One of the most revealing games in modern baseball history was the third game of the 2016 American League Championship Series in Toronto. The Cleveland Indians were forced to remove their starter, Trevor Bauer, in the first inning when Bauer’s finger — injured while he repaired a drone — would not stop bleeding on the mound. This was not disastrous but fortuitous.
Six Indians relievers combined to collect the next 25 outs of a 4-2 victory. No Blue Jays hitter faced the same pitcher twice. By changing looks all game long — helped by a day off beforehand — the Indians flummoxed a powerful lineup and introduced a new way to win.