Archive for October, 2016

Derek Holland Trade Rumors: Latest News, Speculation Surrounding Rangers SP

Citing a source Monday, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported the Texas Rangers “would be more than willing to trade” starting pitcher Derek Holland before the 2017 season.

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Holland’s Contract Driving Factor in Trade Talks

Monday, Oct. 31

Although the Rangers own an $11 million club option for 2017 and an $11.5 million club option for 2018, Heyman noted they would like to trade Holland “in order to avoid keeping him on the books going forward.”

Heyman also pointed out the Rangers and Holland agreed to a $1.5 million buyout for 2017 and a $1 million buyout for 2018 if the team doesn’t want to keep the left-hander around but can’t find a trade partner.

Holland, who has been a member of the Rangers for his entire career, made 22 appearances in 2016 with a 4.95 ERA, a 1.41 WHIP and 67 strikeouts in 107.1 innings. However, Heyman called the southpaw “oft-injured,” and he made just 10 appearances in 2015 and six in 2014.

Holland was a reliable innings-eater from 2011 to 2013. He was particularly impressive in 2013, when he posted a 3.42 ERA in a career-high 213 innings:

He hasn’t been the same durable pitcher since, though he is only 30 years old and should have a couple of years remaining in his prime if he can rediscover his form. The fact that he has proved to be an effective left-handed starter should generate some interest on the trade market.

The Rangers have plenty of firepower in their starting rotation with Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish and likely wouldn’t feel much of an impact if they trade Holland. Texas managed to finish with the best record in the American League this year (95-67) without a formidable season from the lefty and would get something in return if it decides to trade him.

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Tim Tebow Injury: Updates on Mets OF’s Leg and Return

New York Mets prospect Tim Tebow suffered a right leg injury during an Arizona Fall League game Monday, according to MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo

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Tebow Exits Monday’s Fall League Game

Monday, Oct. 31

Mayo reported Tebow may have hurt his right leg after being thrown out on an attempted steal of second base. Aaron Brown, a prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies’ organization, replaced him in left field.

The injury is another setback for the former NFL quarterback, who has had a rough time making the transition to the baseball diamond. According to MLB.com, Tebow has the seventh-worst batting average (.147) and third-worst OPS (.371) in the Arizona Fall League.

Despite his struggles at the plate, the Mets may see a future for the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner. On Friday, ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin reported Tebow is likely to see action with New York’s Single-A team, the Columbia Fireflies, in 2017.

The Scottsdale Scorpions have 14 games remaining in the regular season. Given his age, the 29-year-old needs all of the at-bats he can get this fall before the 2017 campaign begins and he potentially reports to one of the Mets’ minor league affiliates.

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Cubs vs. Indians: Remaining World Series 2016 Schedule and Ticket Info

The 2016 World Series is down to its final two games with both teams believing they can win their first title in decades.

While the Cleveland Indians still hold a 3-2 advantage, the Chicago Cubs have a newfound confidence after surviving with a Game 5 win. Even with their struggles offensively, this is still a squad that won 103 games during the regular season.

On the other hand, the Indians get to return home with the opportunity to win in front of their home fans.

Here is what you need to know heading into the final few games of the World Series.

 

Tickets: ScoreBig.com

 

Preview

As it often is in baseball, one of the biggest stories for the final two games of the series is the pitching matchup.

The Cubs will send Jake Arrieta to the mound for Game 6, and if they win, Kyle Hendricks will get the start in Game 7. It’s hard to imagine better options for the No. 2 and No. 3 positions in the rotation.

Arrieta is the reigning Cy Young award winner, and even in a down year still had a 3.10 ERA this season. He is also coming off a strong start in Game 2, where he allowed one run in 5.2 innings. Hendricks has been even better with a 2.13 ERA during the season and a 1.31 ERA in the playoffs.

The two pitchers have combined to allow one run in 10 innings during the World Series.

Before Cubs fans start celebrating, however, it’s important to note the team has just a 3-4 record in games started by this tandem in the postseason. Even if these pitchers perform to their ability, the offense needs to live up to its end of the bargain.

