World Series Game 1: Cubs (103-58-1, 7-3) vs. Indians (94-67, 7-1)
- Game Time – 7:08pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: FOX – Radio: WSCR 670 The Score, Cubs Radio Network, XM Radio Channels 183, 844(Cubs), 89, 853(Indians)
- Location – Progressive Field, Cleveland
Jon Lester, LHP (19-5, 2.44/1.01/3.41) vs. Corey Kluber, RHP (18-9, 3.14/1.05/3.26)
The World Series – Game 1
Cubs Baseball is On the Air! It’s the first game of The World Series between the Cubs and Indians from Progressive Field.
Jon Lester takes on Corey Kluber in the opener of the 112th Fall Classic in what will be a cold night in Cleveland. And Lester will have to keep the Indians in check while the Cubs figure out Kluber.
Jon Lester and David Ross face the challenge of keeping the Indians from running around the bases. Terry Francona’s team likes to run and is the best at baseball in doing so. Francona knows how to expose Lester’s issues. The Cubs will have to shut the Indians running game down.
The Cubs will receive a boost with the return of Kyle Schwarber. The young slugger is in the starting lineup for Game 1 of the World Series. Schwarber and the Cubs say he is ready and will be able to contribute offensively. Schwarber has the power to change a game with one swing … and that’s what the Cubs are banking on.
Joe Maddon shifted his lineup and decided to start Chris Coghlan in right field instead of Jason Heyward. Maddon is looking for offense from Coghlan and for the Cubs to grab an early lead. Heyward will play tonight once the Cubs have a lead.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist LF, Kyle Schwarber DH, Javier Baez 2B, Chris Coghlan RF, Addison Russell SS, David Ross C
The Cubs must get Corey Kluber into the stretch and once on base, using productive outs to score runs will be imperative to the team’s success in Game 1 of the World Series.
Tonight all starts with Jon Lester …
Jon Lester is coming off a gem in Game 5 of the NLCS. Lester held the Dodgers to one run on five hits in seven innings. Lester walked the first batter he faced and did not issue another free pass. Lester struck out six and shut down the Dodgers as the Cubs took a 3-2 lead in the series.
Lester was 1-0 in two starts in the NLCS with a 1.38 ERA and 0.84 WHIP. Lester allowed two runs on nine hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 13 innings in route to sharing the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award with Javier Baez.
Jon Lester is 2-0 in three postseason starts this year with a 0.86 ERA and 0.76 WHIP.
Lester has faced the Indians 15 times during the regular season. Lester is 7-1 with a 3.03 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Lester started against the Indians in a makeup game at Wrigley on Aug. 24, 2015 and received a no-decision in a 2-1 Cubs win. Lester allowed one run on six hits with a walks and six strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. Kris Bryant launched a solo homer to right off Zach McAllister in the ninth for the game winner. Corey Kluber allowed one run on four hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings that Monday afternoon in late August.
Lester is 4-0 in eight career starts at Progressive Field with a 3.72 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Lester has allowed 20 runs on 39 hits with 19 walks and 57 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings.
Indians Career Numbers against Jon Lester
- Rajai Davis: 14-for-46 with three doubles, three triples, one home run and four walks
- Carlos Santana: 4-for-15 with two walks
- Mike Napoli: 6-for-15 with one double, two home runs and two walks
- Coco Crisp: 2-for-13 with one home run and one walk
- Yan Gomes: 4-for-12
- Brandon Guyer: 2-for-7 with one walk
- Jason Kipnis: 3-for-8
- Francisco Lindor: 1-for-3 with one walk
- Chris Gimenez: 0-for-2
- Michael Martinez: 0-for-1
Corey Kluber should benefit with the extra rest he received by the Indians clinching in five games against the Blue Jays. Kluber allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. The Indians lost Game 4 by a final of 5-1.
Kluber made two starts in the ALCS and makes his fourth start of the postseason tonight. Kluber is 2-1 in three starts in the playoffs with a 0.98 ERA and 1.09 WHIP.
Kluber was 10-5 in 16 starts at Progressive Field during the regular season with a 3.24 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.
Kluber makes his second career start against the Cubs tonight. Kluber received a no decision in a start at Wrigley against Jon Lester on Aug. 24, 2015. Kluber allowed one run on four hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
Cubs Career Numbers against Corey Kluber
- Ben Zobrist: 1-for-13
- Dexter Fowler: 0-for-7
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-3
- Chris Coghlan: 1-for-3 with one double
- Jason Heyward: 0-for-3
- Tommy La Stella: 0-for-3
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-3
- Kyle Schwarber: 0-for-3
- Anthony Rizzo: 1-for-3 with one triple
- David Ross: 1-for-3
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …
