Kuzul

It only feels right that the 2016 World Series is already a back-and-forth affair, considering the history hanging in the balance.

The Cleveland Indians struck first in Game 1 behind a gem from Corey Kluber and dominant bullpen pitching from Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. The Chicago Cubs bounced back in Game 2 after Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

Now Cleveland is three wins away from winning its first title since 1948, while the Cubs are three wins away from shedding their “Lovable Losers” moniker and capturing their first championship since 1908.

With that in mind, here is a look at the remaining games, as well as predictions for each team. The schedule is courtesy of MLB.com, and ticket information can be found at ScoreBig.com.

Remaining World Series Schedule

Breakdown and Prediction

The first thing that jumps out about the pitching matchups is the fact Cleveland will be using a starter on short rest every game after Friday’s contest.

Indians manager Terry Francona talked about using that strategy, per the Associated Press (via USA Today): “We tried to look at our team and how we best set up, and what’s in our best interest to win four games before the Cubs do, and that’s how we came to this conclusion.”

There is a reason the Indians are predicted to win Game 4 in Wrigley Field—Kluber. He already left the Chicago hitters helpless in Game 1 with six shutout innings, and he preserved his freshness for Saturday by throwing only 88 pitches in the process.

The Indians have the perfect combination of six innings from Kluber, two innings from Miller and a save from Allen when their ace starts the game. That will show up once again in Game 4.

Kluber has been essentially unhittable in the postseason with a sparkling 0.74 ERA in four starts. The the Cubs will want to do everything in their power to prevent a Game 7 in Cleveland with the 2014 American League Cy Young Award winner on the hill.

However, Cleveland’s advantage in the starting-pitching matchups begins and ends with Kluber.

Josh Tomlin finished with a pedestrian 4.40 ERA this season, although he has been impressive in the playoffs with just three earned runs allowed in 10.2 innings of work. That formidable stretch will end against a powerful Chicago lineup that has 28 combined runs in its last five games, which includes a shutout loss in the contest against Kluber.

Trevor Bauer is the other Cleveland starter, and Chicago already knocked him around once with six hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. He limited the damage to two earned runs, but that is not a strong enough performance when squaring off with the Cubs rotation.

That Chicago starting staff as a whole finished with the best ERA in baseball by a wide margin this year. Its 2.96 ERA was well ahead of the second-place Washington Nationals, who checked in at 3.60.

Fred Huebner of ESPN 1000 in Chicago thinks the rotation will prove to be the difference moving forward in this World Series:

Kyle Hendricks is next on the docket for Chicago. His confidence should be at an all-time high after he threw 7.1 scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. He outdueled the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and proved his overwhelming effectiveness at Wrigley Field once again.

According to ESPN.com, Hendricks finished with a 1.32 ERA and .201 batting average against in 95.1 innings in the Windy City this season.

Jon Lester is another Cy Young Award candidate alongside Hendricks, and he won’t match up against Kluber this time after he allowed three earned runs in 5.2 innings in Game 1.

Despite the lackluster outing, it is wise to trust the southpaw’s track record. He has a 2.60 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 20 postseason appearances for Chicago and the Boston Red Sox. Lester also is a battled-tested veteran who has delivered on some of the biggest stages of his career. He sports a head-turning 1.35 ERA and 0.938 WHIP in four World Series starts, per Baseball Reference.

The Cubs will move from two Cy Young candidates to the 2015 National League Cy Young winner when Arrieta takes the ball again in Game 6. He already proved he can baffle the Cleveland lineup with Wednesday’s performance when he allowed just one earned run and two hits in 5.2 innings.

John Lackey squaring off with Kluber in Game 4 is not an ideal matchup for Chicago (even if Lackey has a 3.26 ERA in 25 career postseason appearances), but the team’s overall depth in the starting rotation is one reason it won an MLB-best 103 games this year.

It is also the reason the Cubs will lift the World Series trophy after six games in this series.

Prediction: Cubs in six

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Chicago Cubs tied the World Series at one game apiece with a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 2 on Wednesday, which means it is now a best-of-five battle to see who emerges as champions.

Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of Wednesday’s contest, and the bullpen duo of Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman finished the deal with 3.1 scoreless innings. Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell all tallied RBI, while Kyle Schwarber posted two hits, two RBI and a run scored as part of his incredible comeback story.

He tore his ACL and LCL in April and had a grand total of four at-bats this season, but he worked his way back for the World Series and notched three hits in the first two games.

Chicago has momentum on its side after Game 2, but that only goes as far as the next game’s pitcher in baseball. With that in mind, here is a look at some odds heading into Friday’s Game 3, as well as some statistical projections for key players.

World Series Odds

The Game 3 moneyline consensus can be found here, and the odds to win the World Series can be found here, each according to Odds Shark.

It must be noted these were the listed odds as of Thursday morning at 1 a.m. ET, and the odds to win the World Series were last updated before Chicago’s win on Wednesday.

Game 3 Stat Projections for Key Players

Pitchers

Kyle Hendricks will be the dominant storyline of Game 3.

While Jon Lester and Arrieta are two household names on the Chicago pitching staff, Hendricks is a Cy Young Award candidate after pitching a career-high 190 innings and posting a 2.13 ERA and sparkling 0.98 WHIP this season.

He already proved himself on the pressure-packed October stage in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He faced three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw with the raucous crowd at Wrigley Field set to explode with the chance to send the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945.

He delivered 7.1 innings of scoreless work with a mere two hits allowed.

It is no surprise he dictated the game at Wrigley Field considering he was lights-out at home this season. According to ESPN.com, he finished with a 1.32 ERA and .201 batting average against in 95.1 innings in front of the Chicago faithful in 2016.

