Final thoughts
What a tense, well-pitched, well-executed game. A single by Coco Crisp made all the difference. Now the Cubs are down 2-1 in the World Series and they have to face Corey Kluber tomorrow in Game 4. It’s a tall order for Chicago, but it would be a mistake to count out these Cubs. My “Cubs In 5” prediction, on the other hand, is right out the window.
That will do it from us at the Guardian today, but look for more World Series coverage from us over the next week. Thanks for reading along with this liveblog today, especially those who contributed! Ciao!
The Cleveland Indians have taken a 2-1 lead in the World Series!
Cleveland Indians win Game 3 of the World Series
Indians 1-0 Cubs, FINAL
And here comes Javy Baez. Baez takes a huge cut at the first pitch and fouls it straight back. 0-1. On 0-1, Baez takes a ball. Heyward makes it to a second. A single could end this game. The next pitch? Down low. 2-1. Dangerous count here.
At 2-1. A breaking ball down and a way and Hirschbeck says that Baez went all the way with his swing. The crowd not-so-politely disagrees. 2-2
On 2-2, Baez swings and misses and the Cleveland Indians have won Game 3 of the World Series!
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 9th
Heyward takes ball one and then fouls off the next pitch. 1-1. Man could he rewrite his entire season with one swing of the bat here. 1-1. He hits a ball off of Napoli and he can’t make the play. Heyward’s safe at first! Coghlan is at third! There is life in Chicago!
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 9th
Contreras grounds out to third. Coghlan makes it to second, but there’s only on out left for the Cubs. And it’s up to Jason Heyward, of all players.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 9th
Chris Coghlan is in to run for Rizzo. Zobrist is at the plate. After starting of 1-1, Zobrist takes a strike and then swings and misses and strikes out. One down.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 9th
Now this is drama right here. One run game. Allen vs. the heart of the order. AND RIZZO IMMEDIATELY HITS A SINGLE ON THE FIRST PITCH!
Well, that’s one way to jumpstart a crowd.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 9th
Yan Gomes, who would like to remember everyone that he’s still in the league gets his first at-bat of the World Series too. Gomes gets three sliders in a row, confounding everyone. Only one of them is for a strike. Chapman’s next pitch is a fastball called for a ball. 3-1. What a strange selection here from Chapman.
He goes back to the fastball for the next pitch. Good call. It’s a full count. Wrigley stands and cheers. On 3-2, Gomes grounds out and that the end of the Indians offense in the ninth. Can Allen lock this one down?
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 9th
Martinez gets his first World Series at-bat. Shame it’s not in easier circumstances. He manages to work a full count off of Martinez but eventually succumbs to inevitable fate by striking out swining.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 9th
Aroldis Chapman is in the game to keep it a one-run game. Which is also the right move here because, honestly, “save situations” don’t mean anything is this situation. It’s a perennial save situation. Scratching out run against Allen is difficult. Two? Nigh-impossible.
He’s in to face Chisenhall, who strikes out almost immediately.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 8th
Bryant falls behind 0-2 and then hits a ball… just foul. Wrigley tried to will that one fair. He strikes out on the very next pitch and that’s it for the Cubs, who are down to their last three outs.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 8th
Yes it is, Francona’s going to Allen for the last four outs. This is almost certainly the right move here, even though I know that by saying it I’ve pretty much doomed it to failure. He’ll be facing Bryant here.
Also Brandon Guyer is in the game to play left field, moving Davis to center.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 8th
Shaw stays in to face Fowler… who hits a base hit. Does this mean that we’re going to see Cody Allen?
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 8th
Kyle Schwarber gets a massive ovation coming to the plate, as he should. Shaw stays in the game. His first pitch is… a called strike that sure looks upstairs to me. Shaw’s next to pitches are off the plate, but he gets Schwarber to shatter his bat on a pop out to short.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 8th
Now we’re at the most interesting part of the game. Cody Allen is warming in the bullpen. Schwarber is on the on-deck circle here to hit in Strop’s spot.
Addison Russell is up facing Bryan Shaw, who greets Russell with two straight balls out of the zone. Russell swings and fouls off the next pitch. 2-1. He takes a…
Ball? Sure, whatever. That’s a ball. On 3-1, Russell swings and fouls on back. 3-2. Russell swings and fouls off a cutter out of the zone. Still 3-2. Russell grounds one… foul. Still 3-2. What an at-bat.
And Russell swings and misses for out number one.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 8th
Well that was quick. Ramirez flies out to left, Indians go 1-2-3.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 8th
Oh Heyward is in the right too, just so we’re all caught up on the defensive readjustments. Strop gets Napoli to strike out swinging for out number two.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 8th
Montgomery’s in to start the top of the 8th. Lindor falls behind 0-2. Lindor tries to get Hirschbeck to convince him that this ball hit his foot, but no avail. He then grounds out and that’s apparently the end of Montgomery. Pedro Strop is coming out of the Cubs bullpen.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 7th
But it doesn’t matter. Shaw promptly gets Baez to ground out to short, stranding Jason Heyward, acting as the world’s most expensive pinch-runner, at third.
Updated
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 7th
What the heck, Soler hits a long flyball down to the right field wall that looks like it’s going to go foul int the stands. Instead Chisenhall misjudges it in the wind and tries to make a jumping catch. Instead the ball is fair and Chisenhall misses it. Solder makes it all the way to third.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 7th
Here’s Contreras who grounds out to Napoli who makes a super-nifty play and beats Contreras to bag for out number two.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 7th
Bryan Shaw is up for Cleveland, with Martinez now in centerfield and Yan Gomes catching. Shaw gets Zobrist to ground out to second.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, bottom 7th
Bill Murray's going in and out of a Daffy Duck impression during Take Me Out to the Ball Game so Rajai Davis's decisions seem less weird now
— The Ringer (@ringer) October 29, 2016
Confession: At this point, Bill Murray’s act just kinda bums me out. It’s like all of America is his enabler.
That tiebreaking Coco Crisp single pic.twitter.com/Zt23TR8Jqh
— walkoffGHOULdward (@walkoffwoodward) October 29, 2016
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 7th
This call is upheld to the overwhelming audial delight of the fans in the stands.
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 7th
Really poor decision making their by Davis. We’ll see if that comes back to bite Cleveland. Michael Montgomery is now up pitching for the Cubs.
His first pitch to Kipnis is a strike and his second compels him to swing and miss. He hits a chopper that Baez just barely handles as the ball takes a ball as it takes a tricky hop. Kipnis is out.
Or is he? It’s a close play at the plate and Cleveland could challenge it.
Coco Crisp singles in a run! Indians 1-0 Cubs
Indians 1-0 Cubs, top 7th
They review and say that the call stands so Martinez is safe. Hard to say, it was probably just too hard to overturn.
The good news for the Cubs is that Miller is officially out of the game. The bad news is that Coco Crisp pinch-hits that scores the first run of the game.
But the other good news is that they throw Davis out at third for the second out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 7th
Davis takes ball four and the Cubs *almost* get Martinez at third in what looked like a pitch out by Chicago. Smart move, that. They’re going to look at this, it seems, it’s a close play.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 7th
Oh my god, Miller has a bat in his hand. Are they really going to give him a an at-bat?
We’ll see. Here’s Rajai Davis, he falls behind 1-1 and then… Hirschbeck calls a clear strike a ball because that’s what he’s doing. Edwards shrugs it off and comes back with a very clear strike. 2-2. And Edwards BOUNCES the next pitch. Martinez makes it to third!
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 7th
Naquin lays down a bunt to get Martinez to second. Normally not a fan of bunting like that, but considering it’s a scoreless game in the 7th inning, the quality of the pitching and defense and the looming threat of Chapman in the Chicago bullpen, I totally get it.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 7th
Edwards is back out to start the 7th and Perez welcomes him with a solid single. And we get a pinch-runner for Perez, it’s Michael Martinez.
When supernaturally good pitching meet supernaturally bad umpiring, pitching wins.