Brad Evans of Yahoo Sports provided this analysis after Game 4:

The offense came alive for a brief moment in Game 5, using a three-run third inning to secure a win. However, these were the only runs of the game. Chicago has only 10 runs in five games, half of them against Trevor Bauer, who they are unlikely to see again in the series.

Instead, Cleveland will use Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber for Game 6 and 7 (if necessary), two pitchers who have had a lot of success so far this postseason.

While both are going to pitch on short rest, Tomlin only threw 4.2 innings in his last start and 58 total pitches. Kluber was limited to only 81 pitches in Game 4 and 88 pitches in Game 1. Both should be able to come in with maximum effort, especially considering they have all offseason to rest up afterwards.

Considering the bullpen has only allowed three earned runs in 19.2 innings this series, there should be plenty of confidence in the pitching staff for Cleveland.

This once again puts the pressure on the Cubs offense to wake up. The talent is there, with MVP favorite Kris Bryant as well as Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and plenty more. Unfortunately, Ben Zobrist is the only one consistently producing in this round. Outside of Zobrist, the Cubs are hitting .189 as a team in the World Series.

Despite the struggles, there is still plenty of confidence in the clubhouse heading into the final two games.

“We’re making history,” Addison Russell said, per Jayson Stark of ESPN. “So why stop? This is entertaining to us. It’s fun. And we live for this. We see a lot of challenges ahead of us, and we embrace them.”

        

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World Series 2016: Cubs vs. Indians Pitching Outlook and Predictions

The Chicago Cubs sent the World Series back to Cleveland with a Game 5 win over the Indians Sunday night. Needing two more victories on the road, the Cubs have a pair of aces waiting to take the mound.

In Tuesday’s must-win Game 6, the Cubs will send out 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta. Cleveland will counter with Josh Tomlin, who has followed a shaky season with a spectacular postseason run.

If necessary, two stoic studs will compete in the third Fall Classic Game 7 in six years. Kyle Hendricks—who registered an MLB-best 2.13 ERA this season—is in line to make Chicago’s final start. On the other side, Corey Kluber could cement a fabled October with his third win of the series.

With the World Series shifting back to Progressive Field, let’s break down the upcoming pitching matchups on tap.

Game 6: Jake Arrieta vs. Josh Tomlin

Like Game 5, this starting-pitching matchup favors the Cubs. Then again, we said the same before Game 3, before Tomlin kept the NL champions off the board in a 1-0 victory against Hendricks.

After a rusty opening, Arrieta settled down and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of his Game 2 start. Yet as ESPN’s Buster Olney noted, he constantly fell behind en route to issuing three walks:

Arrieta, who allowed nine earned runs after 2015’s All-Star break, is on the hook for seven scores this postseason. Nevertheless, this is a hurler who finished the regular season with a 3.10 ERA, which marked major regression from the previous year’s unworldly 1.77 mark.

Believers of momentum will argue this matchup is far closer than the first glance suggests. Although he finished the season with an unremarkable 4.40 ERA, Tomlin has registered a 1.71 ERA since Sept. 1. 

He has watched only one ball leave the park since then—a significant feat given he dished up 35 dingers over 147 prior innings. The likes of Mookie Betts, David Ortiz, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant have not taken him deep during an improbably stout playoff roll:

Of course, this isn’t a one-on-one showdown anyway. Tomlin hasn’t worked six or more innings this postseason, and that shouldn’t change on short rest. Cleveland’s bullpen advantage helps even the score.

For the Cubs to force a Game 7, they must attack Tomlin, silence the partisan home crowd and avoid giving Andrew Miller and Cody Allen the chance to seal the deal. 

Knowing their goal, Cubs fans will look at Tomlin’s splits with encouragement. According to Baseball-Reference.com, he allowed more long balls during the first inning (20) than any other frame in his career. Given the 32-year-old’s 7.06 fifth-inning ERA, he shouldn’t stick around too long.

Throwing more curveballs has aided his fall surge, but expect enough ill-timed regression from Tomlin for the Cubs to jump ahead early and tie the series.

Prediction: Cubs 5, Indians 3

    

Game 7: Kyle Hendricks vs. Corey Kluber

If the Cubs win Game 6, everyone will shout about them wielding all the momentum entering Wednesday’s winner-take-all Game 7.

Then they’ll remember Kluber is starting for the Indians.

Going into this series, the AL champions knew they’d need a legendary showing from their ace. This is a team that won the pennant in a game started by rookie Ryan Merritt, so Indians manager Terry Francona placed all of his hopes on Kluber headlining a three-man rotation in case of a possible Game 7.

Well, here it is. Through five inspiring postseason starts, the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner has forfeited three runs over 30.1 innings. He has tossed six strong innings in both World Series victories.

If he follows the same blueprint again, Francona will go directly to Miller and Allen for all the marbles. That’s a deadly trio for the Cubs, as they have combined to relinquish four runs this postseason:

Hendricks is no slouch. Having limited the opposition to four runs or fewer in all 34 starts this year, he’ll give Chicago’s offense a fighting chance in a low-scoring affair. While the 26-year-old has also allowed three runs in the playoffs, he has received a quicker hook from Cubs manager Joe Maddon.

The Cubs skipper will require another lengthy appearance from Aroldis Chapman, who recorded an eight-out save Sunday. After the longest outing of his career, the closer discussed his mindset heading into the game, per ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers.

“Joe talked to me this afternoon before the game,” Chapman said through a translator. “He asked if I could be ready possibly to come into the seventh inning, and obviously I told him, ‘I’m ready. I’m ready to go.’ And whatever he needs me to do or how long he needs me to pitch for, I’m ready for it.”

Maddon should also have John Lackey available from the bullpen on three days’ rest. Jon Lester, who started Sunday night, may become an option as well in an all-hands-on-deck scenario.

Cleveland is better off sticking with its relief aces than Trevor Bauer, who has surrendered as many World Series runs (five) as all its other pitchers combined. Francona will want six more from Kluber with his two stud relievers splitting the final nine outs.

Cleveland once again rides Kluber, Miller and Allen to a key October victory, this time securing its first World Series title since 1948 in a low-scoring, tightly contested Game 7 thriller.

Prediction: Indians 3, Cubs 2

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World Series Game 6 Betting Preview: Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians Odds

The Chicago Cubs staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory against the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday, and they enter Game 6 on Tuesday as solid minus-143 road favorites (bet $143 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark with Jake Arrieta on the mound.

Arrieta also pitched in Game 2 at Cleveland, allowing two hits and one run in 5.2 innings of a 5-1 win while walking three and striking out six.

The Cubs still trail the Indians 3-2 in the series but saw closer Aroldis Chapman come through in relief to earn a huge save in Game 5, as he got eight outs to protect the lead for winner Jon Lester.

However, Cleveland remains a big favorite to win the World Series with potentially two games left at home and a rested Andrew Miller in the bullpen.

Chapman threw 42 pitches over 2.2 innings, allowing one hit with no walks and four strikeouts Sunday. His availability for Game 6 is up in the air, while Miller has not made an appearance since throwing two innings during a 7-2 win in Game 4 on Saturday.

The bullpens for each team will likely play a key role in the outcome of the World Series, although the Game 6 starters also figure to be a deciding factor. Arrieta has made all three of his postseason starts on the road, with the first two resulting in losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants.

The Indians will send Josh Tomlin to the mound off a brilliant outing in Game 3, when he allowed only two hits in 4.2 innings of a 1-0 victory with one walk and one strikeout. They have won all three of Tomlin’s starts in the playoffs despite the fact that he has yet to go a full six innings in any of them.

Tomlin was 5-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 15 appearances at Progressive Field during the regular season as opposing batters hit .283 against him.

Chicago’s Kyle Schwarber will return to DH in Cleveland after pinch hitting just once at Wrigley Field in Game 3. Schwarber went 3-for-7 in Games 1 and 2 with a double and two RBI.

The total has gone under in four of the first five games, according to the Odds Shark MLB database, with the Cubs closing as favorites in each of the last four.

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Cubs vs. Indians: Latest World Series 2016 Twitter Reaction

To Cleveland we go.

The Chicago Cubs kept their title hopes alive on Sunday night, beating Cleveland 3-2, winning their first World Series game at Wrigley Field since 1945 and sending the Fall Classic back to Progressive Field for Games 6 and 7. Cleveland holds a 3-2 advantage.

