Kuzul

After 13 years as a scapegoat, a weight was lifted off Steve Bartman’s shoulders when the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday, and according to a spokesperson, the victory brought happiness to the Windy City’s former public enemy No. 1. 

Per Josh Peter of USA Today, spokesman Frank Murtha said the following Thursday regarding Bartman’s reaction to the Cubbies ending their 108-year title drought: “He was just overjoyed that the Cubs won, as all the Cubs fans are.”

Bartman infamously got his hands on a foul ball in the eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series between the Cubs and the then-Florida Marlins, which prevented outfielder Moises Alou from making the catch.

The Marlins overcame a 3-0 deficit in that contest and a 3-2 deficit in the series to eliminate the Cubs, thus prolonging their title wait.

Many blamed Bartman for the loss despite several other factors coming into play, and it led to Bartman completely removing himself from the public eye.

Now that the Cubs are champions again, however, many have called for Bartman to have some involvement in Friday’s championship parade, including ESPN’s Rece Davis:

Despite the groundswell, Murtha said Bartman has no interest in overshadowing what the Cubs accomplished: “We don’t intend to crash the parade. The one thing that Steve and I did talk about was if the Cubs were to win, he did not want to be a distraction to the accomplishments of the players and the organization.”

Regardless of if or when Bartman decides to emerge publicly, it is abundantly clear that Cubs fans are ready to embrace him.

Time and winning can heal plenty, and although the backlash against Bartman was always unfair, perhaps no one individual benefited more or felt more relief when first baseman Anthony Rizzo secured the ball in his glove for the final out of the 2016 World Series.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Seattle Mariners shook up their catching situation by declining Chris Iannetta‘s 2017 contract option Thursday.

The team announced the decision on Twitter.

According to Spotrac, Seattle avoided paying the 33-year-old veteran $4.25 million next season by deciding against picking up his option.

Iannetta signed with the Mariners last offseason after four seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He split time behind the plate with Mike Zunino, finishing the year with a .210 batting average, seven home runs and 24 RBI in 295 at-bats across 94 games.

The 2004 fourth-round pick is set to enter his 12th MLB season, and while he continues to earn playing time, his most productive years are behind him.

Iannetta enjoyed most of his success during a six-season run with the Colorado Rockies. He was especially strong in 2008, when he set career highs with a .264 batting average, a .390 on-base percentage, 18 home runs and 65 RBI.

The Rhode Island native’s numbers have fluctuated since then, and he has largely split time at catcher rather than taking a firm grip on the starting job.

Iannetta has produced 107 home runs throughout his career, while defense may be his biggest liability.

He’s saved minus-14 defensive runs above average throughout his career and registered a career-worst minus-10 mark in that category last season, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Iannetta did throw out a career-best 31 percent of attempted base stealers in 2016, but that is an unimpressive mark when compared to Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez, who led the big leagues by throwing out 48 percent of attempted base stealers last season.

Seattle is better off utilizing the 25-year-old Zunino in 2017 and beyond, and getting Iannetta out of the picture will make it easier to do so.

Despite his shortcomings, Iannetta’s power and experience—he’s appeared in nearly 1,000 MLB games—provide some value. Veteran catchers routinely find jobs at the major league level, which means Iannetta will likely end up on another roster prior to the start of the 2017 season.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Shortstop Alcides Escobar reportedly will return to the Kansas City Royals for a seventh season as the team is reportedly set to pick up his 2017 team option.  

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball first reported the decision, with Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com confirming the report.

According to Spotrac, the 29-year-old veteran will earn $6.5 million during the upcoming season.

Escobar is coming off one of his best offensive seasons, as he hit .261 with 57 runs scored and 17 stolen bases to go along with a career-high seven home runs and 55 RBI. He also appeared in all 162 games for the second time in three years.

Per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star, Royals manager Ned Yost marveled at the Venezuela native’s ability to compete day in and day out: “He just doesn’t wear down. When he has injuries, he heals extraordinarily fast, so that he’s not out a long time. He’s got a very high tolerance for pain. He doesn’t ever show any effects of it.”

In fact, Escobar has appeared in at least 145 games in seven straight seasons dating back to his final campaign with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 before getting traded to the Royals.