It sure took a lot of strikes to strike out Bryant. pic.twitter.com/i1k542q8K8
— Corinne Landrey (@crashlandrey) October 29, 2016
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 6th
Miller gets ahead of Rizzo 1-2 and…
You’ll never believe this, Rizzo swing and misses. That’s three in a row for Miller. Holy hell.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 6th
Miller strikes out Fowler to start the inning before I can even register that he’s up
Miller falls behind 2-0, although that second ball certainly looked like a strike from here. He works his way back to get him to strike out, because that’s what an Andrew Miller does.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 6th
Listen, Francona’s moves have been paying off all postseason, but using Miller this early feels like it could backfire. How long can they afford to ride him? If he has a high-pitch inning here, it just means that the bridge to the closer gives this Cubs offense a window of opportunity late.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 6th
Edwards falls behind 2-0 but gets Chisenhall to chase his way back to 2-2. On 2-2, Chisenhall checks his swing but has no such luck on the next pitch as he swings and misses to end the inning.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 6th
Here’s Ramirez who hits a flair that Russell takes care of. There’s two out just like that.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 6th
Carl Edwards up here to start the 6th. He’s here to face Napoli, who’s been noticeably frustrated today. That doesn’t change here, he grounds out to Baez.
"Power of Love" playing at Wrigley. #NorthSideChurchOfMcFly
— (((Jesse Spector))) (@jessespector) October 29, 2016
Cubs are winning this one. This clinches it.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 5th
Montero makes good contact off of Miller, but it ends up landing in Chisenhall’s glove and that’s the end of the Cubs threat. To the 6th!
Email from Sean in Australia:
G’day Hunter,
The Cubs infield defence tonight is so good it needs another name. Offence maybe?
Good point: A lot of what looks like “lucky breaks” for the Cubs has actually been phenomenal defense.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 5th
Miguel Montero is announced as a pinch-hitter and Terry Francona is into the game to make a change. Rajai Davis is in for Santana and, yes, that’s Andrew Miller coming into the game. Yes, already.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 5th
Russell grounds out, Soler stays on second.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 5th
Javy Baez comes up, “JAVY” chants breaking out around the ballpark. He grounds out, but he does move the runner to second.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 5th
Soler hits a booming base hit immediately following the Indians squander the opportunity of the game. And man is Wrigley loud again.
Hey @HunterFelt - should Hirschbeck get an award for "Most balls called strikes in a final appearance as the plate umpire"? #WorldSeries ⚾💨
— AlisonW ⚾☕🍣💜 (@AlisonW) October 29, 2016
It’s been a characteristically confounding outing for Hirschbeck, one of the more well-known umpires in the game. (Note: this is, almost always, a bad sign for an official.)
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
Lindor fouls off the first pitch from Grimm. 0-1. On 0-1, Lindor fouls the next one off and in a blink of the eye it’s 0-2. Grimm takes a curveball in the dirt. 1-2. And he takes a too-high fastball. 2-2. Grimm’s next pitch, in the dirt. 3-2. Grimm’s one wrong pitch away from walking in a run here.
And then Lindor hits into a double play and once again Maddon’s decisions somehow work. I give up on figuring it out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
Maddon comes out to remove Hendricks, which is absolutely the right move here. He’s bringing in Grimm, which is… maybe not the guy you want in a 0-0 ball game with the bases loaded? Like actually 100% not the guy you want?
I mean, yesterday was an off day, his bullpen should be rested, right?
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
First pitch on Kipnis is called a ball. Maddon’s bullpen-changing finger is probably getting itchy. Kipnis fouls the next one off. 1-1. Hendricks next pitch is called a ball. 2-1. Kipnis fouls the next one off. 2-2. Fans rise again at Wrigley.
And Hendricks hits Kipnis to load the bases!
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
Santana’s up with a chance to drive home the first run of the game. Hendricks falls behind 3-1 but Santana fouls out the next pitch. 3-2.
Justin Grimm warming in the bullpen.
And the 3-2 pitch is… ball three. Runners on first and second with one out. Wrigley is getting nervous.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
Tomlin is up to bunt, but falls behind 0-2. Speaking of the differences between the AL and the NL, here’s a role Tomlin has been in much of the season.
He does get it down however, moving Naquin up to second with only one out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 5th
Naquin hits a soft liner for a single. Hendrick’s been allowing a lot of contact, and some base runners, but not a lot of it has been solid. Hard for Cleveland to cash in.
Email from Tom A:
You know, it’s a decent game they play in the American League, but it is not baseball. If they make it back to Cleveland, who’s going to play rover for the Indians? You have any insight?
