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World Series MVP Odds
October 23, 2016

The 2016 World Series begins Tuesday as the Cubs and Indians meet in "The Fall Classic."

The Most Valuable Player award is handed out at the end of the series and oddsmakers at Sportsbook.ag have posted odds on which player will capture this year's honor.

Chicago had two players win the National League Championship Series MVP as Jon Lester and Javier Baez shared the award. Lester went 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against Los Angeles while Baez hit .318 (7 for 22) with five RBIs against the Dodgers.

Cleveland relief pitcher Andrew Miller captured the ALCS MVP as the Blue Jays defeated Toronto in five games. He finished with 14 strikeouts and gave up just three hits in 7 2/3 shutout innings for the Indians.

Miller is listed as a 6/1 co-favorite to win the World Series MVP at Sportsbook.ag with Cubs third basemen Kris Bryant. Lester (8/1) and Baez (10/1) are also in the hunt in the latest odds.

Below are the opening World Series MVP odds for all available players at the offshore betting shop.

Odds to win 2016 World Series MVP - per Sportsbook.ag
Andrew Miller (Indians) 6/1
Kris Bryant (Cubs) 6/1
Jon Lester (Cubs) 8/1
Anthony Rizzo (Cubs) 10/1
Jake Arrieta (Cubs) 10/1
Javier Baez (Cubs) 10/1
Corey Kluber (Indians) 15/1
Dexter Fowler (Cubs) 15/1
Kyle Hendricks (Cubs) 15/1
Addison Russell (Cubs) 18/1
Aroldis Chapman (Cubs) 20/1
Jason Kipnis (Indians) 20/1
Mike Napoli (Indians) 20/1
Ben Zobrist (Cubs) 25/1
Carlos Santana (Indians) 25/1
Cody Allen (Indians) 25/1
John Lackey (Cubs) 25/1
Trevor Bauer (Indians) 25/1
Wilson Contreras (Cubs) 25/1
Francisco Lindor (Indians) 30/1
Roberto Perez (Indians) 35/1
Tyler Naquin (Indians) 35/1
Jason Heyward (Cubs) 50/1
Josh Tomlin (Indians) 55/1
Ryan Merritt (Indians) 75/1

Odds Subject to Change - Updated 10.23.16

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WS tickets at Wrigley through the roof
October 24, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) Fans hoping to see the Cubs play in the World Series for the first time since 1945 are finding a seat could cost them more than what their grandparents paid for their houses.

The euphoria from Saturday night's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers gave way Monday to the realization that history doesn't come cheap.

Box seats on ticket-selling sites such as StubHub were $50,000 and up, with one seller asking $100,000 for a seat and another asking for just under $1 million. But there are lots of box seat tickets in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Tickets to just get into the park and stand behind those with actual seats were going for more than $2,200 each.

Ticket prices are up in Cleveland, too, but prices suggest Indians fans are not willing to pay nearly as much. And there are indications that Cubs fans, getting a look at what they'd pay at Wrigley versus Progressive Field, are buying two tickets: one for a plane and one for a game.

Ticket brokers were being flooded with calls from fans looking for tickets and, as of Monday, they were willing to pay as much as $12,000, said Dan Makras of Classic Tickets in Chicago. But he said prices might climb because Cubs fans are proving to be reluctant to sell no matter how much money they're offered.

''People have waited so long for this,'' he said.

How long? Well, the last time the Cubs were in the World Series, a ticket in the upper grandstand was $6.

That pent-up desire might explain why more than 2.6 million people - about the population of Chicago - signed up for a drawing for a chance to buy the few thousand tickets the Cubs are now selling themselves.

Fans with more creativity than luck or money are making some unusual pitches to pry tickets from the hands of their owners.

In Southern California, Annie Coffman posted on Craigslist an offer to exchange no fewer than two tickets for a week at her ski cabin near Big Bear Lake. ''Rental for a week is about $9,000,'' said Coffman, who grew up near Chicago. Not only that, but her sister owns a ski cabin near Lake Tahoe and would be willing to sweeten the offer.

''If someone wants to make it a whole tour of California, we could do that,'' Coffman said.

Jesse Altig, a firefighter in Portland, Oregon, who grew up watching Cubs games on television with his dad in the 1980s, also took to Craigslist. He placed an ad offering to show whoever gives him a ticket a tour that includes Mt. Hood, the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the fire station where he works.

''I am a regular guy with a family and mortgage and these prices for tickets are kind of astronomical,'' Altig said. ''Maybe there's somebody looking for an experience versus a monetary gain.''

Some Chicago fans apparently are going with Plan B and heading to Cleveland.

Cameron Popp of StubHub said a quarter of the tickets being sold on the site for Game 1 in Cleveland on Tuesday are being paid for with credit cards associated with Illinois ZIP codes. In comparison, only about 2 percent of the sales to Game 3 at Wrigley are coming from Ohio.

No wonder. Papp said the average ticket price for Game 1 is about $1,000.

Such a bargain does not tempt Tom Wilbeck of Chicago.

''Tickets to Wrigley are three times as much and I asked myself if the experience is three times as cool,'' said Wilbeck, 38, who is willing to go as high as $20,000 for two Chicago at-home tickets. ''And the answer is yes. So many people died wishing the Cubs would win the World Series at Wrigley and you can't let this pass you by.''

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Hirschbeck crew chief at World Series
October 24, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) John Hirschbeck will be the umpire crew chief for the World Series and Larry Vanover will call balls and strikes for Game 1.

Major League Baseball announced the seven-man crew Monday. The Series between the Chicago Cubs and Indians opens Tuesday night in Cleveland.

Four umpires will work the World Series for the first time - Vanover, Chris Guccione, Marvin Hudson and Tony Randazzo.

