PREMIUM
Rogers' World Series Game 6 Coach's Clinic >> 4-1 in World Series!
(MLB) Chi Cubs vs. Cleveland,
11/01/2016 4:08 PM, Score: 9 - 3
Money Line: -144.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -144.00 Chi Cubs (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: When the Indians won 7-2 in Game 4 to go up 3-1 in the 2016 World Series, it was noted that teams taking a 3-1 advantage have previously been able to win 29 of 34 times in that situation. However, the Cubs staved off elimination Sunday night with a 3-2 win by riding a three-run 4th inning which was enough for Chicago to secure the victory. The Cubs made the decision to bring in closer Aroldis Chapman for an eight-out save and he delivered the goods. The teams now play Game 6 tonight in Cleveland with history on the line for each of these two much-maligned franchises.
The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (1-1, 3.78 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs and like Kluber in Game 4, Josh Tomlin (2-0, 1.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians on three days' rest. Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 (22-6, 1.77 ERA) and went 18-8 with a 3.10 during the 2016 regular season. However, he opened by going 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first 11 starts. Arrieta entered the playoffs with a 5.01 ERA over his final four regular season starts and after a sold first start in the 2016 playoffs (two ERs allowed in six innings), he allowed four ERs on six hits (including two HRs) over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS. That gave him a 4.91 postseason ERA with opponents are batting .273 against him compared to .194 in the regular season. However, down 1-0 in the series, Arrieta came up big for the Cubs in Game 2, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning and leaving with just two hits and one run allowed over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 Chicago win. As for Tomlin, he's been a great "second banana" to Kluber this postseason, owning a 1.76 ERA in three playoff starts with a 2-0 record and the Indians winning all three of his starts. Tomlin surrendered two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3 but was yanked by Francona at the first hint of trouble in a game the Indians went on to win 1-0. He has now allowed two runs or less in each of his last eight appearances going back to the regular season. Yes, Tomlin is going on three days' rest in Game 6 but he only threw 58 pitches in Game 3.
The pick: Wouldn't it be fitting for this series, one in which the Cubs are looking for their first World Series tile since 1908 and the Indians for their first since 1948, to go to a deciding seventh game? Neither team has hit well through the first five games with the Indians batting .236 and averaging 3.4 RPG and the Cubs batting .210 while scoring a measly 10 runs in the five games. However, the return of Kyle Schwarber to the Chicago lineup as the DH here in Cleveland may be just what the doctor ordered for the Cubs lineup. This marks the biggest starts in the careers of both Arrieta and Tomlin and I believe Arrieta's Game 2 effort is enough of a reason to back the Cubs in this one. Chicago is an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (1-1, 3.78 ERA) takes the mound for the Cubs and like Kluber in Game 4, Josh Tomlin (2-0, 1.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians on three days' rest. Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 (22-6, 1.77 ERA) and went 18-8 with a 3.10 during the 2016 regular season. However, he opened by going 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first 11 starts. Arrieta entered the playoffs with a 5.01 ERA over his final four regular season starts and after a sold first start in the 2016 playoffs (two ERs allowed in six innings), he allowed four ERs on six hits (including two HRs) over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS. That gave him a 4.91 postseason ERA with opponents are batting .273 against him compared to .194 in the regular season. However, down 1-0 in the series, Arrieta came up big for the Cubs in Game 2, taking a no-hitter into the 6th inning and leaving with just two hits and one run allowed over 5 2/3 innings of a 5-1 Chicago win. As for Tomlin, he's been a great "second banana" to Kluber this postseason, owning a 1.76 ERA in three playoff starts with a 2-0 record and the Indians winning all three of his starts. Tomlin surrendered two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3 but was yanked by Francona at the first hint of trouble in a game the Indians went on to win 1-0. He has now allowed two runs or less in each of his last eight appearances going back to the regular season. Yes, Tomlin is going on three days' rest in Game 6 but he only threw 58 pitches in Game 3.
The pick: Wouldn't it be fitting for this series, one in which the Cubs are looking for their first World Series tile since 1908 and the Indians for their first since 1948, to go to a deciding seventh game? Neither team has hit well through the first five games with the Indians batting .236 and averaging 3.4 RPG and the Cubs batting .210 while scoring a measly 10 runs in the five games. However, the return of Kyle Schwarber to the Chicago lineup as the DH here in Cleveland may be just what the doctor ordered for the Cubs lineup. This marks the biggest starts in the careers of both Arrieta and Tomlin and I believe Arrieta's Game 2 effort is enough of a reason to back the Cubs in this one. Chicago is an 8* play.
