☆ 2016 ALCS ☆ Toronto Blue Jays vs CLEVELAND INDIANS ☆
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I can't believe we pulled that off after Fingergate. Amazing.
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The Cavs, Lake Erie Monsters and The Tribe got their shit together, makes it easier to deal with the Browns. #MakeClevelandGreatAGAIN
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YEAH BUDDY!!!
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It's good to be a winner. Get the brooms out, it's Kluber time!
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SO do they clinch a trip to the World Series tomorrow with Kluber?
The freakin WORLD SERIES!
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TORONTO -- The thing about today's Game 4 of the American League Championship Series is that everybody will be on short rest, with a 4 p.m. ET matinee following a night game. But the only guy whose short rest truly matters is Corey Kluber. He's either about to nail down the Indians' first AL pennant in 19 years, or he's going to give the Blue Jays' sagging bats a boost that will allow them to turn their 3-0 series deficit into something resembling hope.
Kluber has never done this -- and that's not a reference to him attempting to advance a team to a World Series (though he's never done that, either). Not one of his 136 Major League starts has come on anything less than four days' rest. So the Indians are definitely taking a risk here, but with Trevor Bauer's bloody right pinkie having prompted a 'pen day in Game 3, they really don't have much of a choice.
"If we don't bring him back tomorrow and he pitches Game 5," Tribe manager Terry Francona explained, "we don't have a starter for Game 7. I mean, we have to physically have a starter. So this is the best way to do it. I mean, this is the only way to do it. There's no other way around it."
The Indians' issues in their rotation are obviously unusual for a team on the precipice of the Promised Land. But given the "circumstances" -- a word that has taken on quite a bit of postseason prominence after Jose Bautista's mid-series comments about the issues the Blue Jays have faced -- you'd take Cleveland's problems over those plaguing Toronto.
The Blue Jays just aren't hitting. They didn't hit off Kluber in Game 1, they didn't hit off Josh Tomlin in Game 2, and, amazingly, they didn't hit off the conga line of relievers Francona had to bring to the mound after Bauer bowed out just two outs into Game 3.
Toronto is hitting just .177 with a .483 OPS through 96 at-bats. Michael Saunders' solo shot off Dan Otero in Game 3 stands as the only home run for a home run-reliant ballclub that generated 46 percent of its offense via the long ball this season.
That's not good, and it's a trend that has to change rapidly and markedly if the Blue Jays are going to become just the second team in 36 tries to rally from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven postseason series.
(To date, the only outlier is Francona's 2004 Red Sox club, against the Yankees in the ALCS).
"We don't have any choice," Russell Martin said. "We either win or go home, and I don't want to go home. I don't think anyone in this clubhouse wants to go home."
No, the Blue Jays want to find home, that place they've only crossed three times in three games. Any complaints about the strike zone ring hollow, because there were multiple moments Monday night in which the zone appeared to shrink in their favor, but Toronto's bats were once again kept quiet. Manager John Gibbons already tried adjusting his lineup for Game 3, moving Bautista back up to the leadoff spot, so he's not anticipating any major moves there.
What Gibbons is anticipating is a strong start from young Aaron Sanchez, who is 2 1/3 innings from reaching the vaunted 200 mark in 2016. Sanchez arguably looked a little gassed in his AL Division Series start against the Rangers (six runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings), but in stark contrast to Kluber's situation, he'll be operating on nine days' rest.
"He's turned himself into one of the better [pitchers] in baseball," Gibbons said of Sanchez. "And he's been solid all year. And we've been getting great pitching the whole series. We can't complain about that one bit. And really expect him to just to do the same. He's that good."
Are the Blue Jays good enough to make history? Or will Kluber contain them once again? It is clear that jumping out to an early lead on the Indians is imperative, because their Andrew Miller-aided bullpen has been absolutely lights out on this stage. And though that 'pen was extended Monday night, Francona said he is not anticipating any of his arms -- notably the long left-handed one attached to Miller -- being unavailable.
"[Kluber] is our ace; he's our horse," Miller said. "I think we like our chances with him. But everybody will find a way to be ready."
The Indians feel ready to pop champagne on enemy turf, while the Blue Jays are hoping for a rally that defies history. Game 4 at Rogers Centre beckons. Rest up.
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10/18 8:05 PM - NLCS GAME 3 - Too early for a look ahead? (Vegasinsider.com)
953 Chi. Cubs open -115 now consensus -105
954 L.A. Dodgers open -115 now consensus +105 A nearly even game.
Total runs 6½ A National League type low total, the AL is more exciting.
Pitchers: (CHC) Jake Arrieta
(LAD) Rich Hill (L)TV: FS-1, DTV: 219 | CLEAR, WIND OUT TO LEFT 5-10. GAME TEMP 76, RH 33% HEAT INDEX 75
10/18 4:05 PM - The ALCS GAME 4 - SERIES CLINCHING GAME FOR CLEVELAND
955 Cleveland open +112 now concensus +110
956 Toronto open -122 now consensus -120 Toronto a very slight favorite
Total runs 7½ with Kluber pitching
Pitchers: (CLE) Corey Kluber
(TOR) Aar³n Sanchez Overnight Pitching Change: Cleveland - C. Kluber for M. Clevinger | TV: TBS, DTV: 247 | MOSTLY CLOUDY, 40% CHANCE THUNDERSTORMS. WIND OUT TO RIGHT 20-30, GUSTY. GAME TEMP 79, RH 55% HEAT INDEX 81 (ROGERS CENTRE ROOF CLOSES IN WET WEATHER)
NOTES:
Open Line: Consists of the first betting line received from one of our Las Vegas or Online sportsbooks.
VI Consensus: Consists of the current betting line which occurs most frequently among our list of Las Vegas and Online sportsbooks.
All Game Times are Eastern Standard Time.
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Well that sucks.
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