World Series 2016
The good news... Waiting since 1945, after 71 years, the Chicago Cubs have a chance to win their first WS since 1908. The bad news... The Cubs face an Indian's team that has been waiting since 1948 to win a WS and last appeared in 1997.
CLE swept BOS, and took out TOR who had swept TEX, and has only lost ONE post season game. That being Game 4 ALCS at TO, yet, during that series, no Indians starting pitcher made it through more than six innings.
In fact, Trevor Bauer, only lasted two outs during his one start, leaving Merritt and the pen to bear the burden of over eight innings of baseball. Mid range reliever Merritt notched a victory in that game with ERA 1.80; WHIP 0.60 with 5 IP.
What does all that tell you? Oddly enough, without Carrasco and Salazar due to injuries, Indians pitching got better on a three man rotation. As for the starters, ERA in the last 14 days, Kluber 0.98; Tomlin 2.53 and Bauer 5.06.
The last 28 days from the bullpen is the real story, Miller 0.69, Allen 0.82 and McAllister 0.87 have been almost untouchable. Otero, Shaw and Armstrong are a solid 2.50 ERA.
Coming out of the pen, Clevinger has been the weak link with ERA 8.22 and WHIP 1.95 IP 7.2. Combing Shaw, Armstrong, Otero, Miller, Allen and McAllister over the last 14 days a stout ERA 0.17 WHIP 0.848 IP 29.3.
In the post season, first 75 pitches:
CLE ERA 1.97, BA .218; WHIP 1.06
CHI ERA 3.04; BA .227; WHIP 1.10
after 75 pitches
CLE ERA 0.00; BA .087; WHIP 0.57
CHI ERA 2.00; BA .235; WHIP 1.00
First 100 pitches
CLE ERA 1.77; BA .206; WHIP 1.00
CHI ERA 2.96; BA .227; WHIP 1.08
Above key notes, six CLE relief pitchers combined 0.17 ERA in the last 14 days and after 75 pitches CLE ERA 0.00. In eight post season games, Cleveland pitching went 7-1 with with a 1.77 ERA while allowing just 15 runs.
However, in that five game ALCS series vs TOR, Miller pitched 7.2 innings and Allen contributed another 4.2. That's ALOT of innings, in a short span, for guys that normally throw less than 0.5 innings per game over the course of a season.
Overall Strengths: Fielding is pretty much EQUAL. Batting INDIANS (over the season); CUBS (in the playoffs). Starting Pitching CUBS, Relief Pitching INDIANS. On balance the Cubs are the better team, with hot post season hitting, while the Indians currently have hot pitching.
Cubs starting pitching must hold up and keep the Indians bats at bey. This postseason, Cub starters Lester 0.86 ERA IP 21 and Hendricks 1.65 ERA 16.1 IP have been money, while Arrieta, Lackey and the bullpen (ERA 3.79) has been a bit porous.
This post season outside of Lindor .323 BA and Chisenhall .269BA, Indian hitting is under .180, while the Cubs have pitchers that have been hitting better than that. Those bats must produce vs Cub pitching, because outside of Tomlin (down the stretch) and Kluber, their lack of other quality starters could make them vulnerable.
The key to the Indian's pennant run has been Francona's utilization of the mid range and closing pitching to carry the load. Cub's fans better hope they can chase the Indian starters and either, the Indian bullpen gets tired or the Cub's have a lead and can hold it.
This postseason when the Indians do manage to get a lead, which they have done with anemic batting (.208 BA), their bullpen outside of Clevinger, is literally strangling their opponents to death.
Bear in mind all these stats are for teams with a DH, both teams will have a DH in the four games scheduled at CLE, who have home field advantage in a 2-3-2 format. Cleveland come in on five days rest, Chicago only two days.
Potential matchups: G1@CLE Lester - Kluber; G2@CLE Hendricks - Tomlin; Travel Day; G3@CHI Merritt - Lackey; G4@CHI Bauer - Arrieta; G5@CHI Kluber - Lester; Travel Day; G6@CLE; Hendricks - Tomlin; G7@CLE Lackey - Merritt
Key matchups: Twice in this series, the Indians will face Lester, a money pitcher in the past, who is on fire this postseason 0.86 ERA .189 BA 0.76 WHIP , IP 21. In those games, the Cubs will probably face Kluber, who has been rock solid all year, and lock down this postseason 0.98 ERA; .197 BA; WHIP 1.09; IP 18.1.
The money line to open the season Chicago Cubs +500; Cleveland Indians +1800. For the series early money is going on Cleveland. Favored Chicago opened -185 now down to -175 to win $100; Cleveland opened +160, now down to +155 for $100 bet.
Before the post season, we privately predicted that should the SF Giants not win the WS, a dream Chicago - Cleveland WS would ensue. When the Giants faced the Cubs in the NLDS, we boldly predicted, this was the WS, whoever wins, goes all the way.
