World Series Game 1: running on Lester, setting rosters and lineups
World Series Game 1: running on Lester, setting rosters and lineups
Everyone who knows that Lester is a major-league pitcher and is employed by the Chicago Cubs knows he doesn’t throw to first base with a runner aboard.
The Dodgers knew it but did nothing about it except act like a dysfunctional youth team with meaningless big leads, silly dance moves and fake bunts, which did little but prompt Lester to glare into the Dodgers’ dugout.
Nothing Mickey Mouse about their approach to the running game.
Game 1 of the 112th World Series is Tuesday night, and the Indians plan to take advantage of Lester’s insecurity with his pickoff move.
Lester’s World Series ERA is 0.43, third best among pitchers with at least 20 innings, behind Madison Bumgarner (0.25) and Jack Billingham (0.36).
[...] if the Indians reach base, it’s game on.
The entire Dodgers’ roster stole 45, fourth fewest in the majors.
The Indians’ 134 steals ranked fourth in baseball, first in the American League.
Kyle Schwarber, fresh out of the Arizona Fall League, will be the Cubs’ designated hitter in Game 1 and face big-league pitching for the first time since his April knee surgery to fix two ligaments.
[...] Chris Coghlan, who played briefly for the A’s this season, is in right field for slumping Jason Heyward, who has a $184 million contract but is 2-for-28 in the postseason.
Guess who’s the Cubs’ all-time postseason home run leader?
Tuesday, he’ll be the first DH in Cubs postseason history.
The Indians included pitcher Danny Salazar on their World Series roster, as expected, though he missed the first two rounds of the playoffs and much of September with a forearm injury.
The tentative plan is for Salazar to be limited to four innings and 70 pitches.
Fowler ‘speechless’: As the leadoff hitter on the visiting team, Dexter Fowler will be the first African-American to appear in a Cubs World Series.
Jackie Robinson broke the color line two years after the Cubs’ last World Series appearance.
Cubs lineup: CF Fowler, 3B Bryant, 1B Rizzo, LF Zobriost, DH Schwarber, 2B Baez, RF Coghlan, SS Russell, C Ross.
Indians lineup: CF Davis, 2B Kipnis, SS Lindor, 1B Napoli, DH Santana, 3B Ramirez, LF Guyer, RF Chisenhall, C Perez.