World Series Game 7: Cubs (103-58-1, 10-6) vs. Indians (94-67, 10-4)
- Game Time – 7:00pm 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
Kyle Hendricks, RHP (16-8, 2.13/0.97/3.20) vs. Corey Kluber, RHP (18-9, 3.14/1.05/3.26)
The World Series – Game 7
Best-of-Seven Series tied, 3-3
This is it. It’s winner-take-all in Game 7 of The World Series. Kyle Hendricks faces Corey Kluber in the final game of the Major League season.
Weather could have an impact on Game 7 of the Fall Classic. Game time temperature is expected to be in the low-70s, falling into the 60s by 10:00pm CDT and that is when the rain is forecast to start falling in Cleveland.
In order to be the best, the Cubs will have to beat the best pitchers on Terry Francona’s roster and in the American League. Corey Kluber gets the ball to start the game and he will attempt to shut the Cubs down for the third time in The Series. If Kluber gets into any trouble, Francona will not hesitate to turn the game over to his bullpen. Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw are fully rested and ready to pitch as long as Francona needs tonight.
The key for the Cubs will be to jump out to an early lead by taking advantage of Kluber pitching for the third time in nine days.
Kyle Hendricks makes his second start of The Series and will look to improve on his Game 3 performance. Hendricks was not happy with the way he pitched and knows he will have to be better tonight in order to put the Cubs in a position to win the game.
Willson Contreras is catching Kyle Hendricks tonight. In 16 games this year, including the postseason, Hendricks has a 1.47 ERA and 0.97 WHIP (67 hits, 74 strikeouts, 92 innings) with Contreras behind the plate.
Joe Maddon is sticking with the same starting lineup he used in Game 6.
Cubs batting order: Dexter Fowler CF, Kyle Schwarber DH, Kris Bryant 3B, Anthony Rizzo 1B, Ben Zobrist LF, Addison Russell SS, Willson Contreras C, Jason Heyward RF, Javier Baez 2B
Maddon has a full bullpen and is expected to turn to Jon Lester if Kyle Hendricks struggles. Everyone on the Cubs’ roster is available tonight in Game 7 of The World Series.
One pitch. One inning at a time for one more game this season. Win Wednesday.
Tonight all starts with Kyle Hendricks …
Kyle Hendricks makes his first start outside of Wrigley Field tonight in exactly one month. Hendricks last road game came on Oct. 2 in Cincinnati. Hendricks made all four of his postseason starts at Wrigley Field.
Hendricks was 7-6 in 16 road starts this season with a 2.95 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. And in four starts this postseason, Hendricks is 1-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.
Hendricks was not sharp in Game 3 against the Indians at Wrigley. Hendricks admitted his command was off and had very little feel for his fastball. Hendricks must be better tonight or Maddon will be forced to call on Jon Lester to bridge the game to Mike Montgomery, Carl Edwards Jr. and Aroldis Chapman.
Kyle Hendricks makes just his second career start against the Indians in his first game at Progressive Field.
Indians Numbers against Kyle Hendricks
- Coco Crisp: 0-for-3
- Jason Kipnis: 1-for-2
- Carlos Santana: 0-for-1 with two walks
- Lonnie Chisenhall: 0-for-2
- Francisco Lindor: 2-for-2
- Mike Napoli: 0-for-2
- Tyler Naquin: 1-for-2
- Roberto Perez: 0-for-2
- Jose Ramirez: 2-for-2
Corey Kluber makes his third start of The Series tonight. Kluber has absolutely owned the Cubs in three career starts. Kluber has allowed just two runs on 13 hits with one walk and 26 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings in three games versus the Cubs.
Kluber is 2-0 in two starts against the Cubs in The Series with a 0.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. The Cubs have managed only one run on nine hits with a walk and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Corey Kluber has been incredible for Terry Francona this month. Kluber is 4-1 in five starts with a 0.89 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. Kluber has given up three runs on 22 hits with eight walks and 35 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.
Kluber was 10-5 in 16 starts at Progressive Field during the regular season with a 3.24 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. The Indians are 13-1 in Kluber’s home starts since early June and he is 12-1 with a 1.87 ERA in those 14 games.
The Cubs must adjust to Corey Kluber’s game plan. He used two different ways to attack the Cubs in the first two games. In Game 1, it was all about the fastball and two-seamer. In Game 4, the Cubs could not figure out his curveball.
Cubs Career Numbers against Corey Kluber
- Ben Zobrist: 3-for-19 with one double
- Dexter Fowler: 1-for-13 with one double
- Kris Bryant: 0-for-8 with one walk
- Anthony Rizzo: 3-for-8 with one double and one triple
- Chris Coghlan: 1-for-6 with one double
- Jason Heyward: 2-for-5
- David Ross: 2-for-5
- Addison Russell: 0-for-5
- Javier Baez: 0-for-4
- Willson Contreras: 0-for-3
- Miguel Montero: 0-for-3
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball …
