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Recapping the NLCS, predicting the World Series

Roar Rookie
23rd October, 2016
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The World Series is here. (AFP PHOTO / SAEED KHAN)
Roar Rookie
23rd October, 2016
1

Is it happening? The Chicago Cubs broke through to their first world series since 1945 after securing the pennant in game six of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs only needed one chance at Wrigley Field and rode the back of Kyle Hendricks who was dominant throughout, allowing only two hits and no runs in over seven innings of work.

Kendricks is a throwback to another era in baseball, sacrificing velocity for guile, placement and poise in the big moments. He outsmarted several LA hitters and will be a handful assuming he takes the mound again in the upcoming series against Cleveland.

Conversely, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw struggled with his command especially with the slider and curveball and was punished a number of times early by a Cubs offense that has now scored 23 runs in its last three games.

Kershaw has had a heavy workload this postseason, including a two out save on next to no rest having only recently returned from a serious back injury. Kershaw and the Dodgers return to LA needing to bolster their back-end pitching staff and rejuvenate in some key positions.

2B Chase Utley struggled in the postseason and is in the twilight of a stellar career. The future of OF Yasiel Puig is also up in the air, after having a brief stint in the minors and on the trading block, Puig returned to the big league squad but saw limited playing time in this series and a trade may still eventuate.

The Cubs will look to carry their momentum to Progressive Field but as is often the case in baseball, momentum rides on the shoulders of whoever takes the mound. Ace Jon Lester could be up for the Cubs in game one and has been stellar in his last few starts.

By the time game one rolls around, the Tribe has will have had the best part of a week to watch the NLCS unfold and rest up before a two game stretch in Cleveland to open up the series. Corey Kluber is expected

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There are whispers that Danny Salazar could return to pitch for Cleveland and that Kyle Schwarber could return to DH for Chicago in their games at Progressive. The slugger made his return from a knee injury in the Arizona Fall League while the Cubs were playing game six and although struggling at the plate, reports are his swing looked good.

Schwarber would add more offense to an already loaded line up and could add some value in what will be a tight series. No doubt there will be plenty more line-up rumours as there is every time the world series rolls around.

For now, all eyes turn to Cleveland, Ohio and game one of the 2016 world series.

If a match up between Lester and Kluber eventuates in game one, the Indians have an opportunity to strike an early blow and nullify the Cubs ace on the road. Kluber has a stupendous ERA of 0.98 this postseason including 20 strikeouts in just over 18 innings.

Trevor Bauer will have had a week to recover from a nasty gash on his finger that forced him out of game three of the ALCS.

When it comes down to the bullpen as baseball invariably does, Andrew Miller has been dominant and the series could come down to a battle of former New York Yankee closers.

Both Miller and Aroldis Chapman (Cubs) were dealt by the Yankees during this year’s trade period and the leftys have both proven to be valuable in the late stages.

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Miller took the ALCS MVP and looks in no mood to slow down. Flamethrower Aroldis Chapman was taken deep in the Dodgers series and in the process lost some of the aura that comes with his 102mph+ fastball.

Home field advantage, in-form pitching staff and offensive power all over the line-up will hold the Indians in good stead and although the Chicago bats have been alight in the last series, the pressure and bright lights of a world series will help Cleveland in slowing them down.

Although they are big underdogs, Cleveland takes the first two at Progressive and one at Wrigley and wraps it up at Progressive Field when the series returns for game 6.

World Series Prediction: Cleveland Indians 4 Chicago Cubs 2

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