Not surprisingly, much of the conversation following Game 5 surrounded Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman, who came into the game in the seventh inning and promptly pitched 2.2 shutout innings. It was a unique performance, as Al Leiter said on the MLB Network:

Special indeed.

His 42 pitches were four shy of his career-high for a one-game appearance, per Bob Klapisch of USA Today, and his performance is why this series is heading back to Chicago, as Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News noted:

It was a gutsy decision by Cubs manager Joe Maddon but one he was prepared to make before the game, according to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times:

Maddon knew Chapman represented his best chance late in Game 5. His counterpart knew it, too.

“Nobody’s ever running to the bat rack when Chapman’s coming into the game,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona acknowledged to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Still, the Cubs have a major task ahead of them.

They still have to face Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber, although both starters will be on short rest. Thus far in this series, the Cubs have scored all of two runs in 16.2 innings against that pair, losing all three of those games. Additionally, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen loom in the bullpen if Cleveland is able to take a lead into the later innings.

That’s one reason why Mike Golic of Mike & Mike doesn’t believe the Cubs will be able to pull off the comeback:

Dave Zirin of the Nation doesn’t care. He’s just happy to have more baseball:

Nonetheless, it’s an interesting question to ponder whether the Cubs can complete their comeback, on the road, against two pitchers who have been excellent in the postseason. And there are a few reasons to believe they have a chance.

For one, they can reinsert Kyle Schwarber to the lineup as the designated hitter. He wasn’t cleared to play in the field, so he hasn’t been able to start the team’s last three games. But he’s arguably been the Cubs’ best hitter in the World Series, hitting .375 with two walks, two RBI and a run.

Additionally, starting pitchers Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks will be available for Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) on full rest, unlike Cleveland’s starters. And outside of Chapman, the Cubs bullpen will be completely rested on Tuesday night. 

Of course, it remains to be seen if Chapman will be available. Miller and Allen most certainly will be for Cleveland.

Finally, consider that the Cubs were tied with the Boston Red Sox for the best road record this season (46-35) and have gone a respectable 4-3 on the road in the postseason. Chicago is no pushover away from home. 

So, no, it isn’t impossible to imagine a scenario where the Cubs come all the way back from a 3-1 series deficit. And that perhaps should make Cleveland fans who mocked the Golden State Warriors for blowing a 3-1 NBA Finals advantage to the Cavaliers a tiny bit nervous, as Sam Amick of USA Today noted:

“It ain’t over till it’s over,” Yogi Berra famously mused, originally about the 1973 National League pennant race. Now, it’s a sentiment that the Cubs are holding on to for dear life. 

            

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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World Series 2016: Latest Odds, Important Stats for Cubs vs. Indians

The Chicago Cubs apparently aren’t going out without a fight.

Behind a strong start from Jon Lester and a clutch performance from Aroldis Chapman out of the bullpen, the Cubs stayed alive with a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Sunday’s Game 5.

Lester gave up two runs over six innings, while Chapman threw a career-high 2.2 innings to close it out. The Cubs closer came in with the Indians threatening in the top of the seventh but got out of a jam and showed little signs of struggle despite throwing 42 pitches.

“A pretty gutsy performance there,” Kris Bryant told reporters regarding Chapman. “He just went out there and did his thing. That’s the reason right there why we got him.”

Bryant himself sparked the Cubs’ three-run fourth inning by hitting a solo home run. Addison Russell and David Ross drove in the final two runs for Chicago, which was shut out over the other eight innings.

The Cubs will nonetheless head back to Cleveland with a chance to pull off a historic comeback. Here’s a look at a few key stats heading into Game 6.

   

+190

Those are the current betting odds for the Cubs at Odds Shark. The Indians are -230 to close it out in the next two games at home. 

   

10

The last 10 teams to pull ahead 3-1 in the World Series have gone on to win. While it wouldn’t be as unprecedented as a 3-1 comeback in the NBA Finals, the odds of a Cubs comeback are slim. 

   

12

The number of teams that have made a comeback from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series, per Dayn Perry of CBSSports.com. Five of those teams have pulled off the feat in the World Series. 

