HOUSTON -- Indians ace Corey Kluber is scheduled to make his first Opening Day start on Monday against the Astros. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner is expected to take the mound at Minute Maid Park with a new contract on the books.On Saturday night, MLB.com confirmed that Cleveland has reached an agreement on a five-year contract with Kluber, pending the completion of a physical. While the financial details of the deal are not immediately known, the pact does include a pair of team-option years. The Indians are also working toward a contract extension with fellow Tribe starter Carlos Carrasco. 
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti could not be reached for comment, but he made it known earlier this week that Cleveland's preference is to wrap up any negotiations prior to the start of the regular season."I'll stay away from anyone specifically," Antonetti said on Thursday. "But what we try to do is, once the season starts, have all of our focus be on preparing and winning games and trying to minimize distractions. That's a clear preference. It's how we've tried to operate in the past, so I expect that's how we'll move forward again this year with it."Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com first reported that the Indians were closing in on deals with both pitchers, while Jon Heyman of CBS Sports was the first to report that Cleveland reached an agreement with Kluber.The Indians were scheduled to travel from Arizona to Houston on Saturday night.It is similar to what took place last year, when the Indians signed catcher Yan Gomes, All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley and second baseman Jason Kipnis to extensions prior to the home opener.Throughout this spring, the Indians have been in touch with the agents for Kluber, who will turn 29 on Friday. During Spring Training, Cleveland inked the right-hander to a one-year contract worth $601,000. He was not scheduled to become eligible for arbitration until next offseason, and he wasn't scheduled to become eligible for free agency until after the 2018 season.Last year, Kluber enjoyed a breakout showing, going 18-9 with a 2.44 ERA and 269 strikeouts in 235 2/3 innings and becoming the fourth Cy Young Award winner in franchise history. The righty has gone 31-19 with a 3.34 ERA in parts of four seasons with the Tribe, but he has gone 29-14 with a 2.98 ERA and 405 strikeouts in 383 innings over the past two years.Kluber earned a $10,000 bonus for winning the AL Cy Young Award.Carrasco, 28, avoided arbitration with a one-year, $2.3 million deal during the offseason and is under team control through the 2017 season. Last year, the right-hander split his time between the rotation and bullpen, spinning a 2.55 ERA in 40 appearances. Down the stretch, though, Carrasco turned in a 1.30 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 69 innings in his last 10 starts of the year.Kluber and Carrasco developed into one of baseball's most dominant duos over the final two months of the season. In their last 20 starts combined, the pair of right-handers went 11-6 with a 1.75 ERA, striking out 170 and walking only 27 in 139 innings. Entering this season, Kluber and Carrasco will serve as the Nos. 1-2 starters in Cleveland's highly touted rotation.
Jordan Bastian/MLB.com
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