Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians 5:00 PM (AZ Time) FOX
Jon Lester (19-5 2.44 ERA) vs. Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA)
Tied 0-0
This is one of the more exciting World Series matchups we've had in awhile from a history perspective. The city of Chicago hasn't been to or won a World Series in 11 years, and the city of Cleveland hasn't won a major pro sports championship of any kind since June of 2016!
Pedantic trolling aside, one of these teams will end a very long World Series drought. Hell, it's been so long for the Cubs that this is the first World Series they'll play with an integrated team, which seems nuts! (Not as nuts as the idea of segregation, but that's another thing)
The Cubs, by the way, have to play up to four games in Cleveland this World Series because of a game wherein a San Francisco Giant gave up a few homers to members of the Kansas City Royals. It makes total sense.
But enough out of me, here is some of the Snakepit Illuminati with their predictions for this Fall classic:
piratedan7
For some reason.... I really like the Tribe. I think they'll take it in six. The pressure that the Cubs face being the anointed ones, the media hoopla all figure into it, but also some baseball stuff too for me. I felt that the AL was the strongest league this year and the Indians essentially beat all comers.
Taking down the BoSox and the Jays, both extremely potent offenses, makes me think that a similar game plan may well work on the Cubs as well. Plus, its not as if Francona doesn't know how to manage either. so the edge I might have allowed to Maddon gets nullified here. I'll let others do the breakdown of what ever numbers and stats move them and if I end up being wrong, well congrats to the team in Illinois, but something says The Tribe, so I'll just follow that hunch.
Indians in Undefined
preston.salisbury
At first glance, the Cubs appear to have the advantage over the Indians. Certainly they have the starting pitching advantage. The Indians only have the advantage in two areas: the bullpen (apart from the closer) and home field advantage. But I think the Cubs have the advantage in Game 1, and road teams almost always have to win Game 1 to win the series (no team in 24 years has recovered from a Game 1 loss on the road to win the World Series.) So my first thought was that the Cubs would win in six.
However, for the Cubs to win in six, they would have to clinch the series in Cleveland. Since 1980, only four teams (1981 Dodgers, 1992 Blue Jays, 2003 Marlins, and 2014 Giants) have clinched a World Series on the road in either Game 6 or Game 7. 13 times during that stretch, a team has gone on the road up 3-2. The home team has managed to force a Game 7 in 10 of those instances, and has won it in 9 of 10. Also, seven teams since 1980 (and three in the last 24 years) have recovered from losing Game 1 at home to win the series. For the Cubs to win the series, they likely need to finish off the Indians in five. I don't see that happening.
Indians in seven.
Jim McLennan
You couldn't have scripted this better: the two sides with the longest World Series droughts face off. I'd like to thank the Cubs for having knocked off both the Giants AND the Dodgers, on their way there. But it's now time for them to maintain their spot as the ultimate lovable losers and roll over to the Indians. Just remember what happened to the Red Sox, after they ended their streak: their fans went from long-standing objects of sympathy to unbearably smug massholes. Don't make the same mistake, Northsiders!
That said, this is a very good Cubs team, with close to no weaknesses. The Indians are going to have their work cut out, and be at their very best if they are going to prevail. I've a feeling they are going to come up just short, with the longest drought in the history of US professional sports finally ending. And I must confess, Miguel Montero celebrating a World Series victory is something I wouldn't hate to see.
Cubs in six.
Makakilo
The Cubs are the favorite to win. Based on Fivethirtyeight.com's ELO rating of the two teams, statistically the Cubs should win the series 60% of the time. Reality may be closer because historically the favorite team has won the series only 54% of the time since 1925.
My bold prediction is the underdog Indians win. Four reasons follow:
1. The Indians had more preparation time between their last game and the start of the World Series. Preparation is often the most important key to winning!
2. My philosophy is that pitching is more important than hitting. The Indians scored 12 runs in 5 games against the Blue Jays, and still won 4 games to 1 game. The Indians pitched well!
3. It is a predictive sign that the Indians beat the Blue Jays. Similar to the Cubs, the Blue Jays have good starting pitching but not-so-good relief pitching
4. The Indians played better teams during this post-season. The Indians beat the Blue Jays and the Red Sox (totaling 25.2 wins above average according to Baseball Reference, and 182 wins). These teams were better than the Giants and the Dodgers (totaling 21.1 wins above average, and with 178 wins).
I predict Indians will win the Word Series this year! They are winners!
Indians in Undefined
Clefo
I like Cleveland as a team and a concept, and they've done very well to get to this point without some of their key contributors (Brantley, Carrasco, Gomes, etc.), but man the Cubs seem really good. Like really really good. Like so good we're gonna be sick of their shit in two years good. Their big free agent signing tanked and all of their other pieces just keep on rolling to a 103 win season. Their pitching staff seems way more formidable, they have the likely National League MVP, all that stuff.
Of course, baseball is weird, and all of that might not matter if there's an ill-timed cold stretch. However, this Cubs team seems like they'd be able to overcome that.
Also my greatest hope is that Miguel Montero homers off of Trevor Bauer and records a sick diss track about it in the offseason.
Cubs in 5
James Attwood
With Salazar being a huge question mark and Bauer still having to get beyond the sliced pinky, I just don't think they have the starting pitching that Chicago does, even if they do have a solid ace atop their rotation. I also have more faith in Chicago's offense should it become a battle of the offenses.
That said, this is the World Series and YCPB
Cubs in 6
imstillhungry95
Want NarrativeTM? We've got it. Cubs vs. Indians id the series no one thought would ever happen, but here we are. You can be sure that Joe Buck will make it so that you can't forget. In fact, you'll probably be wishing for the heat death of the universe by the time its done. It should be a good series though. Good pitching on both sides, and you know both teams want it. I think the Cubs are the better team, though.
Cubs in 6