Joe West, in his record 39th straight year in the majors, and Sam Holbrook also are on the crew.

Holbrook will be the replay official for the first two games, then switch places with Vanover. Todd Tichenor will assist in the replay room.

This will be the sixth World Series for West and fifth for Hirschbeck, including three as crew chief. Holbrook is working his second Series.

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Former Indians to handle first pitches
October 24, 2016

Two of Cleveland's stars from the 1990s, Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga, will throw out ceremonial first pitches at the World Series.

Lofton, the fleet-footed center fielder, will have the honor before Game 1 as the Indians host the Chicago Cubs. Baerga, a three-time All-Star second baseman, will handle the duties before Game 2.

Indians fans had pushed on social media to have actor Charlie Sheen, who played Ricky ''Wild Thing'' Vaughn, a hard-throwing pitcher in the iconic movie ''Major League,'' throw out the first pitch. However, the Indians had already decided on Lofton and Baerga, who played together on Cleveland's 1995 World Series team.

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WS tickets at Wrigley through the roof
October 24, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) Fans hoping to see the Cubs play in the World Series for the first time since 1945 are finding a seat could cost them more than what their grandparents paid for their houses.

The euphoria from Saturday night's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers gave way Monday to the realization that history doesn't come cheap.

Box seats on ticket-selling sites such as StubHub were $50,000 and up, with one seller asking $100,000 for a seat and another asking for just under $1 million. But there are lots of box seat tickets in the $5,000 to $10,000 range. Tickets to just get into the park and stand behind those with actual seats were going for more than $2,200 each.

Ticket prices are up in Cleveland, too, but prices suggest Indians fans are not willing to pay nearly as much. And there are indications that Cubs fans, getting a look at what they'd pay at Wrigley versus Progressive Field, are buying two tickets: one for a plane and one for a game.

Ticket brokers were being flooded with calls from fans looking for tickets and, as of Monday, they were willing to pay as much as $12,000, said Dan Makras of Classic Tickets in Chicago. But he said prices might climb because Cubs fans are proving to be reluctant to sell no matter how much money they're offered.

''People have waited so long for this,'' he said.

How long? Well, the last time the Cubs were in the World Series, a ticket in the upper grandstand was $6.

That pent-up desire might explain why more than 2.6 million people - about the population of Chicago - signed up for a drawing for a chance to buy the few thousand tickets the Cubs are now selling themselves.

Fans with more creativity than luck or money are making some unusual pitches to pry tickets from the hands of their owners.

In Southern California, Annie Coffman posted on Craigslist an offer to exchange no fewer than two tickets for a week at her ski cabin near Big Bear Lake. ''Rental for a week is about $9,000,'' said Coffman, who grew up near Chicago. Not only that, but her sister owns a ski cabin near Lake Tahoe and would be willing to sweeten the offer.

''If someone wants to make it a whole tour of California, we could do that,'' Coffman said.

Jesse Altig, a firefighter in Portland, Oregon, who grew up watching Cubs games on television with his dad in the 1980s, also took to Craigslist. He placed an ad offering to show whoever gives him a ticket a tour that includes Mt. Hood, the coast of the Pacific Ocean and the fire station where he works.

''I am a regular guy with a family and mortgage and these prices for tickets are kind of astronomical,'' Altig said. ''Maybe there's somebody looking for an experience versus a monetary gain.''

Some Chicago fans apparently are going with Plan B and heading to Cleveland.

Cameron Popp of StubHub said a quarter of the tickets being sold on the site for Game 1 in Cleveland on Tuesday are being paid for with credit cards associated with Illinois ZIP codes. In comparison, only about 2 percent of the sales to Game 3 at Wrigley are coming from Ohio.

No wonder. Papp said the average ticket price for Game 1 is about $1,000.

Such a bargain does not tempt Tom Wilbeck of Chicago.

''Tickets to Wrigley are three times as much and I asked myself if the experience is three times as cool,'' said Wilbeck, 38, who is willing to go as high as $20,000 for two Chicago at-home tickets. ''And the answer is yes. So many people died wishing the Cubs would win the World Series at Wrigley and you can't let this pass you by.''

[StarDust Bum]

LEADING OFF: Cubs' Lester seeks more Series dominance
October 24, 2016

A look at what's happening all around the majors Tuesday:

STAGE SET

Next year? It can wait. The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians play Game 1 of the World Series, each with hopes of ending a long championship drought. Chicago hasn't been to the Series since 1945 and hasn't won since 1908, and Cleveland earned its most recent title in 1948.

How long has it been for Chicago? Dexter Fowler will become the first black player to suit up for the Cubs in a World Series when he likely bats leadoff at Progressive Field.

Jon Lester gets the ball for Chicago, and at 32 years old, he's already one of the best World Series pitchers ever. He's won all three of his starts and has a 0.43 ERA, third-best among pitchers with at least 20 World Series innings, behind Madison Bumgarner and Jack Billingham. Lester is matched up against 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, a contender for the prize again this season.

The Indians hope to have Jason Kipnis in the lineup after the second baseman sprained his left ankle celebrating the final out of the ALCS.

HELP ON THE WAY?

The Cubs might get back young slugger Kyle Schwarber, out since tearing knee ligaments on April 8. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday that Schwarber was traveling to Cleveland, but the person did not know yet if the slugger would be on the roster. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the roster won't be announced until Tuesday. Schwarber has played two games in the Arizona Fall League, going 1 for 6 with a double and two walks. He hit five homers in nine postseason games as a rookie last year.