He will also be motivated to pitch in front of those fans on Friday, per MLB:

The Cubs will earn the win and a 2-1 series lead after Montgomery and Pedro Strop finish the eighth and Chapman earns the save.

On the other side, Josh Tomlin didn’t have the head-turning stats Hendricks did this season, with a 4.40 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, but he has been much more effective in the postseason. He allowed just three earned runs in 10.2 innings of work, which is good for a 2.53 ERA.

However, he will revert back to numbers resembling his regular-season marks on Friday, with four earned runs allowed in five innings. Outside of Game 1 of the World Series, when Corey Kluber was simply unhittable, the Cubs offense has been rolling as of late. It tallied 28 combined runs in Games 4, 5 and 6 of the NLCS and Game 2 of the Fall Classic and will get to Tomlin early.

Andrew Miller and Cody Allen will keep Cleveland within striking distance from the bullpen, but it will be too little, too late.

Marquee Hitters

Kris Bryant drilled 39 home runs during the regular season as the potential National League MVP, but he has just one long ball in the postseason. That will change on Friday, when he tags Tomlin for a two-run blast.

Elsewhere for Chicago, Russell proved in this postseason he can deliver after struggling. He had only one hit through his first seven playoff games but then went 6-for-13 with two home runs, five runs and four RBI in the final three contests of the NLCS.

He started slow in the World Series at 1-for-8, but he will deliver some home cooking on Friday with a couple of hits.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports underscored just how quickly the 22-year-old shortstop is capable of turning things around:

Mike Napoli will lead the offensive charge for the Indians with a home run off Hendricks after connecting with 34 during the regular season, but the Cubs starter will limit the damage by scattering a couple of hits from Francisco Lindor and containing the rest of the lineup.

The Cubs will take another step toward earning their first World Series title since 1908.

Prediction: Cubs 4, Indians 1

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cleveland Indians had home-field advantage entering the World Series because the American League won the 2016 All-Star Game, but the Chicago Cubs seized it Wednesday with a 5-1 victory in Game 2 at Progressive Field.

The series is tied at one game apiece thanks to a strong pitching performance from Chicago. 

Starter Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth and allowed just one earned run and two hits in 5.2 innings of work. Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined to close the door with 3.1 innings of scoreless work out of the bullpen. 

Cleveland didn’t get nearly as much from its staff. Trevor Bauer started and lasted just 3.2 innings while allowing two earned runs and six hits. It was an improvement from Game 3 of the American League Championship Series when he pitched only 0.2 innings before leaving because a laceration on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand was bleeding on his uniform and the ball.

Zach McAllister also gave up two earned runs from Cleveland’s bullpen. 

Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist led the offensive attack for the Cubs with two hits apiece. Schwarber tallied two RBI and scored a run, while Zobrist scored and added an RBI of his own. Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell also tallied RBI on Wednesday.

The Cubs could have scored more, but they left 13 runners on base, per MLB.com.

Cleveland received two hits from Mike Napoli and a run from Jason Kipnis, but its offense managed just four hits all game.

The Cubs scored their first World Series run in 71 years in the first inning, when Kris Bryant singled and scored on Rizzo’s double. David Schuster of 670 The Score in Chicago noted it was an important start for the Cubs after being shut out in Game 1 against Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen:

Cleveland battled back with two walks in the bottom of the frame, but Arrieta escaped the jam with a deep flyout from Jose Ramirez.

Chicago got to Bauer again in the third when Rizzo walked, advanced to second on Zobrist’s single and scored on Schwarber’s hit. Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL in April and was expected to miss the season, but he battled back for the Fall Classic and made his presence known in Game 2. 

Jason Goff of 670 The Score in Chicago reacted to Schwarber’s remarkable comeback:

The Cubs drove Bauer from the game in the fourth after he walked Willson Contreras and allowed a single to Russell, but he did induce a double play from Jorge Soler following Contreras’ free pass to prevent a costly rally.

On the other side, Arrieta didn’t allow a hit through the first four innings despite three walks. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reacted to his start:

Chicago provided him with additional run support in the fifth, when Rizzo walked and scored on a hit down the line from Zobrist. Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall slipped on the play, which allowed Rizzo to score easily and Zobrist to advance to third.

Schwarber tacked another on with an RBI single, and Russell drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 5-0 after a Kipnis error extended the inning.

Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com was already looking ahead to Game 3 at Wrigley Field, where designated hitting won’t be an option for Schwarber:

The Indians had a comeback story of their own in the sixth, when Danny Salazar worked a scoreless frame out of the bullpen. It was his first appearance since Sept. 9 after he suffered an elbow injury.

Cleveland finally got a hit off Arrieta in the bottom of the sixth, when Kipnis drove one up the middle. Christopher Kamka of CSN Chicago put the starter’s performance into historical context:

Kipnis advanced to third on Francisco Lindor’s groundout and scored on a wild pitch from Arrieta. Cubs manager Joe Maddon removed his starter from the game after he allowed a hit to Napoli, and Montgomery ended the rally by inducing a groundout.

Chicago had the opportunity to break things open in the seventh with bases loaded and one out for Bryant, but Dan Otero entered for the Indians and retired the potential National League MVP with a fielder’s choice. He got Rizzo out as well and kept Cleveland within striking distance at 5-1.

The Indians threatened in the seventh with two runners on and two outs, but Montgomery struck out Carlos Santana. The Cubs reacted to the clutch performance on Twitter:

Montgomery also recorded two outs in the eighth but handed the ball to Chapman after allowing a hit to Napoli. The fireballer struck out Ramirez and sent the game to the ninth, where he retired the side to even the series.

What’s Next?