Prediction: Cub starting pitching should hold up against the anemic Indian bats. However, the Tribe will not go down without a fight, as home field and their bullpen should keep them in this series. Cubs in six or seven to end their drought, and the Indians will return next year to end theirs.
CLE swept BOS, and took out TOR who had swept TEX, and has only lost ONE post season game. That being Game 4 ALCS at TO, yet, during that series, no Indians starting pitcher made it through more than six innings.
In fact, Trevor Bauer, only lasted two outs during his one start, leaving Merritt and the pen to bear the burden of over eight innings of baseball. Mid range reliever Merritt notched a victory in that game with ERA 1.80; WHIP 0.60 with 5 IP.
What does all that tell you? Oddly enough, without Carrasco and Salazar due to injuries, Indians pitching got better on a three man rotation. As for the starters, ERA in the last 14 days, Kluber 0.98; Tomlin 2.53 and Bauer 5.06.
The last 28 days from the bullpen is the real story, Miller 0.69, Allen 0.82 and McAllister 0.87 have been almost untouchable. Otero, Shaw and Armstrong are a solid 2.50 ERA.
Coming out of the pen, Clevinger has been the weak link with ERA 8.22 and WHIP 1.95 IP 7.2. Combing Shaw, Armstrong, Otero, Miller, Allen and McAllister over the last 14 days a stout ERA 0.17 WHIP 0.848 IP 29.3.
In the post season, first 75 pitches:
CLE ERA 1.97, BA .218; WHIP 1.06
CHI ERA 3.04; BA .227; WHIP 1.10
after 75 pitches
CLE ERA 0.00; BA .087; WHIP 0.57
CHI ERA 2.00; BA .235; WHIP 1.00
First 100 pitches
CLE ERA 1.77; BA .206; WHIP 1.00
CHI ERA 2.96; BA .227; WHIP 1.08
Above key notes, six CLE relief pitchers combined 0.17 ERA in the last 14 days and after 75 pitches CLE ERA 0.00. In eight post season games, Cleveland pitching went 7-1 with with a 1.77 ERA while allowing just 15 runs.
However, in that five game ALCS series vs TOR, Miller pitched 7.2 innings and Allen contributed another 4.2. That's ALOT of innings, in a short span, for guys that normally throw less than 0.5 innings per game over the course of a season.
Overall Strengths: Fielding is pretty much EQUAL. Batting INDIANS (over the season); CUBS (in the playoffs). Starting Pitching CUBS, Relief Pitching INDIANS. On balance the Cubs are the better team, with hot post season hitting, while the Indians currently have hot pitching.
Cubs starting pitching must hold up and keep the Indians bats at bey. This postseason, Cub starters Lester 0.86 ERA IP 21 and Hendricks 1.65 ERA 16.1 IP have been money, while Arrieta, Lackey and the bullpen (ERA 3.79) has been a bit porous.
This post season outside of Lindor .323 BA and Chisenhall .269BA, Indian hitting is under .180, while the Cubs have pitchers that have been hitting better than that. Those bats must produce vs Cub pitching, because outside of Tomlin (down the stretch) and Kluber, their lack of other quality starters could make them vulnerable.
The key to the Indian's pennant run has been Francona's utilization of the mid range and closing pitching to carry the load. Cub's fans better hope they can chase the Indian starters and either, the Indian bullpen gets tired or the Cub's have a lead and can hold it.
This postseason when the Indians do manage to get a lead, which they have done with anemic batting (.208 BA), their bullpen outside of Clevinger, is literally strangling their opponents to death.
Bear in mind all these stats are for teams with a DH, both teams will have a DH in the four games scheduled at CLE, who have home field advantage in a 2-3-2 format. Cleveland come in on five days rest, Chicago only two days.
Potential matchups: G1@CLE Lester - Kluber; G2@CLE Hendricks - Tomlin; Travel Day; G3@CHI Merritt - Lackey; G4@CHI Bauer - Arrieta; G5@CHI Kluber - Lester; Travel Day; G6@CLE; Hendricks - Tomlin; G7@CLE Lackey - Merritt
Key matchups: Twice in this series, the Indians will face Lester, a money pitcher in the past, who is on fire this postseason 0.86 ERA .189 BA 0.76 WHIP , IP 21. In those games, the Cubs will probably face Kluber, who has been rock solid all year, and lock down this postseason 0.98 ERA; .197 BA; WHIP 1.09; IP 18.1.
The money line to open the season Chicago Cubs +500; Cleveland Indians +1800. For the series early money is going on Cleveland. Favored Chicago opened -185 now down to -175 to win $100; Cleveland opened +160, now down to +155 for $100 bet.
Before the post season, we privately predicted that should the SF Giants not win the WS, a dream Chicago - Cleveland WS would ensue. When the Giants faced the Cubs in the NLDS, we boldly predicted, this was the WS, whoever wins, goes all the way.
Prediction: Cub starting pitching should hold up against the anemic Indian bats. However, the Tribe will not go down without a fight, as home field and their bullpen should keep them in this series. Cubs in six or seven to end their drought, and the Indians will return next year to end theirs.
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