Andrew Miller (above) and the stellar Indians bullpen will try to counter Jon Lester and the superb Cubs starting rotation
FOX will telecast. Joe Buck, Smoltzie in the booth. Tom Verducci, Ken Rosenthal reporting from the field.
First game, tonight, 7:08 PM CT/8:08 PM ET first pitch.
In Cleveland at Progressive Field. Seats 35, 255, but should be a standing room only tonight with 40,000+ there. First two games in Cleveland, next three in Chicago, and final two, if necessary, back in Cleveland.
The droughts: Cleveland hasn’t won the World Series since 1948, 68 years. The Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 108 years, 1908.
Starting pitchers tonight: Jon Lester (Cubs) vs. Cory Kluber
Game 2 starters, tomorrow night: Jake Arrieta (Cubs) vs. Trevor Bauer
Game 3, Friday, 7:07 PM CT/8:07 PM ET: Josh Tomlin (Indians) vs. Kyle Hendricks
Game 4 Saturday, 7:07 PM CT/8:07 PM ET, Cleveland, undecided vs. John Lackey
Game 5 Sunday, 7:15 PM CT/8:15 PM ET: pitchers undecided
Game 6 Tuesday, Nov.1, 7:07 PM CT, pitchers To be determined
Game 7, Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7:07 PM CT, pitchers TBD
Analysis/Prediction
The Cubs have the edge in hitting and probably starting pitching though I like Cleveland’s starters as well. Andrew Miller is the key guy to me for the Indians out of the pen. In the postseason, Miller has thrown 11 2/3 innings in middle relief and allowed no runs with 21 K’s. You add stellar closer Cody Allen, who has thrown 7 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with 12 strikeouts and that’s quite a potent combination that can win you a championship. They’ll need some help of course from the starters and the rest of the bullpen, but these two can carry their team. Cleveland is a base stealing team, too. I like that. The long ball will be big, too, and the Cubs can really do that. But I give the edge to Cleveland in the bullpen, the starters to the Cubs. defense and hitting are pretty much a wash. But since the wild card era commenced in 1994, the team with the home field advantage has won the World Series 71% of the time. I like those numbers. The Indians got the home field by virtue of the American League winning the All-Star game 4-2 over the National League. I believe in that league that wins the All-Star game and has home field advantage. I also love what Miller can do and Allen on the backend. The Royals won the world series last year with speed, timely hitting and a superb bullpen. I like the Indians to do the same in 2016.
One Response
Pulling for the Cubs, but I do think the Tribe has an advantage with homefield and the bullpen.