MINNEAPOLIS -- With two off days scheduled in the first six days of the season, the Indians were unsure when Shane Bieber would make his first start of the year. But now it looks like the team has figured out its plan.

On Sunday, Indians manager Terry Francona said that Bieber would be available out of the bullpen for the next few days. Prior to the team breaking camp last week, Francona talked to Bieber about the decisions it had to make regarding the rotation in the first few days. The 23-year-old said to put him in the bullpen, but Francona wasn’t sure if he liked that idea. They decided to allow him to move to the ‘pen, but only for extra-inning situations.

“He prepared for it last year in the playoffs,” Francona said. “And like I said, it’s not like we’re gonna bring him in with men on base, stuff like that. It’ll be an extra inning type of thing. We’re OK. If we got to the point where we just mixed and matched and got to a point where he could pitch the rest of the game, it would serve as a start.”

They haven’t nailed down an exact date for his first start, but they know it’ll either be before or after Mike Clevinger’s next turn in the rotation (after he starts in the home opener on Monday). If everything follows suit, that will fall on either Saturday or Sunday.

If the team doesn’t need to call on Bieber during the next few games, Francona said the plan would be to set up a simulated game for him to throw about 80-85 pitches. Because of the cold weather, the manager said he’s been trying to make sure none of his players, including Bieber, are sitting for too long.

“You know what, you do the best you can,” Francona said. “I mean when you’re a northern team, you’re gonna run into some things -- not only just not playing, but not getting out on the field to practice. Later in the year it’s OK when you have so many reps under your belt, but now, guys need to get out there and take ground balls.”

Flaherty returns to the Tribe

The Indians announced Sunday morning that they re-signed infielder Ryan Flaherty to a Minor League contract and assigned him to Triple-A Columbus. Flaherty was originally signed by the Tribe on Feb. 7 to a Minor League deal and was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training. He had an opt-out date of March 20 in his contract, and although the Indians liked what they saw during camp, they weren’t ready to commit to him that early in camp, so Flaherty elected free agency. Just a few hours later, second baseman Jason Kipnis was pulled from a spring game with a calf strain that prompted the club to eventually sign Brad Miller. Francona said he was glad to have Flaherty back with the organization.

“He did such a good job this spring and he’s such a pro,” Francona said. “Yes. Good.”

This day in Indians history

1938: Bob Feller surrendered five runs in the first two innings of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but was bailed out when Ken Keltner blasted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to help lead the Tribe to a 6-5 win.