Escobar’s greatest success came in 2015, as he was named to his first and only All-Star team and also won a Gold Glove for the first time.

In addition to that, Escobar was a key part of Kansas City’s run to a World Series championship. He hit .321 with one home run, nine RBI, one stolen base and 13 runs scored, and was named the American League Championship Series MVP.

Escobar averaged nearly 29 steals per season from 2011 through 2014, but he has run less over the past two campaigns and registered just 17 swipes in each.

Also, despite Escobar’s Gold Glove, it is fair to question how great of a fielder he actually is. He posted a career-worst defensive runs saved above average of minus-6 last season, and since his career high of 10 in 2011, he has registered a positive figure just once, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Even if Escobar is somewhat overrated defensively and has become less of a threat on the basepaths, he remains among the most reliable shortstops in baseball.

He shows up to play every day, can be used near the top or bottom of the lineup and proved in the 2015 playoffs that he can come through in clutch situations.

Escobar is a good fit for a Royals team that thrives on being relentless and having flexibility within the lineup, so bringing him back at a fair price was an obvious move on their part. 

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox moved on from veteran catcher Ryan Hanigan on Thursday, as they bought him out rather than pick up his contract option for 2017.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball first reported the news. Rob Bradford of WEEI confirmed the team’s decision.

By declining the option, Boston avoided paying Hanigan $3.75 million in 2017 and instead will surrender $800,000 to complete the buyout, according to Spotrac.

The 2016 season was Hanigan‘s second with the Red Sox, and the club used him sparingly. Hanigan appeared in 35 games, primarily as a backup to Sandy Leon, and hit just .171 with one home run and 14 RBI.

He also missed time due to injury, as an ankle ailment kept him out for nearly all of August.

Hanigan spent the first seven years of his career with the Cincinnati Reds. He had a one-year stint with the Tampa Bay Rays and a two-year run in Boston.

The Washington native has never been much of a threat at the plate. He did, however, hit .300 with five homers and 40 RBI for the Reds in 2010, which was by far his most-productive season.

His career batting average of .250 is solid for a backup backstop, but he was nowhere near that mark in 2016.

Hanigan also struggled defensively by throwing out just 28 percent of attempted base stealers. He posted a career-low Defensive Runs Saved Above Average of -3, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Hanigan was once among the better defensive catchers in baseball. He led the National League in caught stealing percentage in both 2012 and 2013.

But he had a more dubious distinction in 2016 as the AL leader in passed balls with 18, due primarily to catching knuckleballer Steve Wright.

While 2016 was a down year for Hanigan, he provides a veteran presence and has 647 games of MLB experience under his belt.

The likes of Leon and Blake Swihart are the top current and long-term options for Boston behind the plate. The Red Sox no longer had a need for Hanigan on the big-league roster.

Catching depth is always valuable across Major League Baseball, though. While Hanigan is now a free agent, he deserves an opportunity to make a roster elsewhere, provided he wants to continue playing.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Philadelphia Phillies made a long-expected move Thursday, as they announced they have declined the 2017 club option on first baseman Ryan Howard‘s contract, making him a free agent.

According to Spotrac, the Phils would have had to pay Howard $23 million next season had they exercised their club option, but they instead decided to buy him out for $10 million.

The Phillies honored the 36-year-old veteran prior to their final game of the 2016 regular season in a move that signaled the end of his time with the organization.

Despite that, Howard made it clear he wanted to continue playing elsewhere, according to ESPN.com: “I know there’s more in the tank. I’ll know when it’s time.”

Howard hit a career-low .196 last season, and his 56 RBI were the fewest of his career in a season that saw him play 100 or more games.

The 2001 fifth-round draft pick of the Phillies did club 25 homers, however, which was his highest total since hitting 33 in 2011.

Howard finished in the top 10 of MVP voting every year from 2006 through 2011 and won the award in 2006, when he hit .313 with 58 home runs and 149 RBI. He was named to three All-Star teams during that six-year run and averaged a .274/44/133 line per season while also leading the Phillies to a World Series championship.

The five years since then have illustrated a significant fall from grace, as Howard averaged a greatly reduced .226/19/66 line during that time frame.

