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After coming back from a 2-1 deficit to go up 3-2 in the National League Championship Series, the Chicago Cubs have pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers’ back against the wall, as L.A. will enter Saturday’s Game 6 in win-or-go-home mode.

The pitching contest will be a rematch of the Game 2 affair the Dodgers won 1-0, with ace Clayton Kershaw going up against regular-season NL ERA leader Kyle Hendricks. With two top-flight hurlers on the mound, runs could be difficult to come by once again.

With the Cubs just one win away from reaching the World Series, here is everything you need to know about when and where to watch Game 6, as well as a prediction for which team will prevail.

Where: Wrigley Field in Chicago

When: Saturday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. ET

Watch: Fox Sports 1

Dodgers Player to Watch: Clayton Kershaw

Great pitchers can almost single-handedly carry teams through the playoffs at times, and the Dodgers may need that type of performance out of Kershaw in Game 6.

After struggling to the tune of a 5.84 ERA in the NLDS against the Washington Nationals, Kershaw bounced back in a big way in Game 2 of the NLCS, firing seven innings of two-hit, no-run baseball in a 1-0 Dodgers triumph.

The Cubs were also shut out by Rich Hill in Game 3, but the bats have since come back to life in the form of 18 runs over the past two contests.

Despite that, the Dodgers appear to have plenty of confidence entering Game 6.

According to MLB‘s official Twitter account, manager Dave Roberts feels good about his team’s chances with Kershaw on the bump:

The same can be said for Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

Kershaw’s career playoff record leaves plenty to be desired, as he is just 4-6 with a 4.39 ERA despite the gem he threw in Game 2.

Even so, the fact he has been on the big stage so often means the moment shouldn’t overwhelm him. He is of the belief he is well prepared and equipped to take on the challenge, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune:

Obviously the fans are pretty excited about their team this year, and rightfully so. They have been waiting a long time for them to win. … Pitching on the road is obviously different, but you try and keep it the same as possible. D.C. was one of the louder environments that I’ve pitched in. So I have gotten to do that now a few times. I guess I’m as prepared as I’ll ever be for that.

The Dodgers bullpen has struggled during the NLCS, so it is incumbent upon Kershaw to pitch well and pitch deep into Game 6.

If he is locked in, then the Dodgers won’t have to do much against Hendricks, much like in Game 2.

Pitching in Game 6 does take a potential relief appearance in a possible Game 7 out of the equation for Kershaw, but Game 7 won’t even occur if he doesn’t come through Saturday.

Cubs Player to Watch: Javier Baez

Great defense and timely hitting are paramount in high-pressure playoff games, especially when elite pitchers are on the mound. Because of that, Javier Baez could be the most important position player in Game 6.

The 23-year-old is enjoying a spectacular playoff run in 2016, as he is hitting .368 with five RBI and two stolen bases in the NLCS.

According to MLB Stat of the Day, his penchant for extra-base hits is already historic through five games of the series:

As good as Baez has been at the plate, it can be argued that his defense at second base has been even better.

While Baez played all over the diamond during the regular season, he has settled in at second base during the playoffs and regularly made difficult plays look routine, such as the one on Gonzalez in Game 5 that features in this MLB Twitter post:

Many have taken notice of Baez’s defense reaching an elite level, including ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark:

Although Chicago’s offense has exploded over the past two games, Kershaw is skilled at silencing bats, much like he did in Game 2.

If Kershaw pitches another gem, every play and every out will be of the utmost importance, which is why Baez’s defense will be key.

He has also been the most consistently productive hitter in the Cubs lineup during the postseason, and he seems the likeliest candidate to get a big hit for Chicago in a tight game, which could push the team into the World Series.

Game 6 Pick

Cubs fans have been starved for a World Series berth since 1945, and they are just one win away from finally making their return.

The crowd promises to be raucous at Wrigley Field Saturday, and it won’t be an easy atmosphere for Kershaw and the Dodgers to deal with.

