World Series Preview

By now, the historic elements of the World Series should be firmly ingrained in your mind. You’ve heard them plenty. But we’ll run through them one more time after we give you the nuts and bolts.

The World Series, between the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs, begins on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field at 8 p.m. and will be televised by Fox. Game 2 in this best-of-seven is also at Wrigley on Wednesday night, same time and TV coordinates.

Game 1 starting pitcher are Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA, 197 strikeouts) for the Cubs and righty Corey Kluber (18-9, 3.14 ERA, 227 strikeouts). In his three postseason starts so far, Kluber’s ERA is 0.98. Lester, who was a longtime American Leaguer, is 7-1 lifetime against the Indians.

Now, once more through history’s garden…

The Indians are in the World Series for the first time since 1997. They last won it in 1948. If that seems like a long stretch, well, consider the Cubs.

This is their World Series since 1945 and they’re seeking their first championship since 1908 (when they won their second in a row). As old as Wrigley Field is, it was not the Cubs’ home when they were champions. Construction on the ballpark known as the Friendly Confines did not begin until 1914. It’s the second-oldest venue in baseball behind Boston’s Fenway Park.

And now? Play ball. Let’s make history.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman