Postseason fixture searches for old form
John Lackey boasts a 7-3 record with a 2.61 ERA in 12 career playoff starts at home. Nonetheless, the Cubs’ 38-year-old righty looks a little less dominant this October.
Chicago needs a vintage outing from its No. 4 starter tonight, or else a magical season could be in serious jeopardy. Game 4 of the World Series commences at 8:08 p.m. ET, with online sports book Bovada.lv endorsing Joe Maddon’s crew as a 1.5-run favorite. Cleveland, on the other hand, enters the Friendly Confines as a +118 underdog. The over/under run figure sits at seven.
Josh Tomlin and Terry Francona’s usual band of sensational relievers combined on a five-hit shutout Friday, giving the Indians a 2-1 lead in the Fall Classic. In a few hours, Corey Kluber hopes to complicate the Cubbies’ predicament further. The Tribe’s ace dominated the North Siders earlier in the week, twirling six frames of scoreless ball. Yet the visiting squad’s thin rotation forces him to work on short rest here.
The subject of fatigue shouldn’t enter the discussion for Lackey. Instead, he’s simply trying to iron out some unexpected postseason kinks. After a flat Division Series meeting with San Francisco, the Fall Classic regular didn’t fare much better against Los Angeles in the NLCS. Lackey’s poised to take his 21st lifetime assignment vs. Cleveland.
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Sooner or later, we expect both clubs to put on an offensive show on the same evening. Yet Chicago’s inconsistent middle of the order and the Indians’ generally quiet attack are casting doubt on said supposition. Look for Lackey to reach deep into the repertoire and match Kluber’s excellence shortly.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: CUBS/INDIANS UNDER 7 RUNS