THOUSANDS FOR TICKETS

Want to get into Wrigley Field for Game 3? It will cost you a couple thousand dollars at least, and at that price point, don't expect a seat. Standing room tickets are going for more than $2,200, and fans have called ticket brokers willing to pay as much as $12,000 for a seat. Meanwhile, Cleveland figures to have some Wrigleyville vibes for Games 1 and 2 - ticket-selling site StubHub reported a quarter of all tickets purchased for Game 1 are being paid for with credit cards associated with Illinois ZIP codes.

SERIES UMPS

Umpire Larry Vanover will work his first World Series game and do it from behind home plate. John Hirshbeck will be the crew chief, joined by Series veterans Joe West and Sam Holbrook and first-timers Vanover, Chris Guccione, Marvin Hudson and Tony Randazzo. Holbrook, working his second Series, will be the replay official for the first two games, then will switch places with Vanover. This will be the sixth World Series for West and fifth for Hirschbeck.

STADIUM TWEAKS

Less than a decade after its opening, Yankee Stadium is being renovated. New York is adding seven new social gathering spaces, a move that will cut capacity by about 2,100 seats. The Yankees are adding a children's zone in the right-field upper deck and replacing obstructed view bleacher seats with outdoor party decks.

[StarDust Bum]

Second City son: Indians 2B Kipnis has Cubs in his blood
October 24, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) Jason Kipnis was raised on Chicago's North Side, and like so many other kids, he grew up idolizing Ryne Sandberg, watching Sammy Sosa smash home runs and listening to Harry Caray.

He bled Cubs blue.

And he never once blamed Steve Bartman - they went to the same high school, by the way.

''We have a joke,'' the Indians second baseman said, referring to the infamous fan vilified in Chicago for a failed attempt to catch a postseason foul ball. ''The only thing I'm mad at Bartman for is missing an easy flyball.''

Kipnis finds himself in a unique situation in his first World Series, facing the team that helped shape his life. The Cubs are in his DNA. They're the team he learned to love, the one that taught him the game and the one that often broke his heart. But while Kipnis' family and friends intend to remain true to their Cubbies over the next week, his loyalties are not divided.

''There's zero conflict at all,'' he said Tuesday on the eve of Game 1. ''Let's be clear about that.''

Kipnis, though, said watching the Cubs wrap up their first NL pennant since 1945 on TV was emotional. Some of his friends were at Wrigley Field on Saturday night and when the last out was recorded, part of Kipnis was there, too.

''I didn't know how to handle it,'' he said. ''I didn't know if I was happy, mad, sad. I was emotional. I was choked up, I was like, `Oh, no what does this mean right now?' But it's nothing more than excitement for the games.''

He was 11 in that magical summer of 1998 when Sosa and Mark McGwire seemed to belt a home run in every at-bat. Baseball was bulked up and booming and Kipnis was under its spell.

As he reminisced during an interview session, the two-time All-Star seemed to remember every swing.

''That's when I was really watching baseball closely and turning into a baseball fan,'' said Kipnis, who is dealing with a sprained left ankle sustained in Cleveland's ALCS celebration. ''In the `98 season, it was `Hey, Sammy's up, get to a TV every time.' And on WGN there were always recaps of the games. That's pretty much what I grew up on.''

He was in high school when Bartman, innocently sitting in a front row seat down the left-field field lane, became an unintentional celebrity in Game 6 of the NL Championship. The slight man, wearing a Cubs cap and headphones so he could listen to the game on the radio, reached out and tried to catch a foul ball in the eighth inning as Cubs outfielder Moises Alou tried to close in.

The Cubs derailed from there, blowing a big lead and losing and then dropping Game 7.

The Curse had a new chapter.

Kipnis lived close to Bartman and ''very vividly'' remembers seeing police staked out around his house to prevent any zealous fans from getting at him. There are Cubs fans to this day who hold a grudge toward Bartman. He has remained in hiding.

''He didn't deserve that,'' Kipnis said. ''He never asked for all the stuff that probably happened to him afterward. I don't think he deserved any of that. He was probably actually a pretty loyal fan and he wanted a ball, and it's just the way events turns that turned him into this scapegoat.''

Kipnis wishes those Chicago fans who haven't been able to let go would finally forgive Bartman and turn an ugly moment into something special.

''I would love to see him throw out a first pitch,'' he said. ''Everyone would go nuts.''

Despite his Second City roots, Kipnis knows he'll be treated like a complete stranger - and sworn enemy - when the Series shifts to Wrigley for Game 3. He's taking solace that there will be a few welcomed faces in the crowd.

But the Friendly Confines won't be very friendly.

He wouldn't have it any other way.

''If they're Cubs fans, they'll boo as they should if you're a baseball fan,'' he said. ''But I'll have enough there that you'll hopefully hear a couple cheers.''

Kipnis knows what a championship would mean to fans for both teams, who have gone a combined 174 seasons without celebrating a World Series title.

''They have the only drought that could make our drought look small,'' he said. ''They've got us by 40 years. Both franchises have been yearning for this championship, but it's pretty neat one of them will come to an end.''

And Kipnis isn't torn over which one he hopes continues.

''There's not one part of me that doesn't wish this curse would keep going,'' he said.

[StarDust Bum]

World Series: How the Cubs and Indians match up
October 24, 2016

A position-by-position look at the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians going into the World Series, starting Tuesday night at Progressive Field:

First Base:

Cubs: Anthony Rizzo. A cancer survivor and top contender for NL MVP this season, Rizzo was the first member of Chicago's current young core to arrive, in a January 2012 trade with San Diego. Now, he's a power-hitting staple with a patient eye in the middle of a loaded lineup. Rizzo busted out of a 2-for-26 slump by going 7 of 14 with two homers and five RBIs over the last three games of the NL Championship Series.

