A pool of 10 teams has been narrowed down to two, with the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians ready to clash in major league baseball’s 112th Fall Classic.
It all comes down to this. From an MLB executive office standpoint, the 2016 postseason could not have played out more perfectly.
Consistent well-played, well-fought series that went tooth and nail but, ultimately, the two feel-good stories claimed the two available pennants.
A combined drought of 174 years will be put into play when the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians kick off the World Series tonight at Progressive Field.
The most amazing, dramatic, and intensifying part of it all? Only one team will come out on top. Only one team can hoist the commissioner’s trophy when the best-of-seven duel is all said and done. Only one team will put years of misery to bed, once and for all.
For the Cubs, the magic number was 108 heading into the playoffs. For the Tribe, the magic number was 68.
Starting tonight, for both teams, the magic number is four.
With every fan anticipating one of the more unique tilts in recent history, there are certain factors that must be known heading in. There are particular aspects that cannot be hidden under the rug.
With that said, Elite Sports NY is here to provide you with the only extensive preview which completely cuts through the sideshow.
Pitching Matchups
Games 1 & 5 (if nec.): Jon Lester vs. Corey Kluber
Games 2 & 6 (if nec.): Jake Arrieta vs. Trevor Bauer
Games 3 & 7 (if nec.): Kyle Hendricks vs. Josh Tomlin
Game 4: John Lackey vs. TBD
As far as rotation depth is concerned, the Indians have surprisingly received stellar output from top to bottom. For the Cubs, Lester and Hendricks have most certainly done their part. With that said, the guy they need to standout, a potential X-Factor in the series, is Jake Arrieta.
Aside from his 2015 NL Wild Card game masterpiece, the right-hander, who has been superb throughout the last two regular seasons, has developed a subpar postseason track record. Since that start, Chicago is 1-3 when he is on the mound in a playoff game, a result of his dismal 5.82 ERA.
If the Cubs want to prevail, they will need to be three-dimensional rather than two-dimensional. Games 2 and 6 will be pivotal to the complexion of the series, with Arrieta taking forefront.
NEXT: Offensive Players To Watch
Offensive Players To Watch
Kris Bryant – CHC
Bryant’s power silence for the majority of the playoffs should scare anyone in any series, let alone the World Series. Sure, he was one the Cubs’ most consistent hitters for the entirety of the first two rounds.
With that being said, if the 24-year-old’s power stroke — which has produced only one postseason homer thus far — surfaces, fans may be in for a treat. He can certainly give the Indians fits.
The three announced Cleveland starters combined to surrender 78 home runs in the regular season. If success is what they desire, they must keep the NL MVP candidate in the ballpark.
Jason Kipnis – CLE
The 5’11” second baseman is due for a breakout series. One of the Tribe’s constants throughout the regular season, he has been uncharacteristically nonexistent in these playoffs.
At 5-30 (.167) overall, his only two positive moments have been two home runs — which he ran into — in two separate series.
Expect an impactful and spotless series for Kipnis, front to back.
Kyle Schwarber – CHC
One week ago, Kyle Schwarber’s name was not in any Chicago fan’s vocabulary. All of a sudden, the name has resurfaced, and it appears more and more likely that he will be an option off the bench and as a DH in the American League park (Games 1, 2, 6, 7).
Whether he is 100-percent or not, after suffering that horrific leg injury in the beginning of the season, his offensive firepower cannot be denied. After all, it is not like the Cubs are asking him to call nine innings and crouch down behind the plate.
Keep in mind, this was a guy who blasted 16 homers and drove in 43 runs in 69 games in his rookie campaign last year, along with having a profound impact in the playoffs.
NEXT: Game-By-Game Predictions
Game-By-Game Predictions
The Indians ride the Progressive Field energy to an authoritative Game 1 win, knocking co-NLCS MVP Jon Lester from the game after 3.1 miserable innings. Carlos Santana jacks a two-run homer in the first inning to get things started.
Potentially facing a 2-0 series hole, the Cubs strike back trailing by a run in the eighth. Kris Bryant hammers a two-run blast to left-center field off the untouchable Andrew Miller to give Chicago an unexpected lead, with Aroldis Chapman slamming the door in the ninth to tie the series at a game a piece.
A return home to Wrigley brings about a massive turn in momentum, as the Cubs trounce the Tribe in Game 3 behind two home runs from the suddenly scorching Kris Bryant.
The Indians eek out a much-needed victory to pull even in the best-of-seven. Francisco Lindor drives in three runs and Andrew Miller bounces back from his Game 2 blunder with 2.1 innings of six-strikeout relief to shut the door.
In an epic Game 5 with massive implications, both starters deliver eight inning, one-run gems before the teams trade runs in the ninth. Carlos Santana’s bomb to right field gives Cleveland the 2-1 lead, but Kris Bryant sends one out onto the street in left to knot things up and send the crowd into a frenzy. Seven pitching changes, four innings later, it is Kyle Schwarber — the most unlikely hero — launching a walk-off solo shot off the bench to put Chicago in the driver’s seat, with the final score reflecting the series score.
With their backs against the wall, the Indians pull even and force a decisive Game 7 thanks to a four-run first inning. Trevor Bauer hurls 6.1 stellar innings of two-hit, two-run ball to keep the Tribe’s magical season alive … for one more day.
It is the Kris Bryant show in a winner-take-all Game 7. If he hadn’t secured the MVP already with his four homers and seven RBI, he puts the icing on the cake with a legendary performance, driving in four of the five Chicago runs. His two-run blast in the first inning and two-run single in the fifth prove to be the difference. Joe Maddon turns to Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the seventh, and the Cuban Missile proceeds to fire 2.1 electrifying frames to secure the Cubs’ first World Series title in 108 years.
World Series MVP: Kris Bryant (.333, 5 HR, 11 RBI)
NEXT: ESNY Staff Picks
Robby Sabo: Indians in 7, Francisco Lindor MVP
Christian Kouroupakis: Indians in 6, Francisco Lindor MVP
Chris Boccia: Cubs in 5, Ben Zobrist MVP
Gregg Cambareri: Cubs in 5, Jon Lester MVP
Cristian Rabinowitz: Cubs in 7, Anthony Rizzo MVP
Ryan Ackerman: Indians in 7, Andrew Miller MVP
Patrick Hennessey: Cubs in 6, Anthony Rizzo MVP
Sam Kobylar: Cubs in 6, Anthony Rizzo MVP