The Cubs have the opportunity to win the series at home with Games 3, 4 and 5 all at Wrigley Field, but all Cleveland has to do is win one road game to get home-field advantage back.

Game 3 is Friday, and Chicago will send Cy Young Award candidate Kyle Hendricks to the mound. He finished the season with a 2.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and pitched a gem against Clayton Kershaw in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series with 7.1 scoreless innings and just two hits allowed.

The Indians will counter with Josh Tomlin, who posted a 4.40 ERA and 1.19 WHIP during the regular season. He has been better in his two postseason starts with just three earned runs in 10.2 innings.

While Chicago has the advantage on paper with the pitching matchup in Game 3, Cleveland has Kluber looming for Game 4 and possibly Game 7 if the series goes the distance. All it would take is one win with someone else on the mound at Wrigley to swing that advantage the Indians’ way.

Postgame Reaction

Cleveland manager Terry Francona underscored just how cold it was Wednesday, via the Indians:

He also talked about Schwarber’s performance, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network: “He’s really good. I can see why Theo sent a plane for him. I would have, too.”

Schwarber put things in perspective, per CSN Chicago’s Cubs Talk: “This is the moment you dream of as kids: Playing in the World Series and winning.”

He was also asked if he will play in Games 3-5 when there is no designated hitter and said, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, “We’ll see where it goes. Nothing set in stone.”

Dexter Fowler responded to the realization the Cubs won their first World Series game since 1945, per Gonzales: “Y’all talk history. We’re just trying to make it.”

Chicago is three wins away from doing just that.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cleveland Indians took their first step toward winning a World Series title Tuesday with a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 and can seize a commanding 2-0 lead with another home win Wednesday.

The tandem of Corey Kluber, Roberto Perez and Andrew Miller was far too much for Chicago in Game 1.

Kluber outdueled Jon Lester with six-plus shutout innings. He allowed just four hits and struck out nine Cubs hitters, and he became the first pitcher in MLB history to notch eight punchouts through three innings in a World Series game, per Sports Illustrated.

Miller pitched scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth and danced out of trouble in each, while Perez connected with two home runs for four RBI even though he hit only three long balls all season.

Attention now moves to Game 2 on Wednesday, which will air on Fox. According to Tom Withers of the Associated Press, it will start at 7:08 p.m. ET instead of 8:08 p.m. because of the possibility of late rain in the forecast.

Game 2 Preview and Prediction

The Cubs will turn toward Jake Arrieta on Wednesday with the hopes of tying the series.

It is a testament to the strength of their starting rotation that Arrieta is the No. 3 starter at this point even though he won the National League Cy Young Award last year. He will pitch Wednesday because Kyle Hendricks just threw a gem in Saturday’s Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arrieta was a machine last year with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 236 strikeouts but saw a decline in his production in 2016. He still posted a solid 3.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 190 strikeouts and even had a no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in April.

Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times underscored how much pressure will be on the right-hander when he takes the hill:

That same pressure will be there for Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer.

According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Indians manager Terry Francona said Bauer will start Game 2 even though he pitched a mere 0.2 innings in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. He had to leave the game against the Toronto Blue Jays because a laceration on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand was bleeding all over his uniform and the ball.

He is not exactly a lights-out pitcher even when fully healthy and finished the 2016 campaign with a 4.26 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. What’s more, his 168 strikeouts were a drop-off from last year’s 170 even though he pitched 14 more innings this season.

Cleveland will need to rely on its bullpen if Bauer struggles, and Miller’s workload from Tuesday’s game could make that a problem. He faced a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh and runners on the corners in the eighth, and he managed to escape each situation without allowing a single run, but he threw 46 high-stress pitches.

That number could limit his availability for Game 2, at least in terms of pitching multiple innings.

Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine captured why a limited Miller would be a boost for the Cubs:

Chicago’s offense was invisible against Kluber, but this is still a group that scored 10, eight and five runs, respectively, in the last three games of the NLCS. The five runs came off three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw.

Sometimes, one of the best pitchers in the league simply has his stuff, and that was the case Tuesday with Kluber. Don’t read too much into Chicago’s offensive struggles in the small, one-game sample size.

Kyle Schwarber wasn’t even there for those offensive outbursts against the Dodgers but proved his mettle Tuesday with a double off the wall and an impressive walk against Miller. He tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in April but managed to make his way back for the World Series and will provide another lift in Game 2.

That offense will get to Bauer early and then add on in the middle innings against bullpen pitchers who aren’t named Miller.

Arrieta may not be the unhittable force he was in 2015, but he is still one of the most formidable pitchers in the National League when pitching at his best. He will settle in with the early run support and eventually hand the ball to Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman in the Chicago bullpen.

Lester summarized Chicago’s mindset after the Game 1 loss and harkened back to the 2-1 deficit it faced in the NLCS, per Patrick Mooney of CSN Chicago: “Just like L.A.—everybody counted us out after Game 3. They said we were the worst best team in baseball. We’re not giving up.”

The Cubs already overcame one deficit this postseason and will start their journey toward a second comeback Wednesday.

Prediction: Cubs 6, Indians 3

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cleveland Indians struck first in a World Series 176 combined years in the making with a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Tuesday’s Game 1 at Progressive Field.

It was a showdown of aces with Corey Kluber and Jon Lester on the mound, and the Indians’ No. 1 prevailed. He baffled Cubs hitters through six-plus scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and striking out nine.

Lester couldn’t match him and was pulled after 5.2 innings. He surrendered three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Kluber had two things Lester didn’t: Roberto Perez on offense and Andrew Miller in the bullpen. Perez hit .183 with three home runs in the regular season but drilled two long balls for four RBI on Tuesday. Jesse Spector of Sporting News put the performance in context:

Miller worked out of a bases-loaded jam with nobody out in the seventh and another sticky situation in the eighth with runners on the corners and two outs. Cody Allen finished the game in the ninth.