Indians: Mike Napoli. Pasted on T-shirts all over town, ''Party at Napoli's'' has been the popular cry in Cleveland this year. And it's no wonder. With 34 homers and 101 RBIs, the veteran slugger has been perhaps baseball's biggest free-agent bargain after signing a $7 million, one-year contract. Napoli is a proven winner, appearing in the playoffs eight of the past 10 years.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Second Base:

Cubs: Javier Baez. Slick and flashy in the field, the 23-year-old Baez has become a breakout star this postseason and was co-MVP of the NLCS. Blessed with rare bat speed, he's cut down on his big swing and strikeout rate, helping him deliver several clutch hits. Supremely confident, excellent instincts - he even stole home in the NLCS opener. Power to all fields and perhaps a future Gold Glove winner, too.

Indians: Jason Kipnis. A two-time All-Star, Kipnis grew up a huge Cubs fan outside Chicago. He's a leader in the clubhouse who provides left-handed pop and some speed. He hit two homers in the playoffs but went 1 for 19 (.053) during the ALCS. Kipnis sprained his left ankle while celebrating after the final out of the pennant clincher in Toronto, an injury that was still bothering him on the eve of the World Series.

Edge: Indians, on track record. Cubs, on pure talent.

---

Shortstop:

Cubs: Addison Russell. Another impressive youngster, the 22-year-old Russell batted .238 with 21 homers and 95 RBIs this season, his second in the majors, and was elected to start the All-Star Game along with several Cubs teammates. Russell also snapped out of a postseason skid (1 for 24) in the final three NLCS games, going 6 for 13 with two homers and four RBIs. He was obtained from Oakland when Chicago traded pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in July 2014.

Indians: Francisco Lindor. Next in a bumper crop of gifted young infielders on display in this Series. The 22-year-old Lindor, runner-up for AL Rookie of the Year last season, can do it all - including light up a ballpark with his energy and smile. He batted .323 with two homers, two doubles and four RBIs in eight playoff games, also showing off his vast array of skills to the national audience. Cleveland drafted Lindor eighth overall in 2011 - one pick before the Cubs took Baez.

Edge: Indians.

---

Third Base:

Cubs: Kris Bryant. Probably the favorite for NL MVP, the 24-year-old Bryant has delivered immediately on his promise of big power after he was drafted No. 2 overall in 2013. Last season's NL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star already, he had a .939 OPS with 39 homers and 102 RBIs this season. But he's more than just a bopper. Also a versatile defender, Bryant runs pretty well and is a better all-around player than his profile might suggest.

Indians: Jose Ramirez. The unheralded Ramirez has been a pleasant surprise for Cleveland, filling a hole at third base with an excellent season. The switch-hitter batted .312 with 11 home runs, 46 doubles, 76 RBIs and an .825 OPS. Not to mention 22 stolen bases and his knack for clutch hits. Wow, right? Did anyone outside Ohio even notice? Ramirez was a mixed bag in the AL playoffs, going 5 for 10 with four runs against Boston but 1 for 17 vs. Toronto.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Catcher:

Cubs: David Ross, Willson Contreras or Miguel Montero. Longtime batterymates going back to their days in Boston, Ross is the regular catcher for Game 1 starter Jon Lester. Set to retire after this season, the graying 39-year-old is a fan favorite in Chicago, where Ross is affectionately known as Grandpa Rossy. He hit 10 homers in only 166 at-bats during a quality year at the plate and then went deep against the Giants in the NL playoffs. Contreras is an advanced right-handed hitter at age 24, and the rookie can also play left field and first base. Montero is a two-time All-Star with left-handed pop. He batted just .216 this year but caught both of Jake Arrieta's playoff starts and delivered the third pinch-hit grand slam in postseason history, a tiebreaking shot against the Dodgers in the eighth inning of the NLCS opener.

Indians: Roberto Perez. Subbing for injured starter Yan Gomes, Perez provides strong defense behind the plate. He threw out 46 percent of attempted base stealers this season, and the Indians went 33-20 when he started. Limited to 61 games by a broken thumb, Perez batted .183 with three homers this year.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Left Field:

Cubs: Ben Zobrist. One of baseball's most versatile players, Zobrist helped Kansas City win the World Series last season and then signed a $56 million, four-year contract with the Cubs. The productive switch-hitter is a three-time All-Star with a discerning eye who bats in the middle of the lineup to keep it balanced. He mostly played second base during the season but has been shifted to left field to make everyday room for Baez.

Indians: Rajai Davis or Coco Crisp. The speedy Davis was another free-agent pickup at a friendly price who played a significant role for the Indians. He hit 12 homers, scored 74 runs and led the AL with 43 steals but went hitless in 12 playoff at-bats. Crisp returned to his Cleveland roots when he was acquired from Oakland on Aug. 31, just in time to be eligible for the postseason. The 36-year-old switch-hitter finished the season with 13 homers and hit two more in the playoffs.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Center Field:

Cubs: Dexter Fowler. An underrated leadoff hitter, Fowler re-signed with Chicago late last offseason for $13 million in a surprise move that paid off handsomely for the Cubs. The switch-hitter compiled a career-best .393 on-base percentage and scored 84 runs in 125 games. When he gets on, the Cubs really go.

Indians: Tyler Naquin. With 14 home runs and an .886 OPS in 116 games, the 25-year-old Naquin ranked among rookie leaders in several offensive categories. A first-round draft pick in 2012 out of Texas A&M, he is 3 for 16 (.188) in the postseason with a pair of doubles.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Right Field:

Cubs: Jason Heyward. A major disappointment at the plate after signing with Chicago for $184 million over eight years, the three-time Gold Glove winner at least provides outstanding defense. He had a paltry .631 OPS this season and went 2 for 28 in the playoffs, dropping his career postseason batting average to .160 and occasionally leaving him on the bench.

