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ALCS 2016: 5 reasons Indians will win

By Joshua Sadlock

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
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 starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (43) leaves the game 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
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin (43) leaves the game 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 /

2. Back-end arms do just enough

In the ALDS, Trevor Bauer and Josh Tomlin started Games 1 and 3. Both did just enough to keep the Indians in the game against the powerful Red Sox attack. Bauer battled for 4.2 innings in Game 1, allowing three runs but striking out six. Then, he gave way to Andrew Miller. Tomlin gave his team five strong innings in Game 3, allowing only two runs. Again, Miller followed in relief.

In the regular season, it may not be a recipe for success to have your starters go only five innings, but October baseball is an entirely different beast. With off days sprinkled in, Miller can realistically be called upon for two innings of work multiple times in a series. That makes the job of middling pitchers like Bauer and Tomlin easier. Without the pressure to go through the Jays lineup three times, Bauer and Tomlin stand a better chance of exiting the game with a lead.

It’s still not a foolproof plan, asking number-three starters like Bauer and Tomlin to make the bulk of the starts in a playoff series, but having a weapon like Miller waiting to be used at the smallest sign of trouble helps the Indians immensely. Both pitchers proved their worth by holding the Red Sox down in the ALDS, and if they can each make a quality start in the ALCS, the Indians have a good chance of moving on.

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