Chicago hasn’t won the Fall Classic since 1908, while Cleveland last captured the title in 1948. ESPN Stats & Info underscored the Indians’ victory:

Perez didn’t provide the only offense for Cleveland. Jose Ramirez tallied three hits and an RBI, Francisco Lindor had three hits and a run scored and Brandon Guyer notched an RBI, which was plenty of support for Kluber.

Retired pitcher Dan Haren weighed in on the 2014 American League Cy Young Award winner’s performance:

The Indians wasted little time getting to Lester with a two-out rally in the first. Lindor singled and stole second, Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana walked and Ramirez dribbled an infield hit down the third base line to open the scoring. Lester then hit Guyer to put the Indians ahead 2-0.

JJ Cooper of Baseball America wrote, “When Jose Ramirez tells his grandkids about that RBI, it will be a rope to the wall,” while Jordan Bastian of MLB.com pointed out Guyer is accustomed to getting hit:

One of the primary storylines for the series took center stage in the second when Kyle Schwarber hit with Ben Zobrist on second. Schwarber tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee in April and appeared to be done for the season until he was added to the Cubs roster for the World Series.

But Schwarber struck out, and Kluber worked out of the inning with punchouts of Javier Baez and Chris Coghlan as well. The ace had five strikeouts through two frames, and Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports noted it was business as usual for the formidable righty:

Kluber continued his dominance with three more strikeouts in the third. According to Sports Illustrated, he became the first pitcher in World Series history to tally eight strikeouts through three innings.

CBS Sports MLB highlighted the movement on Kluber’s pitches:

In Schwarber’s next at-bat, he doubled off the top of the right-center field wall in the fourth. While it was to no avail on the scoreboard, it was a testament to his overwhelming talent and hard work in rehab that he did so against one of the league’s best pitchers after missing more than six months.

Perez cleared the left field wall with a blast in the bottom of the frame. His homer gave Cleveland a commanding 3-0 lead, and Jon Tayler of Sports Illustrated noted the unlikely source:

Cubs manager Joe Maddon removed Lester from the game in the sixth with Ramirez on second base and two outs, and Pedro Strop struck out Perez to escape the jam. While they missed a chance to add to their lead, the Indians were still in full control thanks to Kluber.

Tony Andracki of CSN Chicago said the performance was so incredible that Cubs fans may have been instead hoping to take a shot at Miller and his lockdown stuff:

Cleveland manager Terry Francona elected to keep Kluber in to start the seventh but removed him after Zobrist led off with a single.

In came Miller, the American League Championship Series MVP. He walked Schwarber and allowed a single to Baez to load the bases but bounced back, inducing a pop out by Willson Contreras and striking out Addison Russell and David Ross to end the threat.

Troy Renck of Denver 7 speculated Ross would have been better off not swinging at the 3-2 slider he struck out on:

Chicago made Miller work again in the eighth when Kris Bryant walked with one out and Zobrist singled with two outs, but Schwarber struck out as the potential tying run. The only positive from the Cubs’ perspective was the fact Miller threw 46 pitches, which could limit his availability for Wednesday’s Game 2.

Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine captured just how unhittable Miller has been in October:

Perez all but sealed the game with his three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, and Allen closed the door.

What’s Next?

Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. ET Wednesday in Cleveland.

The Indians held serve in Game 1, but the Cubs can still earn a split on the road before heading to Wrigley Field for Games 3, 4 and 5. If Cleveland wins, its worst possible scenario would be a 3-2 deficit when it returns home for Game 6 and a potential Game 7.

Jake Arrieta will take the ball for Chicago. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner wasn’t as dominant this year as last but finished with an impressive 3.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.

Bastian noted that Francona said Trevor Bauer is slated to counter Arrieta. Bauer pitched just 0.2 innings in Game 3 of the ALCS before leaving because a laceration on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand began to bleed profusely.

If he pitches anything like Kluber did in Game 1, the Indians will be in good shape.

Postgame Reaction

The Cleveland Police were in the World Series spirit after the game:

Kluber talked about his outing with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, via Fox Sports MLB:

Perez discussed his impressive performance with Fox Sports’ Tom Verducci, via Fox Sports MLB:

“We didn’t play as bad as that looked,” Maddon said, per Richard Justice of MLB.com.

Schwarber also looked at things with a glass-half-full approach, per 670 The Score in Chicago: “We’re not going to go press. … We’re here for a reason. We’re a good baseball team.”

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Cleveland Indians cruised through the American League playoffs with a sparkling 7-1 record and will now await their National League opponent in the 2016 World Series.

Whether the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers prevail in their clash, the eventual Fall Classic winner will break a lengthy drought. The Cubs famously have not won a title since 1908, while Indians fans have been waiting since 1948. Los Angeles hasn’t lifted the trophy since 1988.

The National League Championship Series is tied at two games apiece, and the potential for a memorable World Series between two title-hungry franchises looms. With that in mind, here is a look at the event’s schedule, as well as a breakdown of the potential pitching matchups.

Schedule information is courtesy of MLB.com.

World Series Schedule

Pitching Analysis

Cleveland Indians

The Indians clinched their spot in the World Series on Wednesday, which gives them the luxury of setting their pitching staff exactly as they like while the two National League teams battle in a six- or seven-game series.

