Cubs vs. Indians: 2016 World Series preview and prediction

The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians will meet in the 2016 World Series. Here is a preview and prediction for this year’s fall classic.

Well, the improbable has finally happened. The two least expected teams in Major League Baseball have defied the odds and are now set to face off in the World Series. The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians look to erase a lifetime of bad luck and bring the trophy home to their city.

The Indians have been sitting in wait for a few days, after disposing of the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS. It was a rather surprising series, as Toronto was a heavy favorite to return to the World Series. But the Indians had other plans, and disposed of them in five games.

Then we have that team from Wrigley Field. The team that hasn’t won a World Series in 108 years, and haven’t BEEN to a series since 1945. The Chicago Cubs took care of business and knocked out Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS.

That brings us to Tuesday night’s Game 1 of the World Series. The Indians on Sunday announced their rotation for the series. They will send 18-game winner Corey Kluber to the mound on Tuesday in Cleveland. Trevor Bauer will take the mound in Game 2, and Josh Tomlin will make the start for Game 3 when the series shifts back to Wrigley Field.

The Cubs can almost expect their starting rotation to be a mirror image of the NLCS. Jon Lester will likely start Game 1, with Kyle Hendricks getting the nod for Game2, and Jake Arrieta for Game 3 in Chicago. Beyond that, it really all depends on what Joe Maddon has up his sleeve.

The irony of this year’s World Series is the combination of Cleveland manager Terry Francona and Chicago’s president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. Together, they ended the “Curse of the Bambino” in Boston, so it’s oddly appropriate that they’ll now have their curse-breaking abilities in other markets tested head-to-head.

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Each team holds their respective league’s longest stretch without a World Series trophy. So the storybook situation that is about to unfold is borderline legendary. The question is, how will Cleveland’s home-field advantage help them, after the American League won the All-Star Game back in July?

The Cubs simply have the best lineup in baseball. Javier Baez has turned into a wild card workhorse, with his offensive production and dazzling defensive plays. Mix the production of Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, and they have the making of a true Cinderella story.

And for that, the dramatics of both teams will almost guarantee this series to go the distance. Bank on the Cubs ending the 108-year drought and bringing a long overdue World Series trophy back to Chicago.

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