With Howard’s skills eroding at the plate and his already mediocre defense getting even worse, turning the page on him was an obvious move for the Phillies.

Also, 25-year-old Tommy Joseph emerged as a power threat at first base last season, hitting .247 with 21 home runs and 47 RBI.

There was no longer any room for Howard on the team with Philly fully embracing a youth movement, and keeping him for $23 million as a part-time player and pinch hitter wouldn’t have been a smart economical decision.

Howard could still have some value, potentially as a designated hitter in the American League, but his best days are undoubtedly behind him.

If he can be had at a bargain price in free agency, then Howard’s contributions in 2017 may be viewed far more favorably than they were when he underperformed while making over $20 million per season with the Phillies.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

After the Chicago Cubs’ decisive 9-3 win in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday, everything will come down to Wednesday’s Game 7 in a series that has been evenly matched throughout.

The Cubbies will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound, while the Tribe will counter with the man who is arguably the World Series MVP front-runner in Corey Kluber. Both teams will also have stacked bullpens at their disposal; starter Jon Lester and closer Aroldis Chapman will be available for Chicago, while the formidable duo of Andrew Miller and Cody Allen will be waiting in the wings for Cleveland.

Chicago and Cleveland have the two longest World Series droughts in Major League Baseball, so one curse will end Wednesday, while another will continue.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Game 7 clash, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch the game, as well as what both teams are saying before the pivotal tilt.

Where: Progressive Field in Cleveland

When: Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Live Stream: Fox Sports Go

What the Cubs Are Saying

The Cubs were in a win-or-go-home situation in Game 6, and not only did they play that way, but manager Joe Maddon also managed as if their backs were against the wall.

Despite having a five-run lead in the seventh inning, Maddon brought Chapman into the game two days after he threw 42 pitches. Critics met the move with skepticism since the contest appeared to be well in hand, but Maddon stood behind the decision, according to ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers:

It was just the middle of their batting order. There was just no other way to look at that and feel good, man. That could have been the ballgame right there…I thought the game could have been lost right there if we did not take care of it properly…So he went out there and he was outstanding again.

Chapman has thrown 62 pitches over the past two games, but there didn’t appear to be any concern about his availability for Game 7.

In fact, the Cuban southpaw insisted he will be ready to go when called upon in the winner-take-all spectacle, per Rogers:

I don’t worry about a few extra pitches. I have all the strength and mentality to pitch in this scenario. I’m ready for [Game 7] 100 percent. It’s the last game of the season. You cannot save anything. Time to leave it all on the field.

[…]

I feel blessed that I’m just healthy to pitch in this situation. This is [why] the Cubs brought me over.

How much the Cubs need Chapman in Game 7 will depend on the performance of Hendricks. He didn’t allow a run in his first start of the World Series and allowed just two hits in 7.1 innings in the clinching game of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Per Stats LLC (h/t ESPN.com), the NL Cy Young contender is ready to live out a lifelong fantasy Wednesday:

This is the ultimate dream. You dream of getting to the World Series, winning the World Series. When you’re out in your backyard as a kid, playing Little League at the field with your friends, this is the moment you dream about, Game 7, 3-2, two outs, something like that, bottom of the ninth. But it’s always Game 7 of the World Series.

[…]

I’m just going to embrace the opportunity like I have the rest of this postseason, honestly. Approach it like any other game, simple thoughts, the same old thing.

The Cubs’ bats came to life in a big way in Game 6, with Addison Russell (2-for-5, HR, 2B, 6 RBI), Kris Bryant (4-for-5, HR, RBI) and Anthony Rizzo (3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI) all posting huge numbers.

A similar performance in Game 7 would almost certainly end Chicago’s championship drought, but a tighter game seems likely, which means Hendricks will have to be locked in.

What the Indians Are Saying

After seizing a 3-1 lead and putting themselves on the brink of World Series glory, the Indians dropped two straight and are now in danger of blowing a huge opportunity.

First baseman Mike Napoli said that going to Game 7 isn’t ideal, but he insisted he and his teammates are ready for the challenge, according to Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com: “It is frustrating. We gave ourselves the opportunity to close it out. It’s going to come down to one game. We’re going to come out here and leave it on the field.”