Indians: Lonnie Chisenhall. The converted third baseman has found a home in right field, where Cleveland is happy with his defense. He batted .286 with eight homers and 57 RBIs this season, then connected for a big home run in the Division Series against Boston. Chisenhall is 10 for 30 (.333) in his postseason career.

Edge: Even.

---

Designated Hitter:

Cubs: Kyle Schwarber. In an October shocker, the expectation is Schwarber will return from an early-season knee injury in Game 1 of the World Series. A prodigious young power hitter, Schwarber played two games in April before tearing a pair of ligaments in his left knee. He was ruled out for the year but made a rapid recovery from surgery and was cleared to play two games in the Arizona Fall League. Apparently, that was enough for the Cubs. One year removed from college, Schwarber hit 16 homers with an .842 OPS in 69 games last season. Then he hit five more home runs in the 2015 playoffs.

Indians: Carlos Santana. The unusual thing about Santana is that he's a power hitter who bats leadoff, because of his patient approach at the plate. The switch-hitter walked 99 times this season to go with a career-high 34 homers and 87 RBIs. Santana was 5 for 29 (.172) in the playoffs but homered twice in the ALCS.

Edge: Indians.

---

Starting Pitchers:

Cubs: Despite going seven decades without a pennant, Chicago has a pair of proven World Series arms in its deep rotation. Lester, co-MVP of the NLCS, won championship rings with Boston in 2007 and 2013. He is 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in three World Series starts and will be on regular rest Tuesday night. The 32-year-old lefty went 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA this season and 2-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three playoff outings. Right behind him is Kyle Hendricks (16-8), who led the majors with a 2.13 ERA and beat Clayton Kershaw 5-0 with 7 1/3 innings of two-hit ball in the NLCS clincher. Arrieta (18-8), last year's NL Cy Young Award winner, has been inconsistent in the postseason. John Lackey (11-8), who just turned 38, won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as an Angels rookie and helped the Red Sox to their 2013 title.

Indians: Coming into the season, Cleveland had an enviable stable of young, power arms who made up one of baseball's best rotations. That was before a string of injuries left the Indians piecing together their playoff pitching plans. Corey Kluber, the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner, remains a workhorse at the top and will start the Series opener on two extra days of rest. He was 18-9 with a 3.14 ERA and 227 strikeouts this season. Josh Tomlin (13-9) was dropped from the rotation after going 0-5 in August but got another chance in October and delivered. He won both playoff starts with a 2.53 ERA in his first postseason. Trevor Bauer (12-8) expects to pitch after a bleeding right pinkie forced him out early in Game 3 of the ALCS. He sliced open the finger while repairing one of the drones he enjoys flying as a hobby. Rookie left-hander Ryan Merritt came through with 4 1/3 scoreless in the Game 5 clincher, his second major league start. Carlos Carrasco is out with a broken pinkie, but All-Star righty Danny Salazar, sidelined since Sept. 9 because of forearm tightness, will be on the World Series roster. It's unclear if he will start or work out of the bullpen. So the rotation remains Cleveland's biggest question mark.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Bullpen:

Cubs: A midseason trade for hard-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman gave the Cubs an imposing arm in the ninth inning. He's been summoned in the eighth on occasion during the postseason, but hasn't exactly been lights out. Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Carl Edwards Jr. and Justin Grimm offer live arms and good stuff from the right side, but aren't always completely reliable. Left-handers Travis Wood and Mike Montgomery provide length and flexibility. There are options here. There is depth. But it's not necessarily a dominant unit.

Indians: The team's best weapon and biggest strength. The most powerful chess piece in this entire postseason has been Andrew Miller, the ALCS MVP acquired in July from the New York Yankees - where Chapman was his teammate. The 6-foot-7 lefty with the wipeout slider has struck out 21 over 11 2/3 scoreless innings after going 10-1 with a 1.45 ERA while striking out 14.9 batters per nine innings this year. The way Cleveland utilizes him, Miller starts looming by the middle innings and becomes an option in almost any high-leverage situation. He entered as early as the fifth during the AL playoffs. Not to be forgotten are closer Cody Allen (32 saves) and steady right-hander Bryan Shaw. And when Bauer was removed in the first inning, Dan Otero, Jeff Manship and Zach McAllister helped the relievers rack up 25 outs in a Game 3 win during the ALCS. With a 1.67 ERA in 32 1/3 playoff innings, the bullpen is a big reason Cleveland has thrown three shutouts this postseason. And if the Indians win the World Series, this group will likely rank among the greatest October bullpens in baseball history.

Edge: Indians.

---

Bench:

Cubs: Plenty of options for a team that thrives on versatility, flexibility and depth. Montero and Contreras came through with huge pinch hits in the playoffs. Chris Coghlan is an experienced left-handed hitter who can play the infield and outfield. From the right side, Jorge Soler has power and Albert Almora Jr. brings fine defense. A healthy Schwarber would obviously add a very dangerous bat to the mix.

Indians: This unit would probably be deeper if not for an injury to All-Star Michael Brantley and drug suspensions for fellow outfielders Abraham Almonte and Marlon Byrd. Davis, Crisp or Naquin will likely be on the bench, offering speed and some pop. Davis and Crisp have plenty of experience, too. Brandon Guyer, obtained at the Aug. 1 trade deadline from Tampa Bay, can provide punch against left-handed pitching.

Edge: Cubs.

