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The dream lived on for the Chicago Cubs, as the team held on for a 3-2 win at Wrigley Field to force a Game 6. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians head back home with two chances to end a drought of their own in the 2016 World Series.

The Cubs finally mustered enough offense to earn a win, but can they build on that to tie this series on Tuesday? They will need to, as the Indians continue to get quality pitching from their rotation and their sensational bullpen.

Let us take a look at the schedule for Game 6, as well as a breakdown and prediction for the critical showdown.

Game 6 Preview 

Tuesday’s matchup features one of the game’s top pitchers against a relative unknown who emerged as a clutch performer in these playoffs.

Jake Arrieta will look to repeat his fantastic Game 2 outing, where he earned the win after going 5.2 innings and allowing two hits and one run. The 2015 Cy Young winner has dealt with inconsistency this postseason, though, as he turned in a similar performance in Game 3 of the National League Divison Series, but he was lit up for four runs in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yet, the 30-year-old is focused on his game with the intention of building on his positive outings of this postseason, per Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s JJ Stankevitz.

It’s just like any other game where you feel comfortable with the game plan and you go out there to do your best to follow through on the execution. So that’s really the only thing that I’ll be thinking about as Tuesday approaches, is just trying to be efficient. Trying to be as good as I can about moving the ball in and out, up and down and changing speeds and trying to keep those guys off balance.

Arrieta’s stellar play in his previous start is a bit surprising considering he has shaky numbers against many of Cleveland’s top batters:

Arrieta’s odds of receiving some healthy run support should increase as Chicago slugger Kyle Schwarber is set to return to the team’s lineup as a designated hitter. The 23-year-old was electric in the first two games in Cleveland, going 3-for-7 with two RBI and a pair of walks. 

Repeating that type of production will not be easy against Josh Tomlin. The Cleveland starter’s been an X-factor for the Indians with an excellent playoff run of his own, and he is also plenty locked-in for Tuesday, per MLB.com:

Tomlin turned in his best game of his postseason career in Game 3, stifling the Cubs for no runs and just two hits in 4.2 innings. However, Schwarber believes Chicago can have more success against the 32-year-old the second time around, per the Chicago Tribune‘s Paul Sullivan.

“We might have expanded (the strike) zone here and there, but that’s an adjustment that can easily be made,” Schwarber said of Tomlin. “And that was a bunch of guys first time facing him, too. I’m sure (Tuesday) it’ll be a completely different situation and approach.”

Schwarber was correct in that the vast majority of his teammates had not previously faced Tomlin, and the Cubs were in a similar situation against another Cleveland starter.

Trevor Bauer had one career start against Chicago prior to the World Series, where he tossed 7.0 scoreless innings in a 2015 win. The second time around, against many of the current Cubs, Bauer was roughed up in Game 2 for six hits and two runs in 3.2 innings, which was followed by another loss where he allowed six hits and three runs in 4.0 innings. 

The Cubs have proved they can rebound against top pitchers, as it bounced back from a dominant Clayton Kershaw performance in Game 2 of the NLCS before breaking the ace in a Game 6 win. Yet, this trend has not held true with Cleveland star Corey Kluber, who is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in this World Series.

Cleveland first baseman Mike Napoli is confident his team can finish the job at home, as the Indians’ play at Wrigley Field proved the squad is generally playing winning baseball, per the Associated Press (via Fox Sports).

“We’re in good position, still,” Napoli said. “We’re up 3-2 going home. We did what we had to do here. We put ourselves in position to try and win it in a crazy atmosphere. We’re happy with what we did here. We’re going to get home and play in front of our fans.”

The Indians have been far more consistent in this series, which is why they have the edge in Game 6. Chicago’s offense has been streaky at best, as the team is averaging a mere two runs per game while being shut out twice. This makes it difficult to rely on the Cubs to produce.

Cleveland is finding a way to create early leads, which utilizes a dominant bullpen led by Andrew Miller. Behind a rowdy home crowd that will be aching to witness the team’s first World Series title since 1948, the Indians will follow this strategy once more and hold on to clinch the world title on Tuesday.

Prediction: Cleveland Wins 4-2

Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com. 

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The Chicago Cubs did their part to make this World Series look a lot more interesting.

By winning Game 5 at Wrigley Field, Chicago sent the series back to Cleveland for a pivotal Game 6. The Cleveland Indians lead the series 3-2.