   

1979

That’s the last year a team won a World Series after being down 3-1 while playing the final two games on the road. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ last championship came in one of those comebacks against the Baltimore Orioles.

Overall, six of 44 teams who faced 3-1 deficits in best-of-seven series have pulled off comebacks with the last two wins coming away from home.

    

0

The number of times the Indians have given up more than five runs in a game this postseason. The Cubs averaged roughly five runs per game during the regular season and have hit that mark five times already during these playoffs. They scored 23 runs in their final three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers after trailing 2-1 in the NLCS.

    

The number of hits by Bryant in this series. The Cubs aren’t pulling off this comeback if Bryant can’t find a rhythm. Hitting a homer in Game 5 was a start, but he had a hit in eight of 10 postseason games before the World Series. Bryant is the Cubs’ best player and most important bat; he has to return to form for them to have any chance.

   

3

Hits in eight at-bats for Kyle Schwarber, who will return to the lineup for Games 6 and 7 after being stapled to the bench because he was recovering from knee surgery. Schwarber should return to the designated hitter role he held for the first two games of the series, which saw him drive in a pair of runs in Chicago’s Game 2 victory.

The Cubs are arguably at more of an advantage on the road during this series than they are at home given Schwarber‘s presence.

   

8

Hits in 19 at-bats for Francisco Lindor, who is Corey Kluber’s best competition for series MVP at this point. The Indians shortstop has at least two hits in each of their three wins and just one in their two losses. 

    

51

Strikeouts in 28.2 innings this postseason for Cody Allen and Andrew Miller, the unstoppable back half of the Indians bullpen. Neither has been needed extensively during this series, so they should be fresh going into the final two games.

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MLB Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz on Wade Davis, Derek Dietrich and More

It’s not hot-stove season for Major League Baseball just yet, but trade rumblings are starting to crop up with November right around the corner.

When it comes to early trade rumors, most of the teams involved are reportedly seeking the same thing: starting pitching.

Without wasting any time, here’s a rundown of the latest buzz circulating in MLB‘s fall rumor mill. 

           

Marlins Dangling Adeiny Hechavarria and Derek Dietrich

The Miami Marlins are looking to bolster their starting pitching staff, and they’re reportedly intent on parting with a couple of infielders to improve their depth on the mound.

“The Marlins are expected to consider trade offers for shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and jack-of-all trades Derek Dietrich in an attempt to acquire pitching,” the Miami Herald‘s Barry Jackson reported Sunday. “They value Dietrich and believe he’s starter-caliber, so Miami would want quality in return.”

While it’s unclear whom the Marlins will target, one scout told Jackson that Dietrich could bring back a potential starter.

“Maybe Hechavarria gets you a No. 4 starter,” the scout added. “[Marcell] Ozuna gets you something pretty good if you want to part ways.”

Dietrich’s versatility makes him an intriguing trade chip, and the fact that he’s coming off the best season of his career at the plate only bolsters his value.

After batting .256 with a .346 on-base percentage during the 2015 season, Dietrich posted a .279/.374/.425 slash line while hitting seven home runs and driving in a career-high 42 runs.

Then there’s Hechavarria, who would be a fine defensive upgrade for a team in need of help at shortstop.

Following 2013 and 2014 seasons that saw Hechavarria post 0.6 cumulative defensive wins above replacement, the 27-year-old posted a 1.6 dWAR mark in 2015 and a career-best 1.7 this past season. 

At the very least, one of those players should help the Marlins land a starting pitcher who can provide relief at the back end of the rotation.

            

Royals Make Wade Davis Available for Trade

Wade Davis has been one of MLB’s most reliable closers over the past three seasons, but the Kansas City Royals could reportedly look to move the 31-year-old to improve a starting staff that finished ninth among all American League clubs with a 4.21 ERA.

The Royals intend to pick up Davis’ $10 million option but are open to dealing him,” the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reported. “A Royals source indicated the team would like to get controllable starting pitching in return. Davis makes sense for a lot of teams, including Boston and Toronto.”

Although Davis has been stellar, it makes sense that Kansas City would want to explore his value on the trade market.