Kershaw already managed to do so once in Game 2, however, and now he has seemingly found his playoff stride, the Dodgers enter Game 6 with an advantage.

Hendricks had a spectacular regular season, but he has struggled to give the Cubs length during the playoffs, going just 3.2 innings in the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants before leaving through injury and 5.1 innings in Game 2 of the NLCS.

He also had control problems in his last start, as he walked four batters, while Kershaw offered just one free pass.

The Los Angeles offense has been largely stagnant in the series, but if Yasmani Grandal, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and Co. are able to run into a pitch or two, Kershaw may not need much more run support than that.

Kershaw is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and has been the best regular-season pitcher in baseball for years. He’ll carry that trend over into the playoffs for a second consecutive start to force a Game 7.

Game 6 prediction: Dodgers 2, Cubs 1

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The odds may still be with the Chicago Cubs to advance to their first World Series since 1945, but they are listed as small home underdogs Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers for Game 6 of the NLCS at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

That’s what happens when facing a three-time Cy Young Award winner who has turned things around in the postseason and blanked the Cubs for seven innings in a Game 2 victory.

Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.72 ERA in the playoffs) allowed only two hits at Chicago in his most recent start there last Sunday, walking one and striking out six. The Dodgers have won every game in which he has appeared, including a relief appearance resulting in a save in the deciding Game 5 of the NLDS versus the Washington Nationals.

Kershaw (game log) did not face the Cubs during the regular season but was 5-3 with a 2.18 ERA in eight previous starts, as they hit just .218 against him and struck out 68 times in 53.2 innings.

Meanwhile, Chicago will send MLB ERA leader Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.00 ERA in the playoffs) to the mound for the second time in the series, as he also opposed Kershaw in Game 2. Hendricks allowed only an Adrian Gonzalez solo homer in that 1-0 loss along with two other hits over 5.1 innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

Hendricks (game log) was nearly perfect at Wrigley Field during the regular season, going 9-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 15 appearances.

The key for the Cubs will obviously be hitting and generating runs, as they have failed to score in their two losses and outscored Los Angeles 26-10 in their three wins. For the Dodgers, they will need to hold Chicago’s bats in check and leave the pressure on their opponent, who has not won a World Series since 1908.

The Cubs won four of the seven regular-season meetings, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database, and dropped four of seven the year before. They are hoping it does not come down to a deciding Game 7 on Sunday like it did when they were last in this position back in 2003 and lost.

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The 2016 World Series has yet to be set, but we’re close to having clarity following the Chicago Cubs’ 8-4 Game 5 National League Championship Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night. 

The Cleveland Indians punched their ticket Wednesday night by virtue of a 3-0 win over the Toronto Blue Jays to clinch their first trip to the Fall Classic since 1997, and they figure to pose a stiff test for either squad when things get underway next Tuesday.

So with just a few days between now and the final series of the 2016 MLB season, here’s a rundown of everything you need to know about the upcoming championship clash. 

World Series Schedule

World Series Odds

Ticket Info

Tickets have yet to be listed since the NLCS is ongoing, but monitor ScoreBig.com for the latest World Series offers. 

Predictions

Since we can’t make any definitive predictions with the NLCS still in progress, World Series projections will stay general for the time being.

But if we can count on one thing, it’s Indians reliever Andrew Miller remaining an ace of the highest caliber.

Through six postseason appearances to date, he has scattered five hits, struck out 21 and walked just two over 11.2 innings. In the American League Championship Series alone, Miller pitched 7.2 innings, struck out 14 and didn’t allow a run or a walk. 

With that performance behind him, Miller sounds ready to go when the Fall Classic rolls around. 

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said, according to Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes. “Cleveland is going to be rocking. The AL won the All-Star Game so we’ve got our chance to play in front of our fans. And Corey Kluber was the winning pitcher in the All-Star Game, so that’s even better.”