It’s a series that has been largely defined by pitching, as both teams have played erratic offense at best. So many of the keys to Tuesday’s game lie at the plate.

But that’s not all that will determine whether or not this series goes a full seven games.

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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.”

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.

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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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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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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.

2 

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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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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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.

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.

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Spending sprees may be a few weeks away for Major League Baseball teams, but impending free agents are already appraising their worth on the open market.

When it comes to the likes of Rich Hill, Yoenis Cespedes and Wilson Ramos, there should be plenty of money tossed around when general managers descend on the winter meetings in National Harbor, Maryland.

As free agency approaches, here’s a rundown of the latest rumors regarding some of this year’s biggest names.

Rich Hill Looking to Capitalize on Surging Value

Hill split his 2016 season between the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers, but a change of scenery didn’t prevent him from posting gaudy numbers.

Over the course of 20 starts, Hill went 12-5 with a 2.12 ERA, a 0.997 WHIP and 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Thanks to those stellar numbers, the 36-year-old is eyeing a major payday this winter. 

“Could a three-year, $45 million deal be far-fetched for the 36-year-old lefty? It’s the figure major league sources often reference,” the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reported. “The Dodgers could also make Hill a $17.2 million qualifying offer, which he would likely reject given the limited pitching market.”

A deal that pays out $15 million annually would justify what Hill did throughout the 2016 season, but committing that much money to a pitcher who will be 37 when the 2017 season starts is a risky proposition.

With that said, pitchers of Hill’s caliber are never short on offers when free agency opens. 

A deal approaching $50 million would feel a tad rich, but Hill should be able to field a multiyear offer that exceeds $40 million.

Prediction: Hill signs a three-year deal worth just north of $40 million.

Giants Seeking to Steal Cespedes from Mets?

Cespedes will be one of the hottest names on the free-agent market this year, assuming he opts out of his deal with the New York Mets, and he will reportedly have no shortage of suitors if he chooses to do so. 

One team stands out as a primary competitor for his services.

That would be the San Francisco Giants, according to the New York Daily News‘ Kristie Ackert:

Long before they ended the Mets’ season in the National League wild-card game, industry sources were talking about the Giants as the natural landing spot for Cespedes. They were ranked 28th in the majors in home runs with just 130 and 25th in slugging percentage last year, something that signing Cespedes would quickly resolve. With Angel Pagan a free agent and not likely to be re-signed, they have a vacancy in left field, where Cespedes prefers to play. 

Ackert also noted the Giants have never been afraid to spend on free agents, with Johnny Cueto’s $130 million deal standing out as a primary example.

However, the Mets are still in a good spot even if the Giants pursue a lucrative, long-term deal with the Cuban power hitter.

According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, “The Mets’ perception is that, all things being equal, Cespedes would prefer to play for them, something he demonstrated by taking their deal last winter, with less guaranteed money than what Washington offered.”

Considering the success Cespedes has experienced since arriving in New York (48 total home runs, 130 RBI, .554 slugging percentage), he should give the team that gambled on him in July 2015 some preferential treatment as the Mets seek another National League East title.

Prediction: Cespedes re-signs with Mets following intense pursuit by the Giants.

Wilson Ramos Eyeing Long-Term Pact

Ramos had a fantastic 2016 season, hitting .307/.354/.496 with a career-high 22 home runs and 80 RBI. 

However, things came to a screeching halt when he suffered a torn ACL at the tail end of the regular season. Now Ramos is expected to miss a good chunk of the 2017 season as he rehabilitates. 

Despite the setback, Ramos is still looking for a serious commitment from a team in free agency.

Although the Washington Post‘s Jorge Castillo reported the Washington Nationals not offering Ramos a qualifying offer worth $17.2 million “is unlikely but possible,” the catcher’s agent has been adamant that his client is seeking a long-term deal.

According to Castillo, agent Wil Polidor has indicated the catcher “is seeking a four- to five-year contract, which he could secure only if he were to reject the qualifying offer.”

It’s no surprise that Ramos’ camp wants to maximize his value on the open market, but it’s hard to envision a team offering him such a deal.

Rather, it’s more feasible that a team would offer Ramos a prove-it deal that has one guaranteed year and some club options on the back end as protection.

Plus, if Ramos is amenable to signing with an American League club, he could wind up easing a prospective employer’s concerns by serving as a designated hitter.

Prediction: Ramos signs a one-year deal including club option with American League team.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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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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