First and foremost, Davis is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2017 season. As a result, the Royals may want to maximize the return on their investment and net a team-controlled starting pitcher in return, as Cafardo‘s source noted.

Additionally, Davis battled right forearm discomfort that sidelined him for half of July and all of August.

Finding a viable No. 3 starter under team control for a one-year rental like Davis could be difficult, but perhaps the Royals can sell a contending team that has starting depth and needs a bullpen upgrade on swinging a deal.

        

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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World Series 2016 Schedule: TV Coverage Info and Predictions for Rest of Series

Despite doomsday feelings from plenty of fans, the World Series isn’t over quite yet.

The Chicago Cubs bounced back from consecutive home losses to win Game 5, extending the series for at least another game. The Cleveland Indians now have a chance to win it all at home, although their confidence might be wavering a bit.

Of course, the pressure is still on the Cubs to win two more games if they want to win a title for the first time since 1908.

The drama will only pick up in the coming days, so make sure you don’t miss the last two games of the year. 

   

Preview

The Cubs offense finally came alive Sunday, even if it was for just one inning. Kris Bryant got the scoring going with a solo home run in the third inning, which was followed by runs by Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist.

With a solid start by Jon Lester and a heroic eight-out save by Aroldis Chapman, this was enough for Chicago to escape with a 3-2 win.

Indians manager Terry Francona summed up the closer’s performance in an interesting way, per Buster Olney of ESPN:

However, the offense will have to do more if it wants to win more games. The Cubs still haven’t found a way to solve Cleveland’s bullpen, and Andrew Miller didn’t even pitch in Game 5.

There is obvious talent on the roster, but except for Zobrist, players haven’t been able to string together hits. This needs to change with an upcoming battle against Josh Tomlin.

Although Tomlin lasted only 4.2 innings in Game 3, he didn’t allow a run and gave up only two hits with a walk while on the mound. Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen then helped close out the shutout.

Chicago hasn’t proved it can get much going against the bullpen, so it needs to be aggressive early to score against Tomlin pitching on short rest.

One thing the Cubs should feel good about is the starters over the next two games. Jake Arrieta is set to pitch on full rest, with Kyle Hendricks following him in Game 7 if necessary.

After Lester did his job in Game 5, these two pitchers are all anyone could hope for as second and third options. Ted Keith of Sports Illustrated provided this interesting statistic to keep Cubs fans excited:

Although neither pitcher has been able to go deep into games as often as the coaching staff would probably like, they have kept opponents off the board for much of the postseason. In the World Series, Arrieta and Hendricks have combined for 10 innings with just one run allowed.

Arrieta especially has the experience and confidence necessary to pitch a big road game and shut down a talented Cleveland lineup.

On the other hand, the Indians still have their ace in the hole in the form of Corey Kluber. He has pitched twice already in this series, allowing just one run in 12 innings. In five postseason starts, the 30-year-old pitcher has an ERA of just 0.89.

Most importantly, Francona has kept him from overexerting himself, as he threw only 88 pitches in Game 1 and 81 in Game 4. Even though he will be pitching on three days’ rest for the second time in a row, he should have plenty of energy to give everything he can in Game 7.

Adding this to a superior bullpen led by Miller and Allen, both of whom are likely willing to go as far as necessary to seal the win, the Indians will have the pitching advantage in the final game if it gets to that point.

Look for the Cubs offense to lead the way in a Game 6 victory before the Indians halt the momentum with a dramatic win in Game 7.

Predicted finish: Cleveland wins series 4-3.

      

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Key World Series Questions Still Needing Answers Before Champion Is Crowned

The Chicago Cubs are still alive.

Down to their last life, the National League champions preserved their title aspirations by defeating the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night. The long-suffering franchise needs two more victories to win its first championship since 1908.

If the Cubs pull off the improbable comeback, they can silence Cleveland fans who won’t stop talking about how the Golden State Warriors fell flat in the same scenario.

The series will return to Ohio on Tuesday, and the Indians will have another chance to shut the door. If the Cubs survive once again, Progressive Field will also host Game 7 Wednesday night.

As both sides prepare for Game 6, let’s take a look at the biggest questions lingering over the World Series.

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