Manager Terry Francona echoed those sentiments and stressed the importance of purging Game 6 from the memory bank, per Zack Meisel of Cleveland.com: “Tonight was a tough night. What it comes down to, we have to go out and win a really important game tomorrow. We’ll be excited to play. You learn from your mistakes and move on quickly, and we’ll do that. It will be exciting to come to the ballpark tomorrow.”

The Indians are 2-0 in games Kluber has started during the World Series, and they will bank on him in Game 7.

According to ESPN’s Lisa Kerney, the Indians are hopeful Kluber can accomplish something that hasn’t been done in nearly 50 years:

It can be argued that Cleveland is at somewhat of a disadvantage since Kluber is working on three days’ rest, but Francona is confident his ace will be good to go, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune: “Conversations with him, the way he treats his body, the way he works his routines. Good players, good pitchers can do special things. He’s in that category.”

Kluber also commented on working on short rest, and after doing so effectively in Game 4, he has little concern about his ability to bounce back for Game 7, per Hoynes:

I spend a little more time doing the different methods of recovery that we have available here. But I still get the same amount of work in between starts, it’s just a little more condensed. I haven’t found much of a difference yet in how I feel when I got out there on three days’ rest as opposed to four.

The 2014 AL Cy Young award winner has a huge challenge in front of him, especially now that the Cubs lineup appears to be firing on all cylinders.

Kluber will have plenty of backup in the form of Miller and Allen, though. The game will be in the hands of Francona in many respects, which isn’t a bad thing for Cleveland, given his championship resume.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A toxicology report released Saturday showed late Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez had both cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time he died in a fatal boat crash off the coast of Miami Beach in September.

According to the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department (via David Ovalle of the Miami Herald), Fernandez had a blood-alcohol content nearly twice the legal limit when the accident occurred:

On Wednesday, a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Miami Herald (h/t ESPN.com) revealed that Fernandez and his friends emitted a strong odor of alcohol when they were found following the crash.

The warrant also cited evidence of reckless driving that was “exacerbated by the consumption of alcohol.”

Fernandez was a two-time All-Star, the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year and one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball.

The Marlins honored him with a pregame ceremony prior to their Sept. 26 meeting with the New York Mets and wore memorial patches for the remainder of the 2016 season.

Fernandez died at the age of 24.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While the baseball world has focused its attention on the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians in the World Series, the offseason is approaching fast, which means trade talk is already beginning to heat up.

The rest of Major League Baseball’s 28 teams yearn to be in the position the Cubs and Indians are currently, and trading is a big reason why Chicago and Cleveland have developed into the two best teams in the sport.

With the winter frenzy of player movement on the horizon, here is a look at some of the biggest names rumored to be available via trade this offseason.

Wade Davis

Kansas City Royals righty Wade Davis has developed into one of the league’s best closers, but with KC needing to make improvements elsewhere to return to the playoffs, he could potentially be on the move.

According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Royals have received a great deal of interest in Davis, and they have made him available if the right offer comes their way.

Heyman added Kansas City wants to cut payroll, and dealing Davis would be a good way to do so since his 2017 club option is worth $10 million, according to Spotrac.

Davis racked up 27 saves in 30 chances last season to go along with a 1.87 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 43.1 innings.

While his numbers were fantastic, they actually represented a significant drop-off from the previous two years.

Davis only closed for a portion of 2014 and 2015, but in those seasons combined he went 17-3 with 17 saves, a 0.97 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings.

He also posted four saves and didn’t allow a single run in eight appearances during last year’s playoffs, as he was a driving force behind the Royals winning the World Series.

With the Indians making a deep run due largely to the arms of relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen, Davis is the type of player who could take a team to the next level and push them into World Series contention.

Because of that, the Royals would be wise to put a high price tag on Davis, as a team in desperate need of bullpen help may very well be willing to meet it.

Brian McCann

Following one of the worst seasons of his impressive MLB career, New York Yankees catcher Brian McCann is a player the Bronx Bombers would likely prefer to move on from.

