Chicago Cubs (0-1) at Cleveland (1-0)
When: Wednesday, October 26th 2016
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FOX
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The Cleveland Indians rolled through the first to rounds of the playoffs with dominant pitching and it continued with last night’s 6-0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series. Corey Kluber was brilliant once again and Andrew Miller worked himself out of a bases loaded jam in the 7th to help the Indians take a 1-0 lead in the series. In four postseason starts this year, Kluber is 3-1 with a 0.74 ERA. Indians’ catcher Roberto Perez became the first player to hit two homeruns from the 9th spot in the order as he provided all the offense Cleveland needed. Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez had three hits each for the Indians, who improved to 8-1 in the postseason. Cubs starter Jon Lester pitched 5.2 innings, giving up three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and three walks. Cubs C/OF Kyle Schwarber, who had surgery April 7th to repair torn ligaments in his left knee, came back last night and had a double and a walk. Ben Zobrist led the Cubs with three hits, but the top three in the order (Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo) went a combined 0-for-11 with a walk.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91 ERA) | Indians – Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.06)
Jake Arrieta gets the Game 2 start and the Cubs have been on the losing end of both of his turns this postseason. He’s allowed 12 hits and six runs in 11 innings of work with ten strikeouts. He has given up four runs in three of his five career postseason starts, but feels he’s ready for Wednesday. “I think what you really learn with the more experience you get in the postseason is the finer details, controlling the running game, not allowing mental mistakes and not allowing your opponent to capitalize on your mental mistakes,” Arrieta stated during a press conference. Arrieta started one game at Progressive Field as a member of the Baltimore Orioles and picked up the win despite allowing six runs – five earned – and six hits in six innings of a 14-8 victory way back in August of 2010.
Trevor Bauer will make his first start since coming out of Game 3 of the ALDS against Toronto after recording just two outs. He badly cut his right pinkie finger while working on his drone on October 14th and had to come out as the finger began bleeding profusely. He said the cut is now healed and he tested the finger by throwing 20 pitches on Monday without incident. Bauer lasted just 4.2 innings in an ALDS game against Boston, allowing six hits and three runs while striking out six.
The Indians are on a roll right now and Arrieta has proved human since the All-Star Break. No longer am I afraid to go against him especially as a heavy favorite like he is tonight. This could be a series for the home teams and I’ll take Cleveland here tonight.
Pick: Indians +140
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