CLEVELAND -- The decision to postpone Saturday’s matchup between the Indians and Blue Jays left many fans puzzled. But after the two teams played in unfavorable conditions on Friday, neither wanted to risk going through it again, on consecutive nights.

At the time the decision was made, winds were expected to have gusts over 30 mph throughout the evening, and there was a slim chance of some precipitation in the forecast again. So, both clubs agreed it was best to just wait until Sunday to wrap up the series with a doubleheader.

“For me, it was the wind,” Cleveland bench coach DeMarlo Hale, who’s filling in for Terry Francona while he’s at his daughter’s wedding, said. “And there were forecasts saying that it was going to get stronger and then the high 30s, 40s maybe. And then multiple forecasts [were] saying the rain was coming, as well. I thought it was a good call, considering when I stepped out on my way home, the wind picked up quite a bit. … I thought it was a good call.”

Hale kept in touch with Francona on Saturday, as the two worked through lineups to best prepare themselves for consecutive doubleheaders. After the two seven-inning contests on Sunday against the Blue Jays, the Indians will do the same on Monday against the White Sox. If Cleveland can get some depth out of its starters it should still be in decent shape heading into the Memorial Day doubleheader. However, the concept of four games in two days has forced the team to prepare a little differently.

“I know doubleheaders in the past have been nine innings, and those are long days,” Hale said. “You talk about seven innings, it’s still gonna be very competitive, but I think you have a chance to -- if your starting pitcher can go into the sixth inning, or even to the seventh, you have a chance to go right to your closer or late-inning guys and that saves your bullpen. And considering that we have a doubleheader tomorrow, too, against the White Sox, which is a division opponent, it can play a big factor, and the starters a key to that.”

Clement the 27th man
Teams are able to add an additional player to the roster for doubleheaders. Francona already mentioned, after Triston McKenzie’s start in Detroit on Wednesday, that he’ll be the 27th man for Monday’s doubleheader. And for Sunday, Cleveland added infielder Ernie Clement to the Game 2 roster.

“He’s a guy who’s versatile as well, that we can move around, play multiple position,” Hale said. “So depending on how we come out of the first game -- hopefully nothing major, no injuries -- but he’ll be the 27th man in Game 2.”