ALCS Schedule 2016: Updated Dates, Times, Coverage Info and World Series Odds
The Cleveland Indians don't care about the odds or what the experts think. They are just going out and playing winning baseball.
They are using a tried-and-true formula to advance through the postseason. It's called stellar pitching and defense, and while those are the two main ingredients, Terry Francona's team is getting some timely hitting as well.
Carlos Santana homered for the Tribe and Francisco Lindor drove in another run after his two-run home run was the difference in Game 2.
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The Indians have jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the power-laden Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, winning both games at Progressive Field in Cleveland. After a day off on Sunday, the Indians and the Jays will resume their series at the Rogers Centre Monday.
| 3 | Cleveland at Toronto | Oct. 17 | 8 p.m. | TBS |
| 4 | Cleveland at Toronto | Oct. 18 | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| 5 (if necessary) | Cleveland at Toronto | Oct. 19 | 4 p.m. | TBS |
| 6 (if necessary) | Toronto at Cleveland | Oct. 21 | 8 p.m. | TBS |
| 7 (if necessary) | Toronto at Cleveland | Oct. 22 | TBD | TBS |
It wasn't shocking that Corey Kluber got the 2-0 win in the first game of the ALCS with a dominant performance bolstered by tremendous relief from Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. But when Josh Tomlin pitched the Tribe to a 2-1 victory in Game 2, it was a surprise.
Tomlin had a 4.40 earned run average during the regular season and gave up 36 home runs, the most on the Cleveland pitching staff. However, the Blue Jays could not figure him out.ย
Tomlin pitched 5.2 innings and gave up just three hits, and none of them were home runs. He gave up very few fly balls, and he clearly made adjustments to some of the issues he had in the regular season, because he was also quite effective in Game 3 of the American League Division Series Monday against the Boston Red Sox.
Once Francona decided it was time to remove Tomlin, he went to his stellar bullpen. He had Bryan Shaw come in and get the final out of the sixth inning, and then he went to Miller again.
The result was predictable. The 6'7" left-hander did not allow a baserunner, and he struck out five of the six batters he faced in the seventh and eighth innings. Allen then struck out two of the three he faced in the ninth.
"He's one of the best I've ever seen," Allen saidย after the game, per Tom Withers of the Associated Press (h/t CBSSports.com). "He goes out there for two innings, shuts them down and gets a lot of swings and misses. Whenever you get to come in behind a guy like that, you're in a pretty good spot."
As a result of Cleveland's sensational pitching, the Blue Jays are in a big hole. Manager John Gibbons will give the ball to Marcus Stroman in Game 3, while the Indians will ask Trevor Bauer to shut down the home team.
Stroman was 9-10 with a 4.37 ERA during the regular season, and his WHIP was 1.289. Stroman has been effective in the postseason, as he pitched six innings in the wild-card victory over the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up four hits and two earned runs in that game.ย
Bauer was 12-8 during the regular season with a 4.26 ERA and a fairly robust 1.311 WHIP. He also was scheduled to pitch Game 2 originally, but Francona pushed him back after Bauer injured his pinkie finger repairing his drone.
The Blue Jays should have an advantage at home against a pitcher who seems quite average and is coming off a self-inflicted injury.
However, the Cleveland pitching staff has held down the vibrant lineups of the Red Sox and the Jays in five consecutive games. If Bauer can come up with a another solid outing, Francona has that sensational bullpen to handle the final innings.
Miller may well be the most dominant performer of the postseason, and it doesn't look like anyone will be able to figure him out.
Even though the Indians have a 2-0 lead in the series, they are not the favorites to win the World Series. The Chicago Cubs remain the leader among bettors, according toย Odds Shark. The Cubs are plus-115 favorites to win their first World Series since 1908.
The Indians are plus-195 and the second choice, while the Blue Jays are behind at plus-550. The Los Angeles Dodgers are plus-645 to get by the Cubs in the National League Championship Series and then beat their American League opponent.
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