Buoyed by Miller in the bullpen and a starting staff that features Kluber, Josh Tomlin, Trevor Bauer and Game 5 hero Ryan Merritt, there’s plenty of reason to believe the Indians could continue to retire batters at postseason-best rates. 

Thus far, the Indians have posted a collective team ERA of 1.77 to go with 81 strikeouts and just 19 walks. Those stellar numbers have allowed Cleveland to survive with a cumulative batting average of .208

The Dodgers and Cubs both have hitters who can make opposing pitching staffs pay, but it will take a disciplined effort from the eventual NL champion to thrust the Indians bullpen into action earlier than usual. 

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While the Cleveland Indians already punched their ticket to the World Series, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers continue to battle it out in the NL championship. The Cubbies are just one win away from taking the next step toward breaking a century-long drought.

Chicago’s offense broke out of a funk in Game 4 and Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead after trailing 2-1. The Cubs are favored to win the series with a one-game cushion at their disposal, but the Dodgers have a pair of aces up their sleeve with Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill set to take the mound in Game 6 and Game 7, respectively.

With Game 6 on the horizon, here is a look at the current odds of interest in the NLCS, as well as a prediction for which team will come out on top.

NLCS Game 6 Odds: Dodgers 10-13, Cubs 6-5 (via OddsShark)

NLCS Series Odds: Cubs 10-17, Dodgers 7-5 (via OddsShark)

Remaining NLCS Schedule

NLCS Prediction

After getting shut out in both Game 2 and Game 3, things looked somewhat grim for the Cubs, but they bounced back in a big way over the past two games to take firm control of the series.

The Game 5 triumph was an especially big one, as teams that win Game 5 of a best-of-seven series that is tied 2-2 historically have gone on to win the vast majority of the time, according to ESPN Stats & Info:

Chicago’s biggest key to success over the past two contests has been the fact that first baseman Anthony Rizzo and shortstop Addison Russell broke out of massive slumps and led the Cubs’ offense, much like they did all season long.

Both players are 5-for-10 in their last two outings with a combined three home runs and eight RBI.

Although that is a great sign for the Cubbies, Rizzo and Russell have done their damage against struggling starters and relievers.

That can be said for much of Chicago’s lineup, as Kershaw and Hill thoroughly dominated the Cubs hitters in Game 2 and Game 3, per Peter Gammons of GammonsDaily.com:

While neither Kenta Maeda nor Julio Urias pitched particularly well in the Dodgers’ three losses during the series, most of Chicago’s success has come against L.A.’s struggling bullpen:

If Kershaw and Hill are able to replicate their previous performances in the series, though, the Dodgers won’t have to worry much about their relief pitching woes.

Kershaw has often been ridiculed for his playoff record in comparison to how good he has been during the regular season over the course of his career.

Although the lefty had an up-and-down NL divisional series, he pitched like a true ace in Game 2 of the NLCS by allowing just two hits and one walk in seven innings of shutout baseball.

After that showing, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is confident that Kershaw can get them back in the series, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

Assuming Kershaw comes through in the clutch, the series will go to a Game 7 featuring a pitching matchup pitting Hill against Jake Arrieta.

Hill easily won that battle in Game 3 by allowing two hits and two walks in six shutout innings, while Arrieta scattered six hits and four runs over five frames.

While Hill was great during the regular season, he struggled against the Washington Nationals during the NLDS and has yet to prove he can string together consecutive great starts in the playoffs.

Arrieta hasn’t been the same pitcher since starting off 2016 in dominant fashion and winning the 2015 NL Cy Young Award, but his recent history against the Dodgers prior to Game 3 was impressive, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Now that Chicago’s big bats have come to life, it once again looks like the all-around elite team it was over the course of the entire regular season.

The Cubs’ lineup depth is amazing, thanks to the likes of Rizzo, Russell, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and others, and it is difficult to envision them being held down once again in consecutive games.

