A lengthy World Series drought is about to end.
The Cubs and Indians will meet in the 2016 Fall Classic, meaning either Chicago will win its first World Series title since 1908 or Cleveland will earn its first Major League Baseball crown since 1948. This marks the Cubbies’ first World Series appearance since 1945 and the Tribe’s first since 1997.
In other words, these two organizations aren’t accustomed to championship success. As such, the fan bases have been going out of their minds this October. The Indians punched their ticket to the World Series by beating the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The Cubs, meanwhile, earned their trip to the ‘ship by taking down the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
There are an abundance of storylines surrounding this World Series, but the matchup itself is as intriguing as the historical significance of a Cubs-Indians showdown. Chicago was the best team in baseball in the regular season, winning the National League Central with a 103-58 record, while Cleveland, which won the American League Central by going 94-67, has overcome several key injuries en route to this point.
NESN.com’s Ricky Doyle, Darren Hartwell and Nicholas Goss, like most baseball fans, plan to keep a close eye on this year’s World Series. Before the action kicks off with Game 1 on Tuesday night at Progressive Field, the trio decided to make some predictions for the best-of-seven series.
Ricky: Cubs in five.
Andrew Miller has been the single biggest weapon in the postseason, but there are only so many times the Indians can go to that well. Chicago’s potent offense has a chance to jump out to some early leads against Cleveland’s starters, which are iffy beyond ace Corey Kluber. And on the flip side, the Cubs’ rotation is simply too stacked, especially with playoff stud Jon Lester leading the way.
Nick: Cubs in five.
The Cubs’ offense will power them to a convincing series win. Chicago has scored 21 more runs, tallied 25 more hits and 42 more total bases than Cleveland, in addition to a higher batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and OPS. Sure, good pitching usually beats good offense in October, but through two rounds, the Cubs have already beaten aces Johnny Cueto and Clayton Kershaw, while knocking Madison Bumgarner out after three runs in five innings. All the Cubs need is a split in Cleveland and they’ll end their championship drought at Wrigley Field in Game 5.
Darren: Indians in seven.
I’ll be that guy. Chicago has a more potent offense and a better starting rotation, but the Indians boast a better bullpen — which proved invaluable in their American League Championship Series win — and a balanced lineup that hasn’t really slumped yet this postseason. Cleveland will run all over Lester in Game 1, setting the tone for an epic World Series that ends with another championship for Believeland and a heartbreaking loss for the Cubs at the hands of Theo Epstein’s former employee, Terry Francona.
Thumbnail photo via Jerry Lai/USA TODAY Sports Images
