Cleveland Indians: Salazar versus Kershaw could be a World Series preview

A spring training matchup between the Cleveland Indians and the Los Angeles Dodgers could be a preview of what is to come in October.

The beauty of attending spring training games is that fans get to see certain matchups that are rarely seen during the regular season. That remained true Thursday as the Cleveland Indians took on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw took the mound for the Dodgers, while Danny Salazar made his second start of spring training for the Indians.

While both pitchers only went two innings, the matchup of the two players could end up being more than just a casual spring game. It could end up being a World Series preview.

The Dodgers fell to the Chicago Cubs in six games in the 2016 NLCS, but will enter 2017 as one of the favorites to win the National League, alongside the Cubs.

And as Indians fans know, a healthy team should be able to make it back to the World Series, with Salazar playing a big part in the team’s success.

Related: 5 reasons Indians will win the 2017 World Series

While some fans may want a rematch against the Cubs, as Cleveland fans are used to with the situation involving the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, a matchup with the Dodgers would still provide for a great series. And ultimately, fans should just want to win, so it doesn’t matter who the team faces as long as they win the final game of the 2017 postseason.

Going up against Kershaw two or three times would be difficult, as he proved his dominance once again today by breezing through two innings, allowing no hits and striking out one batter.

Salazar gave up a run and walked three, but he is still working on his return, so it is nothing to worry about. And while this matchup will be forgotten once the regular season begins, the two could meet up in a potential World Series matchup. Corey Kluber is the ace to start the season, but the rotation is known to change in October.

Kluber starting a potential Game 7 in the ALCS could see a pitcher like Salazar or even Carlos Carrasco get the Game 1 start in the World Series.

And I know, it is way to early to even be bringing up these possibilities, but it is actually a realistic possibility in 2017.

Next: Breaking down the 25-man roster

The two teams will meet up this June in Cleveland for a regular-season series, and perhaps Salazar and Kershaw will meet again. It will seem like any other series at the time, but it could be yet another preview of what is to come in October.