A locked-in Kershaw will find a way to force a Game 7, but with the Wrigley Field faithful behind them and Arrieta on the mound, the Cubs will win that decisive game and finally get back to the World Series.

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The Cleveland Indians are in the World Series, but they will have to keep waiting patiently to see which team they will face in the upcoming round.

While the Chicago Cubs earned a 3-2 advantage in the National League Championship Series thanks to their 8-4 Game 5 victory, the Los Angeles Dodgers still have an opportunity to win the next two games and earn a spot in the World Series.

Regardless of who survives the NLCS, fans should be treated to an outstanding final round between two great teams. Here is what to expect no matter who advances.

Indians vs. Dodgers

There are a lot of similarities between these two teams, most notably when it comes to pitching. While plenty of squads around the league have their set starters in a rotation followed by developed bullpen roles, the Indians and Dodgers don’t adhere to that plan.

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts was forced to get creative in Game 5 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals, using closer Kenley Jansen in the seventh inning before starter Clayton Kershaw closed the game on one day’s rest.

The team was forced to react to a handful of pitching injuries during the year and it is now capable of handling adversity to the staff.

Of course, the Indians know all about injuries to the rotation after losing Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar and, most recently, Trevor Bauer to various injuries. Manager Terry Francona explained how this transformed his strategy in the postseason.

“When you lose two pitchers like that late, I’m not sure you can move on conventionally and cover that,” Francona said, per Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated. “So we’ve tried to not feel sorry for ourselves and figure out, okay…how do we win four games before they do?”

Francona was forced to be more aggressive than usual, but it worked out for him, as noted by Richard Justice of MLB.com:

Andrew Miller and Cody Allen have been nearly flawless in the postseason, and this duo is capable of stealing a win or two against a Dodgers lineup that can be inconsistent. With Corey Kluber also playing outstanding baseball with a 0.98 ERA in three starts, this pitching staff should once again be able keep the Indians winning.

On the other side, the Dodgers will still be recovering from what will have to be a seven-game series against the Cubs, meaning the rotation will not be ideal. Kershaw is as good as any starter in baseball, but he won’t be available for Game 1.

While an extended break sometimes hurts teams, Cleveland has a good enough lineup to beat the Los Angeles pitching and come through with a solid performance to win its first World Series since 1948. 

Prediction: Indians 4, Dodgers 2 

Indians vs. Cubs 

Both fan bases think these teams are following destiny to win a title, but only one of them will be left standing at the end.

While the Indians have been able to get by thanks to their bullpen, there are serious questions about the rotation behind Kluber. Josh Tomlin is inconsistent and it’s tough to know what you will get out of Ryan Merritt. While the rookie did pitch 4.1 shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, it will be tougher against the Cubs in the World Series.

What Chicago has going for it is the depth of elite players both in the pitching staff and in the lineup. The hitters went cold for a couple of games during the NLCS, but key players have bounced back at the right time.

Kris Bryant is the likely National League MVP, but players like Addison Russell and Javier Baez are the ones turning heads in the postseason. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com praised the second baseman during Game 5:

With Anthony Rizzo also turning things around over the last two games, there should be a lot of confidence in this lineup.

Additionally, the starting rotation keeps coming at you with Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and even John Lackey. The last two are especially valuable thanks to their postseason experience.

Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis and others are capable of a big game here or there, but facing top talent on the mound each game is a problem. The Indians are hitting just .208 as a team in the postseason and the Cubs pitchers will make sure those bats don’t come alive.

Cleveland’s bullpen still has a clear advantage and once again Kluber has been lights out, although this won’t be enough to stop the Cubs from winning their first title since 1908.

Prediction: Cubs 4, Indians 3

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As the NLCS shifts back to Chicago with the Cubs leading the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-2, the Cleveland Indians await the winner in the 114th World Series. 

After taking Game 5 of the ALCS over the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League pennant on Wednesday, the Indians guaranteed that they would have over five days to rest for the Fall Classic, while the winner of the NLCS will experience a much quicker turnaround:

The Indians are two years older than the World Series, having been established in 1901 under the name of the Blues. After short stints where they were known as the Broncos and Naps after Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie, they became known as the Indians in 1915. 