Factoring in a combination of how Cleveland started its pitchers in the postseason and overall performance, here is a projected starting rotation for the World Series:

Corey Kluber is the clear-cut ace and the Indians’ best chance of matching someone like Clayton Kershaw or Jon Lester. He finished the year with a 3.14 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 227 strikeouts in 215 innings. He could also be used in a potential Game 7 out of the bullpen, much like Kershaw was in the decisive Game 5 of Los Angeles’ division series win against the Washington Nationals.

The Indians will likely use Trevor Bauer in Game 2 even though he threw just 21 pitches in his American League Championship Series start because of a pinkie laceration, per MLB.com’s Richard Justice. Blood was dripping onto his jersey, but he will have the chance to recover with the break in-between series. 

Manager Terry Francona trusted Bauer in Cleveland’s first postseason game this year, and that trust will still be there in the World Series.

The Indians will probably use Josh Tomlin in Game 3, especially since he has been more effective in the postseason than during the year. He has allowed just three earned runs with a 0.94 WHIP in 10.2 playoff innings after posting a 4.40 ERA this season.

Rookie Ryan Merritt proved his mettle in Game 5 of the ALCS with 4.1 shutout innings. He wasn’t intimidated by the Rogers Centre crowd in Toronto and supported the impressive numbers (1.64 ERA and 0.55 WHIP) he posted in 11 innings of work during the season.

Steve Gardner of USA Today noted injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar (on top of the setback to Bauer) have taxed the Indians bullpen. However, the group that has tallied a 1.67 ERA in 32.1 innings of playoff work will have the chance to recuperate during the break.

Andrew Miller won the ALCS MVP with 7.2 shutout innings, but Kluber pointed out there are a number of capable options behind the starting staff, per Gardner: “We have a lot of guys down there that can mix and match. We’ve got guys that have unbelievable stuff and we have a lot of faith in them to come in and finish games for us.”

The bullpen will need to continue doing so if the Indians are going to win the World Series.

Chicago Cubs

The assumption here is the NLCS goes a full seven games with the Cubs pitching Lester in Game 5 and the Dodgers answering with Kershaw in Game 6. Therefore, the NL representative will take the field for Tuesday’s Game 1 of the World Series with just one day of rest since the Game 7 showdown on Sunday.

That would mean veteran John Lackey would open up the Fall Classic for Chicago if manager Joe Maddon stuck with his postseason rotation. Here is a look at how things would set up:

From a statistical standpoint, the Cubs have the best remaining pitching staff in the playoffs. They finished first in all of baseball with a 3.15 ERA, have two legitimate Cy Young candidates in Lester and Kyle Hendricks, count last year’s National League Cy Young winner as a No. 3 starter (Jake Arrieta) and have a bullpen that features fireballers Pedro Strop, Hector Rondon and Aroldis Chapman.

Lackey may not stand out among that group, but the playoff-tested veteran has 25 postseason appearances and 22 postseason starts on his resume. In addition to his solid 3.26 ERA in those games, he won a title in 2002 with the Anaheim Angels and 2013 with the Boston Red Sox. He started Game 7 of the World Series in 2002 as a rookie and allowed just one earned run in five innings.

With Lackey supporting the numbers of Lester (2.44 ERA and 1.02 WHIP), Hendricks (2.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP) and Arrieta (3.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP), the Cubs won’t be overmatched when comparing their pitching to Cleveland’s if they reach the World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw will pitch Saturday’s NLCS game, so he won’t be set to start the World Series for the Dodgers. However, he has proved throughout the postseason that he is willing to take the ball on short rest. He will start Game 2, which will set up Los Angeles’ rotation exactly how it was for the series against the Cubs:

The three-time Cy Young winner and 2014 National League MVP is the best remaining weapon in the postseason. Kershaw started Game 4 against Washington and came in for a pressure-packed save in the very next contest. He also prevailed against Hendricks in the NLCS with seven shutout innings in a 1-0 Dodgers win.

Don’t overlook Rich Hill, though, after he finished the season with a 2.12 ERA and 1.00 WHIP and threw six shutout innings against the Cubs. New York Times bestselling author Molly Knight said Chicago’s shutout losses in Games 2 and 3 of the NLCS were largely because of the southpaw combination:

Kenta Maeda (seven earned runs in seven postseason innings) and 20-year-old Julio Urias (four earned runs in 5.2 postseason innings) are still major question marks, but Los Angeles would win the World Series if it prevailed in just games started by Kershaw and Hill.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While the Cleveland Indians won the American League Championship Series in a quick five games, there is plenty of drama remaining in the National League showdown between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Chicago evened things up at two games apiece with a 10-2 victory in Wednesday’s Game 4, which means Thursday’s Game 5 is a crucial contest that will leave the victor a single win away from a World Series berth.

The Dodgers will want to avoid a 3-2 hole before the series shifts to Wrigley Field for Games 6 and possibly 7, while the Cubs will want to prevent a scenario where Los Angeles holds a 3-2 lead and gives the ball to the dominant Clayton Kershaw.

According to MLB.com, Thursday’s Game 5 starts at 8 p.m. ET at Dodger Stadium and will feature Chicago’s Jon Lester squaring off with Los Angeles’ Kenta Maeda. The live stream is available on Fox Sports Go.

Game 5 Preview and Prediction

The Cubs bats woke up in Game 4 after finishing without a single run in their losses in Games 2 and 3. In fact, Chicago’s four runs in the fourth on Wednesday snapped a scoreless streak of 21 innings dating back to the eighth inning of Game 1.

Two key figures led the charge in a much-needed way.

Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell had a combined three hits in the entire playoffs before Wednesday’s contest, but they each blasted home runs in Game 4. Rizzo tallied three hits, three RBI and two runs, while Russell added three hits, two RBI and two runs.

