ALCS 2016: 5 reasons Indians will win

Oct 7, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall (right) is greeted at home plate by left fielder Brandon Guyer (6) and third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) after hitting a three-run home run against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning in game two of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller (24) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

4. It’s always Miller Time

Part of the reason the Toronto Blue Jays are even in the ALCS is Buck Showalter’s refusal to use his best reliever, Zach Britton, in a pivotal situation where one good pitch could have changed the entire ballgame. Terry Francona has no such problem with his own bullpen management. In the ALDS, Andrew Miller was called upon in the fifth inning of Game 1 and the sixth inning of Game 3.

Against the Red Sox, the left-handed reliever pitched four innings, striking out seven and not allowing a single run. Francona was not shy about pushing his best reliever in both appearances. Miller threw 40 pitches in Game 1 and 35 in Game 2.

Miller put aside his ego twice this season. First, he handed the closer’s job in New York to Aroldis Chapman. Then, after being traded to Cleveland, he accepted a jack-of-all-trades role, coming into games whenever Francona needed outs in high-leverage situations.

Baseball and the men in the dugouts calling the shots are getting smarter, but the notion that the three outs in the ninth inning are harder to come by than the three outs in the seventh inning still persists. Francona’s willingness to use Miller in the sixth inning of a one-run game is a better way to pass the baton to the ninth inning, especially when it means a lesser middle reliever will not have to face Jose Bautista or Edwin Encarnacion.

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