I can very honestly say that I have no idea who will play rover for the Indians should they make it back to Cleveland.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 4th
Conteras flies out to center to end the inning. No score, but it’s been fun to watch from a pitching perspective, both starters are executing perfectly.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 4th
Zobrist hits a ground ball that erases Bryant, who probably shouldn’t have been on first to being with. Zobrist is now the runner on first, however and Contreras is at bat.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 4th
Rizzo hits a ball foul that Perez catches for the out. That’s one down.
Oh hey Andrew Miller is making his way to the bullpen.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 4th
Kris Bryant ‘s time to work a full count and then takes a fastball down the middle for a…. ball?
He takes first base, somehow.
Updated
More broadcast info:
@HunterFelt Here in UK. ESPN radio works through a browser and if you have Android, then TuneIn Radio allows you to find the ESPN radio cast
— David Walsh (@nottschappy) October 29, 2016
Email from Sean:
G’day Hunter,
Bet365 have a live video stream on their app - look for ‘in-play’. Free to download and sign-up.
For audio only it’s on ESPN radio, I listen using the Tune-in Radio app on my phone
I’m in Australia.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 4th
Perez works a full count, which keeps fans at Wrigley on their feet. Perez fouls off the next pitch, just into the stands. And the next pitch is…
STRIKE THREE!
And man that’s about as loud as fans have been all game long. And they’ve been loud.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 4th
Chisenhall grounds out, but they only get Ramirez at first. Lindor reaches third one what was nearly a double play.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 4th
Hendricks gets Napoli to strike out and he’s looking as dominant as always.
And as I type that Ramirez hits a single off of him, that’s runners on first and second with one out.
Updated
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 4th
Lindor starts the fourth inning off with a solid single.
Non-USA can stream the #WorldSeries games live through the MLBtv service, though need account @HunterFelt
— AlisonW ⚾☕🍣💜 (@AlisonW) October 29, 2016
Thanks Alison, good to know. From what I understand, you can only get the live radio broadcast if you’re within the US for broadcast rights reasons.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 3rd
Roberto Perez thinks he’s struck out, but he hasn’t according to home plate umpire Jim Hirschbeck. Tomlin isn’t rattled, he needs just one more pitch to get Perez to line to right to end the inning.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 3rd
Addison Russell is up and immediately grounds out to Kipnis. That was quick. And then Tomlin grounds out to Tomlin. That’ll help the pitch count.
Email from Andrew D:
Do you have the game live?
Sadly, we do not have the game live to stream here (and I’m pretty sure MLB would sue us out of oblivion) and I’m honestly not sure where you can actually (legally) stream it live if you don’t have access to the FOX broadcast.
If anyone else has any ideas, please feel free to mention them here.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 3rd
Kipnis falls behind 0-2. The crowd wants a strike call on the next pitch, but fail to get it. They only have to wait one more pitch to see Hendricks’s next strikeout as Kipnis goes down swinging.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 3rd
Santana’s back up and he works a rare walk from Hendricks. Solid place discipline there.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 3rd
Here comes Josh Tomlin.
And there goes Josh Tomlin, who immediately strikes out. (Bites tongue to not make joke about pitchers hitting.)
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 3rd
Tyler Naquin gets his first at-bat of the game and works a full count off Hendricks. He fouls off the next pitch straight back. Still 3-2. And he hits a screamer that Addison Russell lunges towards and MAKES THE PLAY!
Wrigley explodes after Russell throws out Naquin.
Tomlin sortof reminds me of the Big Unit, in looks anyway. Anyone else agree? #WorldSeries @HunterFelt ?
— AlisonW ⚾☕🍣💜 (@AlisonW) October 29, 2016
A righty Randy? I can kinda see it.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 2nd
Tomlin falls behind Javy Baez 2-0. Not an ideal situation, but Baez pops up to Kipnis on the next pitch and that ends the Cubs threat.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 2nd
Jorge Soler, your righfielder of the day, is up next with a chance to drive in the first run of the game. Instead, he strikes out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 2nd
Willson Contreras grounds out, which isn’t ideal but he does move Zobrist to second.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 2nd
The always dangerous Ben Zobrist is at the plate and immediately gets head of Tomiln 2-0. Tomln finds the plate for his next pitch, but the next one is just outside. On 3-1, Zobrist hits a solid single to become the Cubs’ first baserunner of the game.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 2nd
Roberto Perez falls behind 0-2. Tomlin wastes one to see if he’ll chase, he doesn’t. 1-2. Perez just checks his swing on the next pitch. 2-2. He then grounds into a double play and just like that the Cubs are out of the inning.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 2nd
Chisenhall hits into a fielder choice, erasing Ramirez but they can’t get to Chisenhall on first.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 2nd
Jose Ramirez starts off the second he hits a rocket that Rizzo can’t handle, Baez makes a wayward barehanded throw that’s offline. Ramirez is going to be safe.