Considering Rizzo was an MVP candidate almost all season with slash numbers of .292/.385/.544 with 32 home runs and 109 RBI, the Cubs need him to be a catalyst in this series. Mark Schanowski of Comcast SportsNet Chicago pointed out how important the slugging first baseman is to the Cubs’ title chances:

Rizzo, Russell and the rest of the Cubs offense will face Maeda in Game 5, but there was some question about whether Kershaw would start in the swing game. Manager Dave Roberts ended that speculation after Wednesday’s contest and said he would stick with Maeda, especially since “tomorrow is not an elimination game or a deciding game,” per Arash Markazi of ESPN.com.

However, Maeda has been a disaster in the playoffs for the Dodgers. He allowed four earned runs, five hits and two walks in three innings in his division series start against the Washington Nationals and followed that up with three earned runs, four hits and three walks in four innings in Game 1 of this series against the Cubs.

Chicago’s pitching situation is much more favorable for Game 5.

Manager Joe Maddon will go with Lester, who was one of the best pitchers in all of baseball this season with a 2.44 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 197 strikeouts in 202.2 innings. The Cy Young candidate has been even better in the postseason with just one run allowed in 14 innings and a 0.71 WHIP.

He should also be fresh after throwing just 77 pitches in six innings of work in Game 1 of this series. He allowed four hits and a single run and was a critical figure in Chicago’s 8-4 victory even though he didn’t get credit for the win after the bullpen blew his lead.

Pressure-packed moments are nothing new for Lester after pitching for the Boston Red Sox from 2006-14. He has 18 career postseason appearances in all with a sparkling 2.57 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

The Cubs also have a fresh Aroldis Chapman after he wasn’t needed in Wednesday’s blowout victory.

The Dodgers may still win the series with Kershaw likely to start Game 6 and Rich Hill as the most realistic option for a potential Game 7, but Thursday’s matchup significantly favors the Cubs. Look for them to get to Maeda early once again and take a 3-2 lead to Wrigley Field with a chance to earn their first spot in a World Series since 1945.

Game 5 Prediction: Cubs 5, Dodgers 2

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Chicago Cubs won an MLB-best 103 games in 2016 and were apparently tired of hearing about the doom and gloom surrounding their season facing a 2-1 deficit in the National League Championship Series.

They crushed the Los Angeles Dodgers, 10-2, in Wednesday’s Game 4 at Dodger Stadium to tie the series at two games apiece behind a powerful statement from an offense that finished third in MLB in runs scored this season. It was a drastic change from Games 2 and 3, when the Cubs were held scoreless in two straight losses.

Chicago quickly got to 20-year-old starter Julio Urias, who lasted just 3.2 innings and allowed four earned runs, four hits and two walks. Pedro Baez allowed one earned run from the bullpen, and Ross Stripling gave up the remaining five, four of which were earned.

Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo each drilled home runs to spearhead the Cubs offense. Rizzo finished with three hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Russell tallied three hits, two RBI and two runs. Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward, Javier Baez and Dexter Fowler each also added RBI.

Radio personality Jim Rome reacted to the offensive outburst:

Cubs starter John Lackey pitched four-plus innings and allowed two earned runs, three hits and three walks, but the bullpen combination of Mike Montgomery, Carl Edwards Jr., Travis Wood, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon shut the Dodgers down the rest of the way.

Justin Turner tallied both RBI for Los Angeles in the losing effort.

While the bats were the story Wednesday, the Cubs built early momentum in the field. Contreras picked off Corey Seager on second base from his catcher spot to end the Dodgers’ threat in the first, and Heyward threw out Adrian Gonzalez at home plate in the second. 

Gonzalez was trying to score on Andrew Toles’ single. He was called out on the field, but replay review highlighted how close the play was when Heyward hesitated with the throw and Contreras tagged Gonzalez high. 

CBS Sports MLB underscored just how close the Dodgers came to scoring the opening run:

Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper weighed in on the play:

Chicago finally snapped its scoreless streak at 21 innings in the fourth when Ben Zobrist bunted for a hit, advanced to second on Baez’s single and scored on Contreras’ hit. Baez scored on a groundout from Heyward to make it 2-0, and Russell busted the inning open with a two-run homer to center field.

Russell had one hit the entire postseason coming into Wednesday’s game, and Mike Berman of NBC Chicago recognized the relief as the shortstop was rounding the bases:

Rizzo followed Russell’s example and busted out of his own slump in the fifth with a solo blast to center to make it 5-0. The powerful first baseman had just two hits in this postseason before Wednesday’s game, and Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com responded to the overdue long ball:

The Dodgers drove Lackey from the game in the bottom of the fifth when he walked Toles and Andre Ethier. Howie Kendrick loaded the bases with nobody out with a single off Montgomery, and Turner plated two when his ground ball deflected off the Cubs’ southpaw’s glove. However, Montgomery kept the score at 5-2 by inducing groundouts from Gonzalez and Enrique Hernandez.

Chicago’s offense essentially put the game away in the sixth when it pushed across five runs. Rizzo highlighted the rally with a two-RBI single and a run on Baez’s sacrifice fly that plated two after an error.

Mark Schanowski of Comcast SportsNet Chicago noted Rizzo’s breakout game carried weight that extended beyond Wednesday’s game:

Montgomery pitched a scoreless sixth, and Edwards Jr. and Wood combined to keep the Dodgers off the board in the seventh. About the only thing that went wrong for the Cubs was the fact Edwards left the game with left hamstring tightness, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

Strop made quick work of the Dodgers with a 1-2-3 eighth, and Rondon finished the contest with a scoreless ninth.

What’s Next?

Game 5 is Thursday in Los Angeles.