Five years later, they won their first World Series, defeating the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers) in 1920.

The franchise would get a second title 28 years later in 1948, defeating the Boston Braves with a roster that included five players that were elected to the Hall of Fame:

That win 68 years ago would prove to be their last triumph despite making three World Series’ since then. In 1954, they were swept by Willie Mays and the New York Giants and didn’t make another Fall Classic until 1995. 

They would lose to an Atlanta Braves team headlined by a trio of Hall of Fame pitchers in Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine before losing a heartbreaking seven-game World Series in 1997 to a Florida Marlins franchise that was in its fifth year of existence:

But this season’s Indians could put an end to the wait and provide the city of Cleveland with a second major sports championship in the same calendar year. It’d be a benchmark season for a group of fans that hadn’t celebrated a title since 1964 before the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. 

The Indians have provided one of the deepest lineups in baseball this season to support a banged up pitching staff that lost Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar during the regular season before seeing Trevor Bauer slice his pinky open while cleaning his drone right before the ALCS:

But the offense has struggled at times during the playoffs, averaging just under 3.4 runs per game while posting a .208 team batting average. 

Luckily for them, the pitching has been dominant in the postseason:

It’s been headlined by ALCS MVP Andrew Miller, who has given up just three hits in 7.2 innings pitched while striking out 14 batters. 

SportsCenter broke down just how tough he’s been in October:

That kind of hot pitching is the key to an Indians World Series, as the Cubs and Dodgers are two of three teams that have scored over 30 runs during the postseason. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. 

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After erupting offensively in the last two games, the Chicago Cubs took a 3-2 series lead Thursday night over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2016 National League Championship Series with the thrilling matchup set to return to Wrigley Field this weekend.

The Cleveland Indians are awaiting in the World Series, as they will host the opening two games with a fearsome bullpen that appears ready to lift this team to a championship. Yet, the Cubs and Dodgers must focus on pulling out their current series before worrying about Andrew Miller and company in the next round.

Let us take a look at the remaining NLCS television and live-stream schedule, as well as a breakdown of what lies ahead in Game 6.

A full MLB playoff bracket can be found at MLB.com. 

Game 6 Preview

Despite dropping two straight games earlier in this series without scoring a run, Chicago seems to have broken out of its offensive slump with 18 runs in the last two games.

The emergence of Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell is a big reason why. After coming into Game 4 with one hit in 26 at-bats, Rizzo is 5-for-10 with four RBI in his last two games. Russell entered Game 4 with one hit in 24 at-bats before exploding for 5-for-10 with four RBI as well in his previous two outings.

With a critical Game 5 on the line, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to tab rookie Kenta Maeda, which did not turn out great as the starter went only 3.2 innings and allowed a run. This was Maeda‘s second loss of the series. However, Los Angeles has plenty of reason to be confident for a possible Game 7 with the proposition of Clayton Kershaw taking the mound on Saturday.

He will be coming off full rest from his last start in Game 2, where he went 7.2 innings with two hits and no runs allowed at Wrigley Field. This seems to be OK with the 28-year-old star, per the Los Angeles Times‘ Andy McCullough:

Before Game 5, Chicago manager Joe Maddon seemed to recognize the immense challenge his lineup faces, per Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:

When [Kershaw]’s pitching well, he’s just that good. There is that certain set of pitchers that are that guy, and the confidence he brings to their group. There is no question about that. But at this time of the year, if you wanted to get to your ultimate goal, you have to beat people like that. You have to.

There’s always been that group of pitchers through history that pitched a lot in the postseason because they’re very good. And he’s one of them.

The lefty possesses a commanding fastball and a slew of other pitches that keep batters off balance. Yet, the Cubs were one of the better clubs in baseball against left-handed pitching, ranking seventh with a .267 team average. However, that mark has dropped dramatically in the postseason, where Chicago is hitting .170 as a team.

