blood began dripping out of his injured finger.

Bauer had been pushed back two days to Game 3 because he cut his right pinkie on a drone last week.

He received stitches, but with two on and two out in the first inning against the? Blue Jays?on Monday, there was already blood on his hand and coming out of his finger.

Bauer was replaced by Dan Otero after 21 pitches.

After Bauer issued a two-out walk to? Troy Tulowitzki, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons strode onto the field and lodged a complaint with home plate umpire Brian Gorman.

Gorman then approached the mound as Indians manager Terry Francona made a visit.

"That's too much," Gorman could be heard saying in a TV replay, referring to the blood flow from Bauer's finger. "You're going to have to replace him."

Rules forbid pitchers from using a foreign substance, including a bandage, on their hand.?

Bauer's early exit likely means Corey Kluber will pitch Game 4 on short rest for Cleveland. Francona had said that was his plan if Bauer's finger acted up.

Kluber tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in Game 1 on Friday night in Cleveland.

Francona already is juggling a rotation that is missing injured starters Carlos Carrasco (broken hand) and Danny Salazar (forearm strain). Right-hander Mike Clevinger had been slated to start Game 4, but given the uncertainty over Bauer, the Indians moved him to the bullpen as a long reliever and slotted Merritt into the rotation.

Information from ESPN's Scott Lauber and The Associated Press was used in this report.