It will be a critical swing game in the best-of-seven format with the winner a single victory away from the World Series. The series will shift back to Chicago for at least Game 6 after the Cubs’ win, so the Dodgers will need to win Thursday’s contest to avoid a situation where they would have to win two straight at Wrigley Field. 

The Cubs will give the ball to Cy Young candidate Jon Lester, who has been brilliant in the postseason with one earned run allowed in 14 innings. According to MLB.com, the Dodgers will counter with Kenta Maeda, who allowed three earned runs in four innings in his Game 1 start and gave up four earned runs in three innings against the Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series.

However, Los Angeles has Clayton Kershaw looming as a potential option if it wants to use him on short rest. If the dominant southpaw doesn’t go in Game 5, the Cubs would be wise to approach it as a must-win, lest they face Kershaw with a 3-2 deficit in Game 6.

Postgame Reaction

Despite losing by eight runs, Gonzalez still wasn’t pleased that his potential run was wiped out after replay review:

“Let’s be honest. After that, we played a sloppy game,” Gonzalez said when discussing the play, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times.

After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he would use Maeda and not Kershaw for Thursday’s contest, per Arash Markazi of ESPN: “Tomorrow is not an elimination game or a deciding game.”

On the other side, Russell talked about his performance, per David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: “I’ve been struggling this postseason a little but didn’t panic. My confidence was still there.”

Rizzo said he used Matt Szczur’s bat for his big hits after struggling early in the game, per Haugh: “The first two at-bats weren’t so hot…I hit well with his bat so he has hits in it.”

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was already looking ahead to the next game, per Markazi: “It would be nice to come out on top tomorrow and go home having to win one of two. We’ve been pretty good at Wrigley.”

If his team hits like it did Wednesday, that won’t be a problem.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The MLB postseason has been filled with drama throughout October, but that wasn’t the case on Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays won the two respective games by a combined total of 11-1, but Los Angeles is in a much more favorable position than the Blue Jays moving forward. The Dodgers lead the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the National League Championship Series, while the Cleveland Indians still hold a 3-1 advantage in the American League Championship Series.

With that in mind, here is a look at an updated bracket, recap of what happened and look ahead to the next games with spots in the World Series on the line.

Updated Bracket

American League

National League

Tuesday’s Results

American League

The Blue Jays kept their season alive with a 5-1 victory thanks to the Josh Donaldson show.

The third baseman started the scoring with a solo home run in the third inning that woke up a slumbering offense, as Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports noted:

Donaldson didn’t just do damage with his bat. Cleveland’s Roberto Perez trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI double in the fifth, and Carlos Santana appeared to find a hole on a potential game-tying hit, but Donaldson caught it with a full-extension dive and fired to first base to end the threat.

Heidi Watney of MLB Network pointed out he was happier with the defense than offense:

That fifth inning was the last legitimate scoring chance for the Indians throughout the game, while Toronto added insurance in the seventh and the eighth. The Blue Jays loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh, and Edwin Encarnacion made Cleveland pay for an intentional walk of Donaldson with a two-RBI single.

Kevin Pillar added an RBI in the eighth with a sacrifice fly. 

The Blue Jays received six innings of one-run baseball from starting pitcher Aaron Sanchez and three shutout innings from the bullpen. As for Sanchez’s counterpart, Corey Kluber allowed two earned runs, four hits and two walks in five innings on short rest.

National League

If it was the Donaldson show in the American League, it was the Rich Hill show in the National League.

The southpaw cruised through six shutout innings against the Cubs and gave the Dodgers the 2-1 lead in the series. He allowed just two hits and struck out six against his former team and overcame a slow start in the second inning when things seemed to be slipping away.

Hill walked Anthony Rizzo and Jorge Soler, and the two runners eventually ended up on second and third after a Rizzo steal and a passed ball. However, Hill struck out Addison Russell and induced a groundout from Miguel Montero to stifle the threat.

He praised his catcher, Yasmani Grandal, for helping him keep his cool, per Dodger Insider: “Yas did a great job of getting me back on track.”

That wasn’t all Grandal did, as he drilled a two-run homer against Jake Arrieta. Justin Turner also took Chicago’s starter and last year’s National League Cy Young winner deep, and Corey Seager spearheaded much of the offense with three hits and an RBI.

Looking Ahead

American League

Regardless of what happens, Wednesday’s Game 5 will be the final contest in Toronto for the entire ALCS.

According to MLB.com, the Blue Jays will turn toward starting pitcher Marco Estrada, while the Indians will counter with rookie Ryan Merritt. The 24-year-old Merritt appeared in just four games all season—one of which was a start—but he is taking the ball on Wednesday almost out of necessity.

Danny Salazar hasn’t appeared in a game since Sept. 9 because of a forearm injury, and Carlos Carrasco is out for the year with a hand ailment.

Despite the injury woes, Merritt’s small-sample-size stats are head-turning in just 11 innings. He allowed two earned runs, six hits and zero walks for a 1.64 ERA and 0.55 WHIP. However, pitching in front of a raucous Rogers Centre crowd with their team’s season hanging in the balance will be a different story.

Look for the Toronto offense to continue its momentum from Tuesday’s win against an unprepared Merritt while Estrada pitches six solid innings. The Blue Jays will do enough to shift the series back to Cleveland.

Game 5 prediction: Blue Jays 5, Indians 3

National League

The Cubs won 103 games during the regular season, which was the best mark in all of baseball. Still, their backs are officially against the wall after failing to score in two straight games against the Dodgers following an eight-run outburst in Game 1.

A major part of the concern from Chicago’s point of view comes from the lack of production from three of its key pieces. Season-long MVP candidate Anthony Rizzo is an abysmal 2-for-26 in the playoffs, while Addison Russell is 1-for-24 and Jason Heyward is 2-for-19.