---

Manager:

Cubs: Joe Maddon. A popular free spirit who led the Rays and Cubs out of the doldrums, Maddon is a three-time Manager of the Year with a philosophical approach. He wants his players to have fun and he thinks outside the box. He's shown a quick hook with starting pitchers in October and has been accused of overmanaging. Maddon lost in his only previous trip to the World Series, in 2008 with Tampa Bay.

Indians: Terry Francona. After winning two World Series titles in Boston, ending an 86-year drought and overcoming a 3-0 ALCS deficit to the Yankees along the way, Francona is building a Hall of Fame resume. He has a deft touch - especially in October - and this year's run with the injury-riddled Indians could become his masterpiece. Francona has an excellent feel for his players and knows how to take pressure off them. His aggressive, unconventional use of Miller and the rest of that brilliant bullpen is a huge reason the Indians are here.

Edge: Indians.

---

Pick: Cubs in 6.

[StarDust Bum]

Baez, Lindor enter Series with Puerto Rican bond
October 24, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) About four months before the 2011 draft, over a hundred scouts descended upon the baseball complex at a private academy west of Orlando. They were there to eye a couple of teenagers born in Puerto Rico who would become the draft's most coveted shortstops.

At 12 years old and with minimal knowledge of English, Javier Baez and Francisco Lindor left the island and moved to Florida. They excelled with sparkling play, Baez for Arlington Country Day School in Jacksonville and Lindor for Montverde Academy, which hosted that hyped high school game.

''That was like a mini World Series,'' said Baez on Monday, reminiscing about the game his team won in their senior years. ''That was a special evening. So many scouts, so much attention.''

Five years later, Baez and Lindor will face each other again as rivals in the World Series, starting Tuesday.

Baez is a slick second baseman with the Chicago Cubs. Lindor is a smooth shortstop for the Cleveland Indians.

Breakout stars of the postseason with their exceptional play and poise, Baez and Lindor also epitomize a talented crop of players from Puerto Rico.

In the 2011 draft, the Indians drafted Lindor with the eight overall pick, and the Cubs picked Baez with the next one. There's also Carlos Correa, the Houston Astros shortstop who in 2012 became the first Puerto Rican drafted first overall and who won the AL Rookie of the Year in 2015.

''We spent a ton of time with both of them,'' said Indians scouting director Brad Grant. ''Javy was a really good player, too. We went back and forth with those two. And our scouts did a really a good job of getting to know them. In the end, what separated it for us, it was Francisco's ability to play short, which is very hard to come by. And a switch-hitter on top of it, with offensive abilities as well.''

The 22-year-old Lindor marveled Monday about the similar path he shares with Baez ever since they were kids in Puerto Rico.

''We follow the same route to the majors. He left to help his family, and I did the same for mine, looking for a better future,'' Lindor said. ''We are two shortstops from Puerto Rico, drafted eight and nine, now playing each other in the World Series, still growing. This is insane. It's a blessing. I feel so proud for Puerto Rico.''

Both their families moved to the United States so they could polish their talents, enduring hardships along the way.

In Baez's case, they also wanted his sister, Noely, to get better health care for spina bifida, a disabling birth defect. Noely died at 21 years old in April of 2015. Baez was 12 when his father, Angel Luis, died after suffering a head wound in a fall in the bathroom at home.

''It's just unreal that I will be playing against him,'' said the 23-year-old Baez. ''Our families are very close. His family spent Thanksgiving with us two years ago. And as players, it's like we're the same. We play to have fun, and do crazy things on the field.''

Baez won co-MVP honors in the NL Championship Series. On Saturday night, soon after he helped the Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance to their first World Series since 1945, Baez was texting with Lindor.

''`Is this a dream?''' Lindor recalled texting when speaking with reporters. ''I said, `I think so.' I haven't woken up yet and I don't want to wake up. I'm living my dream, let*s keep doing the same.''

[StarDust Bum]

The Latest: Schwarber coming to Cleveland
October 24, 2016

The Latest on the World Series (all times Eastern):

8:55 p.m.

Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber is traveling to Cleveland ahead of Game 1 of the World Series.

A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Schwarber would join the team in Ohio, but the person did not know yet if the slugger would be on the active roster.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the roster won't be announced until Tuesday.

Schwarber is coming back from major left knee surgery in April. He went 1 for 3 with a double and a walk in Mesa's 7-2 victory over Surprise in the Arizona Fall League on Monday.

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5:50 p.m.

The Chicago Cubs are keeping the light on for slugger Kyle Schwarber.

Manager Joe Maddon said Schwarber will play in the Arizona Fall League on Monday and the team will wait until the last second before deciding whether to put Schwarber on the World Series roster. Schwarber hasn't played since tearing a pair of ligaments in his left knee in April.

Maddon said Schwarber is running really well and even sliding in an attempt to give the knee as much stress as possible. Schwarber would primarily be available as a designated hitter.

First baseman Anthony Rizzo said he's been amazed at Schwarber's focus during his rehab. Schwarber has spent countless long days at the ballpark undergoing therapy then sticking around to watch the game that night, unusual for injured players. Rizzo joked he told Schwarber to stop watching video of his swing and ''just watch baseball and enjoy it.''

The World Series rosters are due at 10 a.m. Tuesday morning.

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5:44 p.m.

Indians manager Terry Francona said right-hander Danny Salazar will be on the World Series roster.

Salazar has not pitched since Sept. 9 because of forearm tightness. He pitched in a simulated game Sunday and Francona said Salazar is ready.

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5:30 p.m.

Fans hoping to see the Cubs play in the World Series for the first time since 1945 are finding a seat could cost more than what their grandparents paid for their houses.

A look at ticket-selling sites on the internet Monday reveals ticket owners are willing to part with theirs for thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. Ticket brokers say fans are starting to spend as much as $12,000.