Kyle Hendricks is set to take the hill for the home team after a regular season in which he led the majors with a 2.13 ERA. He has been solid this postseason with three runs allowed in 9.0 innings, but Hendricks lost his Game 2 start to Kershaw.

Yet, the 26-year-old has been historically good against this Dodgers roster, as all current players are hitting a combined .195 against Hendricks for their careers. Although there is not a huge sample size, Hendricks has been stout against Los Angeles’ top bats:

This game looks to be a low-scoring affair similar to the 1-0 Dodgers win in Game 2. The Cubs have a slight advantage in this one simply because they are at home, where they sported MLB’s top home record this season with a stout 57-24 mark. Still, Kershaw was unfazed by this in Game 2, handing Chicago its first home loss of the playoffs.

Los Angeles’ suddenly dormant lineup could be the difference. The Dodgers have combined for a pedestrian six runs and 13 hits in the last two games, and the team is batting .224 in the postseason. Given that the club struggled on the road this season with a 38-43 record, it is tough to believe it can pull out a win on Saturday despite Kershaw‘s brilliance.

Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com.

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For the second year in a row, the Toronto Blue Jays made it to the American League Championship Series. And for the second year in a row, the Blue Jays came up short, this time losing to the Cleveland Indians in five games.

With a number of players eligible for free agency, most notably Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, what the team’s roster will look like in 2017 isn’t clear.

What is clear, however, is that John Gibbons will be back as manager, a job he’s now held for a decade. Team president Mark Shapiro told Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi after the team’s Game 5 loss:

There’s a level of consistency with him in approach that is unflappable and I think that translates into toughness. …  

There’s no panic. He believes in the talent, he believes in his players, he believes in the process and he believes in all the work that’s been done to date. That gives us confidence, that gives the players confidence and the belief to hold true to the bigger picture. That’s a separator.

What follows is an overview of some of the other decisions the team will have to make—and some of the players it may look to—as the Jays try and get over the hump in 2017 and reach the World Series for the first time in more than 20 years.

Begin Slideshow

After clinching their first American League pennant in 19 years, the Cleveland Indians must wait to find out their World Series opponent.

Cleveland has gone 7-1 in postseason play with a 1.77 staff ERA despite missing starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. The offense has struggled, mustering a meek .206 batting average and .256 on-base percentage, but hitting 11 homers will suffice for a squad that has allowed 15 runs.

Everything went their way against the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Will they keep rolling against the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers? As the Indians celebrated their AL crown, the Cubs took a 3-2 lead on Thursday night. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will look to fend off elimination in Saturday’s Game 6.

Once the matchup is set, observers will fixate on the stars who must step up during the best-of-seven showdown. Cleveland needs more huge outings from Corey Kluber, Francisco Lindor, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. Both National League teams standing will counter with marquee sluggers, aces and stellar closers.

The superstars, of course, don’t always decide the World Series. Let’s take a look at some other pivotal players key to securing a championship.

Josh Tomlin, SP, Cleveland Indians

Cleveland’s bullpen—and manager Terry Francona’s aggressive usage of the stellar unit—is the toast of baseball. Miller and Allen have combined to strike out 33 batters over 19.1 shutout innings. Those guys must keep dealing, but a ragtag rotation also must hold the fort down.

With no Carrasco, no Salazar and one out from Trevor Bauer in the American League Championship Series, the Indians still survived. While Kluber is undoubtedly essential to the starting staff, de facto No. 2 starter Josh Tomlin has embodied the Indians’ unlikely October run.

After posting a 4.40 ERA during the season, the 32-year-old limited potent Boston and Toronto offenses to a combined three runs over two starts. Perhaps just as surprising, the man with a career 5.98 strikeouts per nine innings has collected 10 of them over 10.2 frames.