If that threesome continues to struggle, the Cubs’ season will likely end in the NLCS for the second straight year.

They will take their cracks at 20-year-old Julio Urias in Wednesday’s Game 4. While the rookie doesn’t have a postseason start on his resume, he did finish the 2016 campaign with a solid 3.39 ERA and 1.46 WHIP.

The Cubs will send the furthest thing from a rookie they have on their staff to the mound—37-year-old John Lackey. He has 24 playoff appearances in his career with a 3.22 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in those games.

While the Dodgers still have a great chance to ultimately win this series with Clayton Kershaw to unleash in later contests, experience will triumph over youth in Wednesday’s game. Lackey has pitched in big moments throughout his career, so the pressure surrounding this start will be nothing new.

A Chicago offense that finished third in the league with 808 runs will eventually snap out of its slump. Look for it to come against the rookie in a critical Game 4.

Game 4 Prediction: Cubs 6, Dodgers 3

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After a dramatic 1-0 victory in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers cruised their way to a 6-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium in Tuesday’s Game 3.

The Dodgers lead the series 2-1 and are two victories away from their first World Series appearance since 1988. 

Starting pitcher Rich Hill set the tone for Los Angeles with a brilliant outing. He pitched six shutout innings and allowed just two hits with six strikeouts. The Dodgers reacted to his pressure-packed performance:

Most of Los Angeles’ offense came off Chicago starter Jake Arrieta, who pitched five-plus innings and allowed four earned runs and six hits. Yasmani Grandal and Justin Turner each took him deep with home runs, and Corey Seager finished with three hits and an RBI.

The Cubs couldn’t match that production, and Baseball Tonight painted a concerning picture for the North Siders:

Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated noted things seemed to be back to normal for the franchise that hasn’t won a World Series since 1908 after it notched 103 victories during the regular season:

Despite the loss, the Cubs were the first to threaten in the second inning when Anthony Rizzo walked and stole second after a handful of pickoff attempts. Jorge Soler then walked, and they each advanced a base on a passed ball, but Addison Russell continued his prolonged postseason struggles with a strikeout. Miguel Montero grounded out to end the inning.

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com pointed out Hill’s escape wasn’t all good news for the Dodgers:

However, Hill settled down after that lengthy inning and stifled the Cubs.

Los Angeles opened the scoring in the third when Andrew Toles singled, advanced to second on a groundout from Hill and scored on Seager’s RBI single. ESPN Stats & Info noted it was a rare hit in that situation for the shortstop:

The Dodgers got to Arrieta again in the fourth when Josh Reddick reached on an infield single and stole second and third base. Grandal then blasted his home run to center, and Matt Spiegel of 670 The Score in Chicago said, “Running game got to Jake. Afraid to bury that curve like he needed to. Hung one, then went with the fastball instead.”

While it was still early in the game, the three runs were enough for Los Angeles with Hill dealing and the Chicago offense mired in a slump. Pedro Gomez of ESPN underscored how dire the situation was for the Cubs after Hill retired the side in the fourth and fifth innings:

Los Angeles gave Hill and the bullpen even more run support in the sixth when Turner drilled a home run and drove Arrieta from the game. He was far from the dominant ace who won last year’s National League Cy Young, and the Dodgers lineup took full advantage with timely power.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts handed the ball to his bullpen with the four-run lead in the seventh, and Joe Blanton pitched a perfect inning in a bounce-back effort after he allowed five earned runs in Game 1.

Chicago relief pitchers Travis Wood and Justin Grimm kept the game at 4-0, and Los Angeles turned to Grant Dayton to start the eighth. He retired two but allowed a double to Dexter Fowler, so Roberts went to closer Kenley Jansen for the four-out finish.

Yahoo Sports’ Big League Stew noted Roberts wasn’t going to risk a late comeback from the Cubs:

Jansen struck out Kris Bryant, and the Dodgers offense put the game on ice in the bottom of the eighth with two more runs off an RBI double from Joc Pederson and an RBI groundout from Grandal. Jansen responded with a scoreless ninth, clinching a 2-1 series lead for the Dodgers.    

What’s Next?

Game 4 is Wednesday in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers have the opportunity to close this series out without ever having to go back to Chicago with two straight home wins. Clayton Kershaw looms as a potential option in Game 5, so a victory Wednesday would be a critical blow to the Cubs.

Los Angeles will start Julio Urias in Game 4. The 20-year-old pitched two shutout innings against the Washington Nationals in the Division Series but has never made a postseason start. He finished his rookie season with a 3.39 ERA and 1.46 WHIP.

The Cubs will counter with John Lackey. The playoff-tested veteran has 24 postseason appearances on his resume with a 3.22 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in those outings. However, he lasted just four innings in his Division Series start against the San Francisco Giants and allowed three earned runs.

He will need to be better Wednesday for the Cubs to avoid a daunting 3-1 hole.

Postgame Reaction

Hill summarized his outing after the win, per Dodger Insider: “It was the biggest game of my career.”

He also praised his catcher for helping him battle through the second inning, per Dodger Insider: “Yas did a great job of getting me back on track.”

On the other side, Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, “It’s about putting this in the waste basket and coming back tomorrow,” per 670 The Score in Chicago.

Maddon described how that can happen, per 670 The Score in Chicago: “We just need to get a couple hits and runs early to kind of get that feeling back.”

Bryant still had confidence after the loss, per Carrie Muskat of MLB.com: “We’ve done it all year. We’re here for a reason. Belief is very powerful, and I think we all have that.”

If that belief doesn’t translate to actual runs, the NLCS will end quickly for the struggling Cubs.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com