And then he’s ALSO nearly picked off in the very next pitch to Lonnie Chisenhall but gets back just in time.
Updated
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 1st
Anthony Rizzo falls behind 1-2 before hitting a chopper to Napoli and that’s an easy first for Tomlin.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 1st
Of course the very next at-batter, he gets Kris Bryant to hit a flyball and it’s right to Carlos Santana. Fortunately it’s routine and Santana handles it easily. Never mind what I say ever.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, bottom 1st
And here’s Josh Tomlin, who’s first pitch to Dexter Fowler is a ball, but he finds the plate for strike number one and then gets him to ground out to Napoli. Gonna like to see more grounders than fly balls here.
Updated
The Cubs winning a replay challenge is the closest we'll come to knowing what the Colosseum sounded like.
— The Ringer (@ringer) October 29, 2016
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
And Napoli takes the next pitch for a strike. Wiiiiide open strike zone tonight. The next pitch is wasted in the dirt. Napoli doesn’t chase. 1-2. Next pitch, Napoli swings and misses and the Indians threat vaporizes just like that.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
The Cubs rightfully challenge the play and it’s overturned! Lindor is out! And now there’s two outs, so Kipnis can’t score on an out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
Napoli take a strike and Lindor… *nearly* gets picked off. In fact, the Cubs wonder if they should review it. Checking the replay, oh yeah, he looks out.
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
Francisco Lindor hits a single, Kipnis makes it to third on the play, runners on the corner and just one out. Oh man did I jinx Hendricks?
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
Kipnis is up next and he’s immediately down a strike. He hits a grounder to the infield, just too slow to get to Rizzo who can’t make it to first in time. There’s no play to be had, so it’s an infield single for Kipnis.
Updated
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
Hendrick’s second pitch is low. 1-1. The next pitch is…. apparently a strike. And Santana swings and misses at a ball at his knees and that’s the first strikeout for Hendricks already. Picking up where he left off, clearly.
First pitch
Indians 0-0 Cubs, top 1st
Carlos Santana at the plate. Kyle Hendricks on the mound. Hendrick’s first pitch is… a called strike! That’s how you start a World Series game.
The wind today is blowing out at Wrigley, which is a good news for hitters. It’s not so good by the pitchers, Tomlin has allowed 36 home runs in the regular season. Just throwing that out there.
Oh hey the Cubs are taking the field, we’re gonna get baseball here shortly.
From Chris B
Having watched my own Red Sox break the curse a few years back - also with the help of Theo - I am excited to see the Cubs get one step closer to their goal tonight.
Go Cubs!
If the Cubs win this series, Theo Epstein needs to be immediately inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. You really can’t accomplish more in baseball than what he’s primed to do.
Ah okay. That makes sense.
Theme to Rocky being played during #Cubs introductions....
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 28, 2016
Email from Len D.
I think 7 Hunter. Cubs tonight to get ahead 2 games to 1. Game 4 will go
to Cleveland, 5 to Cubs, 6 to The Indians and Cubbies take it in game 7!!!!
Just a prediction with no rhyme nor reason.... GO CUBS!!!!!
I would have no problem with that, as it would ensure a Game 6 and one more baseball liveblog from me before the year’s up and these are my absolute favorite things to write.
And here’s the starting lineup. I feel like I should know these orchestral pieces, but my knowledge of such things mostly begins and ends with Frank Zappa.
I can say definitely it is NOT “G-Spot Tornado.”
Starting lineups being introduced in Chicago. First, the Indians. No, no Imperial Death March here, although the music is similarly dramatic and menacing.