His postseason success isn’t entirely out of nowhere. Tomlin posted a 1.75 ERA through his final four regular-season starts without issuing a single walk. As ESPN’s Buster Olney noted, the veteran righty will attack the strike zone:

Such control led to only 20 walks during the season, but it also caused him to get shelled too often. He relinquished 36 home runs, MLB‘s third-highest tally behind James Shields and Jered Weaver.

Right-handed hitters crushed him to a .299/.323/.522 slash line. The lefty-heavy Dodgers usually torment righties, but Tomlin’s reverse splits could save him from despair. Against the Cubs, NL MVP front-runner Kris Bryant is a prime candidate to go yard.

With rookie Ryan Merritt potentially representing their Game 3 or 4 starter, the Indians need another solid turn or two from Tomlin.

Ben Zobrist, OF, Chicago Cubs

If the Cubs overcome the Dodgers, Ben Zobrist will appear in his second straight World Series. The Cubs will hope he makes as much of an impact for them as he did for the Kansas City Royals.

Playing second base for the AL champions last year, he hit four doubles during five Fall Classic games against the New York Mets. The midseason trade acquisition ended the postseason with an .880 OPS and a championship ring.

He’s not doing so well this October, batting 6-for-33 with one double. The team’s offensive struggles compelled him to bunt out of desperation in Game 4.

Bunting is rarely advisable, especially for a cleanup hitter who can work his way on base otherwise, but it worked. His bunt hit helped sparked a four-run inning in the team’s best offseason showing of the playoffs.

“It felt like that spot in the game was the right time,” Zobrist said, per ESPN.com’s Jesse Rogers. “After we hadn’t gotten any hits up to that point, I was like ‘Well, it’s time. Someone needs to do it.'”

Thursday offered a promising sign. He went hitless in Game 5’s win, but the 34-year-old also drew three walks. Entering Thursday, he had worked only one free pass. 

In order to make and win the World Series, the Cubs will need him to contribute in more conventional ways. He’s positioned high in the order near Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, so it’s especially vital to get his bat going.

Pedro Baez, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers

The bullpen wasn’t a problem for the Dodgers this season. The 3.35 ERA led the majors, but that success has not carried over into the playoffs.

Their relievers—including Kershaw’s National League Division Series save—have relinquished 37 runs over 17 innings. Veteran Joe Blanton, who posted a 2.48 ERA during the season, has already capitulated seven runs. Rookie Grant Dayton, another high-leverage option, is also struggling under the brighter spotlight:

Although his snail-like pace puts everyone to sleep, Pedro Baez was an exception in his recent outings. The 28-year-old righty didn’t allow a run over his first 5.1 innings. Manager Dave Roberts has twice trusted him to work two full frames, which he hadn’t previously done since July 8.

On Wednesday, however, he relinquished a home run to Rizzo. Used the next day despite throwing 27 pitches, he put Game 5 out of reach by surrendering five runs, three of which crossed home plate when Ross Stripling replaced him and gave up a bases-clearing double.

In 10 games, Los Angeles’ starters have gone five or more innings four times. Kershaw accounts for three of those, with Rich Hill lasting six in the other. Someone needs to bridge the gap to Kenley Jansen, and Baez remains one of the most prominent options despite two consecutive poor games.

Having allowed 11 homers in 74 innings this season before Rizzo’s Game 4 blast, Baez also must beware the long ball. Those not yawning through his slow outings will instead bite their nails, but he will have to pitch key late innings if the Dodgers advance.

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As the Cleveland Indians await the winner of the National League Championship Series between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2016 World Series picture is starting to come into focus before Game 1 on October 25. 

The Indians secured their spot in the Fall Classic by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in five games during the American League Championship Series. Andrew Miller was named MVP of the series, but Ryan Merritt’s heroics in Game 5 set up the big left-hander to get the ball to closer Cody Allen in the ninth inning. 

The Cubs offense had its breakout game against the Dodgers in Game 4 on Wednesday and will look to take control of the series on the back of Jon Lester, who has allowed nine hits and one run in 14 innings this postseason. 