Fans with more creativity than money are making some unusual offers.

Ticket owners who like to ski might be interested in the offer from a Southern California woman for a week in her mountain cabin for a couple of tickets. A Portland, Oregon, firefighter is offering a Pacific Northwest tour in exchange for a ticket.

---

5:15 p.m.

A sprained left ankle could keep Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis out of Game 1 of the World Series.

Kipnis injured his ankle last week while celebrating following the final out of the AL Championship Series in Toronto. He said his ankle has improved, but says it ''isn't exactly a mild sprain. I got it pretty good.''

The Indians host the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night in the World Series opener.

Kipnis says Cleveland's training staff has done a good job of reducing the swelling and he'll just have to handle pain. Kipnis said the key will be making sure he has range of motion.

He got hurt when he jumped and shortstop Francisco Lindor accidentally stepped on his foot.

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4:50 p.m.

World Series ace Jon Lester is all set to start Game 1 for the Chicago Cubs.

Lester will be fully rested when he pitches Tuesday night at Cleveland. Corey Kluber will start for the Indians.

The 32-year-old lefty is 2-0 in three starts during this postseason, with wins over the Giants and Dodgers in the NL playoffs. He was 19-5 during the regular season.

Lester is 3-0 in three starts in the World Series with a sparkling 0.43 ERA. He helped the Boston Red Sox win championships in 2007 and 2013.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says Lester is ''really, really in the moment'' right now.

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4:30 p.m.

Cubs catcher David Ross said he would have been pulling for the Indians if Chicago wasn't in the World Series.

Ross said he had wanted to wear a ''Party at Napoli's'' T-shirt to media day on Monday in tribute to good friend Mike Napoli. He said he didn't get a shirt in time so he was wearing a blue Cubs World Series hoodie.

The Cleveland first baseman and Ross were teammates on the 2013 Red Sox team that won the World Series.

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3:45 p.m.

The weather forecast is looking clear in Cleveland for Game 1 of the World Series.

It's supposed to be right around 50 degrees with little chance of rain when the Chicago Cubs play the Indians at Progressive Field on Tuesday night.

As of now, it might be a little more iffy for Game 2 on Wednesday night. Rain is moving into the Midwest and could be around the ballpark at gametime.

---

2:49 p.m.

Pop star Rachel Platten will sing the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs.

Her hit ''Fight Song'' has been on the music charts for months.

Country duo Locash will perform the anthem before Game 2 on Wednesday.

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2:40 p.m.

Two of Cleveland's stars from the 1990s, Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga, will throw out ceremonial first pitches at the World Series.

Lofton, the fleet-footed center fielder, will have the honor before Game 1 as the Indians host the Chicago Cubs. Baerga, a three-time All-Star second baseman, will handle the duties before Game 2.

Indians fans had pushed on social media to have actor Charlie Sheen, who played Ricky ''Wild Thing'' Vaughn, a hard-throwing pitcher in the iconic movie ''Major League,'' throw out the first pitch. However, the Indians had already decided on Lofton and Baerga, who played together on Cleveland's 1995 World Series team.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB BETTING TRENDS

Our free MLB betting trends is a tool that uses a comprehensive statistical database to analyze MLB trends and make recommendations based on historical team data for the moneyline, teaser, and run lines bets as well.

Money Line


Money Line
8:05 pm 10/25/2016
(951) CHICAGO CUBS @(952) CLEVELAND
Play ON CLEVELAND using the money line in Home games in night games.
The record is 43 Wins and 14 Losses this season (+20.1 units)
BET NOW
8:05 pm 10/25/2016
(951) CHICAGO CUBS @(952) CLEVELAND
Play ON CLEVELAND using the money line in All games in October games.
The record is 9 Wins and 1 Losses this season (+9.75 units)
BET NOW

-----------
Over

Over
Money Line
8:05 pm 10/25/2016
(951) CHICAGO CUBS @(952) CLEVELAND
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total in Home games against right-handed starters.
The record is 69 Overs and 35 Unders for the last two seasons (+31.8 units)
BET NOW
8:05 pm 10/25/2016
(951) CHICAGO CUBS @(952) CLEVELAND
Play OVER CLEVELAND on the total in Home games against right-handed starters.
The record is 35 Overs and 18 Unders this season (+15.65 units)
BET NOW

[StarDust Bum]

MLB

Tuesday, October 25

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World Series Game 1 Betting Preview and Odds: Cubs at Indians
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Chicago started Lester in each of its last two playoff series and was rewarded with dominant performances each time.

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians (+102, 6.5)

Series tied 0-0

One long-suffering fan base is guaranteed to be smiling by the end of the World Series while the other will go back to hanging its collective head and listing off curses. The Chicago Cubs try to start snapping a 108-year drought while extending the Indians' streak of World Series futility to 69 years when they visit Cleveland for Game 1 on Tuesday.