The seven-time All-Star spent his first nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves, and a reunion is possible, as Heyman reported the two sides had discussions during the season, which could resume once the offseason hits.

Per MLB.com’s Mark Bowman, the Braves are very much in the market for a backstop, but a high asking price could prevent them from bringing McCann back into the fold. He reported the Yanks want either 25-year-old pitcher Mike Foltynewicz or 25-year-old outfielder Ender Inciarte in exchange for McCann.

That seems like a lot for Atlanta to give up on the surface, especially since McCann is set to make $17 million in each of the next two seasons, according to Spotrac.

Although McCann posted his best batting average during his three years with the Yankees last season at .242, his 20 home runs and 58 RBI were a steep decline from the 26 homers and 94 RBI he put up in 2015.

The biggest reason for New York to make a move is the emergence of Gary Sanchez, who hit .299 with 20 home runs and 42 RBI in just 53 games for the Yankees last season.

It will likely be difficult for McCann to get consistent playing time with the Yankees, and while he would be a good asset for a Braves team with plenty of young pitchers, it wouldn’t be wise to give up too much for a player New York may desperately want to trade.

Foltynewicz and Inciarte both have star potential and could blossom in the Bronx for a Yanks team that is suddenly stacked with young talent.

Eating a large portion of McCann’s salary could be such a deal more appealing for the Braves, but New York may need to lower its asking price to make it a reality.

Zack Cozart

After nearly acquiring him during the 2016 season, the Seattle Mariners are reportedly still interested in making a deal for Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart.

According to Bob Dutton of the News Tribune, a trade between the two sides was close, and talks are expected to resume during the offseason.

Cozart enjoyed a solid campaign that saw him hit .252 with a career-high 16 home runs, as well as 50 RBI and 67 runs scored.

The 31-year-old veteran bounced back nicely from a couple down years, as inconsistency and injuries prevented him from contributing at the level he displayed in 2012 and 2013.

On top of Cozart‘s strong bat, he is also a plus-fielder, as evidenced by his career Defensive Runs Saved Above Average mark of 54, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Cozart would be a good fit for the M’s, as they didn’t receive much offensive production from the shortstop position in 2016.

Regular starter Ketel Marte hit .259 with just one home run and 33 RBI most often as a bottom-of-the-order guy, while Cozart is capable of contributing higher in the lineup.

The Mariners stayed in the playoff race until the latter stages of the 2016 season, and while Cozart may not put them over the top on his own, he would fill a huge position of weakness and at least help Seattle come one stop closer to ending its postseason drought.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Although there are two years remaining on his contract, New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes reportedly intends to opt out of his deal following the World Series.

Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported the Cuban slugger will pass up $47.5 million over the next two seasons to become a free agent. ESPN.com’s Adam Rubin confirmed the report.

Per Heyman, two anonymous general managers expect Cespedes to land a deal in the neighborhood of $100 million over four years. Heyman added that the Mets and Cespedes have an “open dialogue.”

According to Rubin, however, the Mets are pessimistic about their chances of bringing back the two-time All-Star.

While the 31-year-old missed 30 games this season, he still hit .280 with 31 home runs and 86 RBI, making him by far the most dangerous run producer in New York’s lineup.

The Mets acquired him via trade with the Detroit Tigers in 2015, and he went on to hit .287 with 17 homers and 44 RBI. He earned National League MVP consideration despite playing in just 57 regular-season games for a Mets team that went on to reach the World Series.

Cespedes re-signed with the Mets last offseason despite having plenty of interest from other clubs, and New York can ill afford to lose him. The Mets ranked 26th in MLB in runs scored with him.

The Mets made the playoffs before getting ousted by the San Francisco Giants in the NL Wild Card Game, but a third straight year of postseason baseball may not be in the cards if Cespedes walks.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The awakening of the Cleveland Indians’ bats gave them a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs and a 1-0 lead in the World Series Tuesday, but the teams are back in action Wednesday night, when the Cubbies have a chance at redemption.

Cleveland rode the dominance of starter Corey Kluber and reliever Andrew Miller into the driver’s seat; however, Chicago is unlikely to see either of them in Game 2, which means it has a golden opportunity to even things up.