Predictions
Okay, I’ve already shown my hand here. I think the Cubs win, like 6-0. Okay, this is partly because I need the Cubs to win three straight here in order for my “Cubs In Five’ prediction to pan out but mostly because in my belief in Hendricks.
Your predictions? Send them here either via Twitter (to @HunterFelt) or email (Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com).
Not so smooth, Carlos
I started filming Carlos Santana shagging fly balls during BP. This was the first thing I saw: pic.twitter.com/ciCSTwVPwO
— August Fagerstrom (@AugustFG_) October 28, 2016
Note: I have been chastened for using this space to pump out anti-National League propaganda (a charge that I’m 100% guilty of). However, as a gesture towards bipartisanship during these troubled and divisive times I will refrain of doing so during this liveblog. I do want to point out that if you’re a Cubs fan right now, you’re at least thinking “I’d be down with the DH rule being used in both parts at least for the duration of this World Series.”
Yet another note: This wish obviously would be revoked should Santana make a costly error in left field during his three game stretch.
Updated
Cubs starting lineup
1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Kris Bryant 3B
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Ben Zobrist LF
5. Willson Contreras, C
6. Jorge Soler, RF
7. Javy Baez, 2B
8. Addison Russell SS
9. Kyle Hendricks P
Cleveland Indians starting lineup
1. Carlos Santana, LF
2. Jason Kipnis 2B
3. Francisco Lindor SS
4. Mike Napoli 1B
5. Jose Ramirez, 3B
6. Lonnie Chisenball, RF
7. Roberto Perez, C
8. Tyler Naquin CF
9. Josh Tomlin, P
Yes that is Santana in left field, a position he’s played for all of four games. Something of a role of the dice here for Cleveland, but it shows how much they need his bat.
Preamble
And baseball resumes today in Wrigley Field for one of the most anticipated games in modern World Series history, at least among fans. After the Cubs dropped Game 1, there was a palpable sense of dread among fans that it just wouldn’t be their year again (just like it hasn’t been their year in over a century). After the hang wringing, the Cubs have done exactly what they were supposed to do: split the series on the road to come back home with a chance to finish the series at home.
To do so, of course, they’re going to have to start with winning Game 3. Cleveland are putting the surprisingly effective Josh Tomlin (13-9, 4.40) on the mound and their best relievers are rested after the day off and Wednesday’s unwanted day off. Plus, the Cubs are going to be victimized by their own league’s rules, not usually the case when the World Series moves to the National League, as key hitter/feel good story Kyle Schwarber is now limited to pinch-hitting duties.
Here’s the problem for Cleveland: The Indians are starting Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13) who is just coming off maybe the best start of any pitcher in this postseason. The Indians saw how he froze the Dodgers’ bats in the clinching game of the NLCS and know that if he’s pitching on that level again there’s not a lot you can do against him. And, with Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen and able to go multiple innings, it’s a chance they might see very few hittable pitches tonight.
So it could be a long night for the Indians, and not just because these postseason games have been growing into lengthy affairs. However, that does mean that there should be plenty of time to contribute to today’s liveblog. You can send us an email (send those to Hunter.Felt@theguardian.com) or a tweet (to @HunterFelt) and we’ll include your thoughts as the game goes on. It’s Game 3 between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Stadium. First pitch will be sometime after 8:00pm EST, quite possibly quite a bit after factoring in opening ceremonies and general FOX pregame nonsense, but we’ll back much sooner than that to fill you in on further details/make predictions/workshop mostly bad puns.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, read why Kyle Schwarber will stick to pinch-hitting at Wrigley:
“Kyle has not been medically cleared to play the field, so he will not be in the lineup the next three games,” team president Theo Epstein said. “But we do look forward to him impacting the game as a pinch hitter for us, and certainly should the series return to Cleveland, he’ll be eligible to continue as a designated hitter.”
“It’s not disappointing at all,” Schwarber said. “It was a long shot at the most. You know, obviously I want to be out there for my team-mates and everything, it’s just the competitor inside me, but facts are facts. I just can’t physically do it.”
Schwarber went 3-for-7 with two walks and two RBIs in Games 1 and 2. He also became the first position player in MLB history to have his first hit of the season in the World Series.
“There’s no being sad about it,” Schwarber said. “There’s no nothing. I know my role now, and I’m going to embrace it.”