The Cubs already snapped one long drought just by reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945 when Kyle Hendricks and Aroldis Chapman finished off the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday. "Go out there and play the game freely, play the kind of game we're accustomed to playing, which would be we would want to pitch well, catch the ball on defense and work good at-bats," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters of his team's approach. "So when you get to this particular moment, to try to avoid being outcome based, we try to do that all the time, just go out there, continue to work the process." The Indians, like the Cubs, made a move at the deadline to bring in an ace reliever and plucked Andrew Miller from the Yankees. The left-hander and ALCS MVP is proving his worth in the playoffs with 21 strikeouts and five hits allowed in 11 2/3 scoreless innings over six games - in each of which he recorded at least four outs.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, FOX

WEATHER REPORT: The weather forcast for Game 1 of the 2016 World Series is calling for partly cloudy skies with chilly temperatures in the mid-40's at Progressive Field in Cleveland. There is a 10 percent chance of rain Tuesday but the real weather day to pay attention to will be for Wednesday's Game 2 with rain expected.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (2-0, 0.86 ERA) vs. Indians RH Corey Kluber (2-1, 0.98)

Chicago started Lester in each of its last two playoff series and was rewarded with dominant performances each time. The two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox was the co-MVP of the NLCS along with second baseman Javier Baez after surrendering two runs in 13 innings in the series against the Dodgers. Lester, who got the nod over Jake Arrieta, owns a 2.50 ERA in 19 career postseason games (17 starts) and is 4-0 with a 3.72 ERA in eight career starts at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Kluber allowed nine hits over 13 1/3 scoreless innings in his first two postseason starts but struggled to close out the ALCS in Game 4 at Toronto, when he was reached for two runs in five frames and absorbed the loss. The former Cy Young Award winner's 20 postseason strikeouts is one behind Miller for the most among pitchers still left in the postseason, though his seven walks are No. 1. Kluber did not walk a batter in his lone previous start against the Cubs and struck out 11 while allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings on Aug. 24, 2015.

TRENDS:

* Cubs are 10-1 in Lester's last 11 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
* Indians are 10-1 in their last 11 overall.
* Over is 7-1 in Cubs' last 8 road games.
* Under is 7-0 in Indians' last 7 playoff games.
* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.

CONSENSUS: The public is backing the home team Cleveland Indians in Game 1 at a rate of 57 percent. Over 6.5 is picking up 60 percent of the wager on the total. View Full consensus data here.

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Dunkel

Tuesday, October 25

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland

Game 951-952
October 25, 2016 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Chicago Cubs
(Lester) 14.762
Cleveland
(Kluber) 16.327
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cleveland
by 1 1/2
7
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Chicago Cubs
-115
6 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Cleveland
(-105); Over




MLB
Long Sheet

Tuesday, October 25

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CHICAGO CUBS (110 - 61) at CLEVELAND (101 - 68) - 8:05 PM
JAKE ARRIETA (R) vs. COREY KLUBER (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

JAKE ARRIETA vs. CLEVELAND since 1997
ARRIETA is 1-1 when starting against CLEVELAND with an ERA of 8.69 and a WHIP of 1.932.
His team's record is 2-2 (-0.2 units) in these starts. The OVER is 3-1. (+2.0 units)

COREY KLUBER vs. CHICAGO CUBS since 1997
KLUBER is 0-0 when starting against CHICAGO CUBS with an ERA of 1.17 and a WHIP of 0.522.
His team's record is 0-1 (-1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-1. (-1.3 units)

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MLB
Armadillo's Write-Up

Tuesday, October 25

Cubs @ Indians

Lester is 2-0, 0.86 in his last three starts, 8-6, 2.50 in 17 postseason starts. Cubs won six of his last eight road starts.

Kluber is 5-1, 2.32 in his last seven starts, 2-1, 0.98 in three postseason starts. Indians are 12-1 in his last 13 home starts.

Cubs are 7-3 in playoffs this year, 3-2 on road; they didn’t play the Indians this season. Obviously Chicago hasn’t been in World Series since 1945, Indians since 1997. Cleveland is 7-1 in playoffs, 4-0 at home.

Maddon is 24-25 as a playoff manager, 11-8 with Cubs. he lost 2008 World Series with Rays. Francona won World Series with Boston in 2004, 2007; he is 35-19 as a postseason manager.




MLB

Tuesday, October 25

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Trend Report
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8:08 PM
CHI CUBS vs. CLEVELAND
Chi Cubs are 8-3 SU in their last 11 games
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games on the road
Cleveland is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Cleveland's last 5 games

[StarDust Bum]

MLB
Short Sheet

Tuesday, October 25

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 8:05 PM ET
Lester: CHICAGO CUBS are 7-15 SU after 2 straight wins by 4 runs or more
Kluber: CLEVELAND is 7-1 SU after 3 straight games where they had 7 or less hits

[StarDust Bum]

Schwarber on Cubs' World Series roster; could start at DH
October 25, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) Kyle Schwarber was added to the Chicago Cubs' World Series roster and could start Tuesday night's opener against the Cleveland Indians at designated hitter.

The 23-year-old outfielder replaced left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny on the 25-man roster announced 10 hours before Game 1.

Schwarber was playing left field at Arizona on April 7 when he collided with center fielder Dexter Fowler and tumbled on a ball that became an inside-the-park home run for Jean Segura. Dallas Cowboys orthopedic surgeon Dr. Daniel Cooper operated 12 days later to repair torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments.

Schwarber was expected to miss the rest of 2016 following the knee surgery but was cleared medically on Oct. 17 to return. He played a pair of games in the Arizona Fall League, going 1 for 6 with a double and two walks, and flew to Cleveland on Monday.

As a rookie, Schwarber hit .246 with 16 homers and 43 RBIs in 71 games.

Cleveland also made one roster change, including All-Star Danny Salazar in place of Cody Anderson in a swap of right-handed pitchers.

Salazar, 11-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 25 starts, hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 9 because of tightness in his right forearm. He pitched a simulated game Sunday.

''He threw three innings and under those circumstances, it's not the easiest to probably reach your best velocity, but he was getting after it pretty good,'' manager Terry Francona said Monday.

Corey Kluber starts the opener and Trevor Bauer in Game 2 - as long as his stitched-up pinkie is OK following a drone injury. Josh Tomlin will start Game 3 and Salazar or rookie left-hander Ryan Merritt in Game 4. Merritt shut out Toronto for 4 1/3 innings in the decisive Game 5 of the AL Championship Series.