Ahead of Wednesday’s pivotal Game 2, here is a look at the top odds and bets to consider, as well as a prediction for which team will come out on top.

Where: Progressive Field in Cleveland

When: Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox

Odds and Prop Bets

Cubs Player to Watch: Jake Arrieta

Jon Lester wasn’t his dominant self in Game 1, which adds pressure on Jake Arrieta to regain his Cy Young form in Game 2.

Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award last season, and although his numbers were great this year (18-8 with a 3.10 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 190 strikeouts), he faltered a bit down the stretch.

The 30-year-old veteran went just 6-4 with a 3.69 ERA during the second half of the regular season, which was solid but far from the form he displayed previously.

His up-and-down nature has carried over into the playoffs, too, as he struggled in his National League Division Series start against the Los Angeles Dodgers by allowing six hits and four earned runs in five innings.

He can’t afford a similar outing in Game 2, especially since history is already working against the Cubs, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

The entire roster is counting on Arrieta to toss a gem Wednesday, and that includes Lester following his shaky performance, per Steve Greenberg of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Arrieta‘s career postseason ERA of 4.11 may not inspire a ton of confidence, but he does boast a 1.01 WHIP and 38 strikeouts in 30.2 innings, which suggests some bad luck has been involved.

Despite his playoff inconsistencies, Arrieta seems ready to take the ball in the biggest game of the season to this point, according to Paul Skrbina of the Chicago Tribune.

“It’s why you play the whole season to be in this position,” the pitcher said. “It means a ton.”

A 1-0 deficit is already difficult to come back from, so the Cubs can’t afford to drop Game 2 as well.

Chicago’s bats will have to contribute to make that happen, but if Arrieta gives the Cubs length and quality, that will go a long way toward leveling the series.

Indians Player to Watch: Trevor Bauer

After being forced to exit his American League Championship Series start against the Toronto Blue Jays after just 0.2 innings due to a bleeding cut on his pinkie suffered while working on a drone, Trevor Bauer will take the mound for the Tribe.

While Bauer’s hand was a bloody mess against the Jays, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reported that the injury appears to have improved:

In addition to that, Bauer insisted he feels good and ready to compete on the biggest stage in baseball, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.

“I feel confident every time I take the mound,” he said. “I wouldn’t take the mound if I didn’t feel I’d be able to pitch and help the team.”

Although the Indians are up 1-0, Bauer is facing a ton of pressure to go deep in the game due to Cleveland’s bullpen situation.

Miller threw 46 pitches Tuesday, so one can only assume that manager Terry Francona would rather not have to turn to him again.

Closer Cody Allen could potentially be available for multiple innings, but that would still require a long outing for Bauer or strong performances from some of Cleveland’s less heralded relievers.

Bauer went just 4.2 innings and allowed six hits, three earned runs and two home runs in the division series against the Boston Red Sox, which won’t cut it in Game 2.

The Cubs are a sleeping giant offensively with big bats such as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber waiting to break out.

If Bauer can last against that lineup, it will go a long way toward ending Cleveland’s World Series championship drought.

Game 2 Prediction

Although Game 2 isn’t a must-win situation for the Cubs in a technical sense, the uphill climb toward winning the World Series would be steep if they fall behind 2-0.

Chicago has a deep enough starting rotation and lineup to overcome any deficit; however, talk of curses and “the same old Cubs” is bound to pop up if they are unable to tie the series in Game 2.

The pitching matchup appears to favor the Cubs despite Arrieta‘s hit-and-miss form as of late, especially since Bauer was poor down the stretch and has yet to turn in a strong playoff start.

Chicago also has too much hitting talent to stay down for long, while Cleveland isn’t going to get two home runs from catcher Roberto Perez every game like it did in Game 1.

The Cubs are better built to deliver consistent offensive performances, and their starter has a better chance to go deep in the game Wednesday.

The biggest key is the possibility that Miller may not even be available for the Indians, so if Chicago can knock Bauer out fairly early, that will put Cleveland at a disadvantage.

With the stakes at their highest so far this season, the Cubs will come through and deliver a victory in Game 2 to even up the series as it heads back to the Windy City.

Game 2 Prediction: Cubs 5, Indians 1

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com