We're set for a pretty fun World Series between two long-suffering fan bases in the Cleveland Indians vs. the Chicago Cubs. In the coming days leading up to the World Series, we'll have plenty of preview-type content for sure. One thing that initially stands out to me, though, is the Cubs' need to be leading as they head into the middle innings.
Because if not, watch out.
It's not necessarily scoring first, as the Indians trailed 1-0 in the first inning of Game 1 of the NLDS. It's just that they had a 4-2 lead heading into the fifth inning and once that shrunk to 4-3 in the fifth, Andrew Miller was summoned from the Cleveland bullpen by manager Terry Francona. And the rest was history.
Miller has gotten all the headlines and won the ALCS MVP. Rightfully so, because in the span of two weeks, he appeared in six of the Indians' eight playoff games, working 11 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing only five hits and two walks. He struck out 21. Opposing hitters slashed a putrid .132/.171/.184 against him.
It wasn't only Miller, though. Closer Cody Allen has yet to allow a run in 7 2/3 innings while having only given up five hits and three walks against 12 strikeouts. Dan Otero has provided good work and Jeff Manship got some important outs. In all, Indians relievers have worked 32 1/3 innings this postseason in eight games. They have a 1.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 41 strikeouts against seven walks.
That's an elite closer's numbers at the All-Star break. Maybe.
There have been tense moments, sure, but the Indians have had the lead in the sixth inning in seven of their eight playoff games. The time they didn't? Game 4 of the ALCS, when the Blue Jays led 2-1. That was the only game the Indians have lost this postseason.
Now, the Cubs have shown the ability to score late runs against bullpens. Kris Bryant hit a ninth-inning, game-tying homer in Game 3 of the NLDS. The Cubs had a historic ninth-inning comeback in Game 4 of the NLDS. They put a five-spot on the board to break a tie in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the NLCS. They tagged the Dodgers' bullpen for six runs in the fifth and sixth innings of Game 4, then got seven runs off relievers in the sixth and eighth innings combined in Game 5.
Still, all of that came either against a Giants' bullpen that was in tatters and the non-Kenley Jansen part of the Dodgers bullpen.
This Indians bullpen is a horse of a different color -- led by thoroughbreds Miller and Allen.