World Series Schedule

World Series Odds

Prediction

One of the things that makes sports predictions such an interesting source of discussion is the use of logic and reason with something that often defies both. 

For instance, there’s no way to explain how the Indians have made it this far. They were supposed to be eliminated in the division series by the Boston Red Sox because their starting rotation was a shell of its former self due to injuries sustained by Danny Salazar and Carlos Carrasco. 

Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote September 17—the day Carrasco’s pinky was broken on a liner hit by Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler—the Indians’ postseason dreams ended before they began:

Along with Corey Kluber, Carrasco and Salazar are the heart of the rotation. Carrasco and Salazar have had star-crossed seasons to be sure. They’ve each missed a month to injuries, but they still combined for 22 wins, 50 starts and just over 283 innings.

The Indians have no one of equal caliber to replace them.

Headed into the best-of-five AL Division Series, it’s going to be Kluber and Trevor Bauer. The other two starters are Josh Tomlin and rookie Mike Clevinger. That’s reality and that means a quick exit in the postseason.

No one gave the Indians that memo because their entire pitching staff has recorded three shutouts in eight playoff games, including a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays in the ALCS clincher. 

Somehow, what was overlooked coming into the postseason was how well Cleveland manager Terry Francona utilizes his bullpen and how deep that group is. 

Miller got all of the accolades for what he did against Boston and Toronto, but Richard Justice of MLB.com noted Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen have been really good too:

Since the Indians were able to clinch early, they get to line up Kluber for Game 1. Bauer’s pinky once again takes center stage, casting doubt over his ability to make at least one start in the series. 

For Cleveland fans, the best-case scenario in the NLCS would be the Cubs and Dodgers going seven games with the Dodgers winning. That would presumably push Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill back to start Games 2 and 3. 

The Cubs, who showed they do have weaknesses by not hitting in two games against Kershaw and Hill, bounced back with 10 runs in Game 4 of the NLCS. 

Just as encouraging as the deluge of runs was for Cubs fans, ESPN Stats & Info noted why it was particularly sweet for Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell when they hit their homers:

While Chicago will always panic when the Cubs don’t look good for a couple of games—ignoring the fact that those games were against the best pitcher in baseball and another guy who had a 2.12 ERA in 20 starts this season—they are still the best and deepest team in baseball. 

Even when the Cubs are in an offensive funk, Lester and Kyle Hendricks have combined to allow four runs in 23 innings this postseason. Their defense has never wavered from the historically great regular-season numbers they put up, per ESPN’s Sam Miller:

The Cubs — a team with only one Gold Glove winner on the roster, a team that shifts less than any in baseball — are better than any other club at converting ground balls into outs (80.1 percent), the best at converting fly balls into outs (94.1 percent) and the best at converting line drives into outs (43.5 percent). They do this despite allowing an exit velocity that is almost exactly league average, and an exit velocity on grounders that is harder than league average. 

No team in Major League Baseball this season had as many ways to beat an opponent as the Cubs. They will be favored over the Indians if they can get past the Dodgers and should be. It’s hard to win 103 games during the regular season by accident. 

Forget all the talk about goats and curses in Chicago. This is a franchise that’s become the model in MLB because of its young position player talent and the incredible wealth of options for manager Joe Maddon to choose from off his bench and on the pitching staff. 

The Indians’ run so far in the postseason has been wondrous to behold because of how unique it is. Since the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off a historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors, these last four months have breathed new life into a city so often beaten down by its sports teams. 

Eventually, you would assume, Cleveland’s patchwork pitching rotation will run out of steam, negating the work of Miller and Allen in the middle and late innings. 

It’s certainly not impossible to win a World Series on the back of a bullpen—the 2015 Kansas City Royals did it—but it’s awfully hard, especially if the team on the other side of the field is the Cubs. 

Prediction: Cubs win World Series in six games

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