The Cubs and Indians arrive at the World Series in large part thanks to excellent pitching. Both teams consistently saw solid performances from starters and the bullpen.
The Cubs rode baseball’s best and deepest starting rotation, with Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks especially valuable. And while Jake Arrieta and John Lackey haven’t been as strong, they’ve been good enough for the Cubs to win and advance.
The Indians rotation is led by ace Corey Kluber, an American League Cy Young candidate. But after Kluber, the quality of the Cleveland starters falls off a bit, with pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar missing the postseason with injuries (Salazar is expected to return during the World Series). They’ve been replaced by Josh Tomlin and Trevor Bauer, who both had regular season ERAs in the mid-4.00s. Cleveland rookie Ryan Merritt gave up no runs in 4 1/3 innings in only his second career start in the clinching game of the ALCS.
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2016 regular season
Earned Run Average, by league
For qualifying pitchers (at least 162
innings pitched)
Cubs pitchers
Indians pitchers
Other pitchers
Earned Run
Average
National
League
American
League
6.00
30 pitchers
39 pitchers
5.00
Josh Tomlin:
4.40
Trevor Bauer:
4.26
4.00
Jason
Hammel:
3.83
John Lackey:
3.35
Corey Kluber:
3.14
Jake Arrieta:
3.10
3.00
Note:
AL pitchers
often have
higher ERAs
due to the
presence
of the
designated
hitter.
Jon Lester:
2.44
Kyle
Hendricks:
2.13
2.00
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2016 regular season Earned Run Average, by league
For qualifying pitchers (at least 162 innings pitched)
Cubs pitchers
Indians pitchers
Other pitchers
Earned Run
Average
National League
American League
6.00
30 pitchers
39 pitchers
5.00
Josh Tomlin: 4.40
Trevor Bauer: 4.26
4.00
Jason Hammel: 3.83
John Lackey: 3.35
Corey Kluber: 3.14
Jake Arrieta: 3.10
3.00
Jon Lester: 2.44
Note: AL pitchers often have higher
ERAs due to the presence of the
designated hitter.
Kyle Hendricks: 2.13
2.00
Cubs postseason starting pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jon Lester | 21 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0.86 |
| Kyle Hendricks | 16.1 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 1.65 |
| Jake Arrieta | 11 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 4.91 |
| John Lackey | 8 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5.63 |
Cubs postseason bullpen
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Montgomery | 9.2 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3.72 |
| Aroldis Chapman | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 3.38 |
| Travis Wood | 4.2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1.93 |
| Carl Edwards | 3.2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Hector Rondon | 3.2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4.91 |
| Pedro Strop | 3.2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4.91 |
| Justin Grimm | 2.1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7.71 |
Indians postseason starting pitching
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Kluber | 18.1 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 20 | 0.98 |
| Josh Tomlin | 10.2 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2.53 |
| Trevor Bauer | 5.1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 5.06 |
| Ryan Merritt | 4.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Indians postseason bullpen
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Miller | 11.2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 0 |
| Cody Allen | 7.2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 |
| Bryan Shaw | 5.2 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4.76 |
| Dan Otero | 3.1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2.7 |
| Mike Clevinger | 1.2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.4 |
| Jeff Manship | 1.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Zach McAllister | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
While the Cubs acquired hard-throwing relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman from the Yankees at the trade deadline, the Indians went out and got his teammate in New York, Andrew Miller. The way both have been used is a study in contrasts.
When Cubs manager Joe Maddon turns to Chapman, he intends for him to close out the game. However, Chapman hasn’t been as sharp when asked to enter the game in the 8th inning, or inherit any baserunners.
Indians manager Terry Francona has used Miller in a different fashion. Francona has called upon Miller in “high-leverage” situations as early as the 5th inning — and not just to get out of the inning, as he has thrown at least four outs in each of his postseason appearances. Miller has given up zero runs in the postseason in 11 2/3 innings and already won the ALCS MVP. Francona has often followed Miller with closer Cody Allen, who also hasn’t given up a run.
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Cubs runs allowed per inning during 2016 postseason
Outs pitched by Cubs starters
Outs pitched by Aroldis Chapman
NLDS
CUBS VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Game 1
W, 1-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Starting pitcher: Jon Lester
Game 2
W, 5-2
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Game 3
L, 6-5 (13)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
Jake Arrieta
Game 4
W, 6-5
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
John Lackey
NLCS
CUBS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Game 1
W, 8-4
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
Jon Lester
Game 2
L, 1-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Game 3
L, 6-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
1
2
0
1
0
2
X
Jake Arrieta
Game 4
W, 10-2
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
John Lackey
Game 5
W, 8-4
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
Jon Lester
Game 6
W, 5-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Indians runs allowed per inning during 2016 postseason
Outs pitched by Indians starters
Outs pitched by Andrew Miller
ALDS
INDIANS VS. BOSTON RED SOX
Game 1
W, 5-4
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
Starting pitcher: Trevor Bauer
Game 2
W, 6-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Corey Kluber
Game 3
W, 4-3
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
Josh Tomlin
ALCS
INDIANS VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Game 1
W, 2-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
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0
0
0
Corey Kluber
Game 2
W, 2-1
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Josh Tomlin
Game 3
W, 4-2
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Trevor Bauer
Game 4
L, 5-1
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
1
X
Corey Kluber
Game 5
W, 3-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Ryan Merritt
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Indians runs allowed per inning during 2016 postseason
Cubs runs allowed per inning during 2016 postseason
Outs pitched by Cubs starters
Outs pitched by Indians starters
Outs pitched by Aroldis Chapman
Outs pitched by Andrew Miller
ALDS
NLDS
INDIANS VS. BOSTON RED SOX
CUBS VS. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Game 1
W, 1-0
Game 1
W, 5-4
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
0
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Starting pitcher: Trevor Bauer
Starting pitcher: Jon Lester
Game 2
W, 5-2
Game 2
W, 6-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Corey Kluber
Game 3
L, 6-5 (13)
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Runs
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
1
Jake Arrieta
Game 4
W, 6-5
Game 3
W, 4-3
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
1
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
Runs
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
Josh Tomlin
John Lackey
ALCS
NLCS
INDIANS VS. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
CUBS VS. LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Game 1
W, 8-4
Game 1
W, 2-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
1
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jon Lester
Corey Kluber
Game 2
L, 1-0
Game 2
W, 2-1
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Runs
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Josh Tomlin
Game 3
L, 6-0
Game 3
W, 4-2
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
1
2
0
1
0
2
X
Runs
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
Jake Arrieta
Trevor Bauer
Game 4
W, 10-2
Game 4
L, 5-1
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
Runs
0
0
1
1
0
0
2
1
X
John Lackey
Corey Kluber
Game 5
W, 8-4
Game 5
W, 3-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
2
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Jon Lester
Ryan Merritt
Game 6
W, 5-0
Inning
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Runs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Kyle Hendricks
Source: Tribune analysis of data from MLB.com and Baseball-Reference.com
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