Chicago Cubs

2016 World Series: A Position-by-Position Breakdown of the Indians and Cubs

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Oct 17, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Mike Napoli (right) hits a solo home run in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (left) during the fourth inning in game three of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs boast a lot of talent around the diamond. How do these two teams match up in the World Series?

The powers that be in Major League Baseball could not have written a better script for this year’s World Series. On the one hand, the Cleveland Indians and their 68-year championship drought, counted out all postseason because of a roster decimated by injuries, revolutionizing the way ballgames are won. And on the other, the Chicago Cubs, lovable losers for 108 years now and the much-heralded best team in baseball this year.

Cleveland is here after gutting out an American League Central Division title in a season in which it was without arguably its best hitter (Michael Brantley) for all but 11 games, sustained crippling injuries to its starting rotation (Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar), and had the worst offensive catching position unit in the game.

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Despite those obstacles, the Indians won 94 games in the regular season, claiming the AL’s second seed, and have torn through the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays with a 7-1 record in the postseason.

Chicago’s path was much different than the Tribe’s, as it has been the odds-on favorite to take a world championship since spring training. The Cubs won 103 games in 2016, the only team in MLB to eclipse the 100-win mark, and led the NL Central since early April.

Seven Chicago players were named to the NL All-Star team, including the entire starting infield, and at midseason an eighth was added in one of the game’s premier closers, Aroldis Chapman. The Cubs have several players that will receive strong consideration for league MVP, Cy Young, Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove awards.

That strong performance propelled Chicago to a league-leading +252 run differential this season, and a pythagorean winning percentage that says the club actually underachieved. With the fifth-highest payroll in MLB, the Cubs proved to be worth every penny, knocking off the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs with seven wins in 10 games.

The series will pit two of the game’s finest managers against one another in Terry Francona and Joe Maddon, and will have stars on display all over the field on both sides. It also features the two longest-suffering fanbases in baseball, with histories filled to the brim with heartbreak, mythical curses, and downright bad luck.

Let’s take a look at how the Tribe and Cubs match up.

Catchers

Oct 15, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (3) reacts after the Los Angeles Dodgers tied the game in the eighth inning of game one of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

As mentioned, the offense provided by Cleveland’s catching corps during the regular season was historically bad. Indians’ backstops were dead last in all of MLB in wins above average, and combined to put up a .185/.244/.320 slash line and an OPS+ of just 60.

That production at the plate has, at first glance, carried over into the postseason. Roberto Perez has caught every playoff innings for the Tribe thus far, and his .174/.269/.348 slash line with a double, a home run, and two runs batted in doesn’t jump off the stat sheet at you. But anyone who has watched the games knows how integral Perez has been to the team’s October run.

He was the hero of Game One of the division series against Boston, impacting all three phases of the game. His defense, particularly his pitch framing, more than makes up for what he may lack with the bat.

Chicago uses a trio of catchers, with rookie Wilson Contreras sharing time with veterans David Ross and Miguel Montero. Cubs catchers were in the top half of MLB in wins above average with a collective slash line of .239/.339/.425 and an OPS+ of 118.

What those numbers fail to properly convey, though, has been the rapid development of Contreras, who didn’t make his major league debut until the middle of June. In 76 regular season games, the 24-year old slashed .282/.357/.488 with 14 doubles, 12 home runs, 35 RBIs, and a 125 OPS+.

In the playoffs, Contreras has caught fire at the plate, slashing .400/.429/.550 with a homer and four RBIs while appearing in all 10 games. Ross and Montero are a combined 3-for-19 in that span, though both have gone deep at critical moments, including Montero’s decisive grand slam in Game One of the NLCS.

Cleveland and Chicago enter the World Series having ranked first and fourth, respectively, in postseason earned run average, and the catchers have an impact on that. While Perez has been as solid behind the plate as any backstop in the playoffs, the Cubs’ trio has shown more firepower at the plate, adding to an already potent lineup.

Advantage: Chicago

First Base

Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) hits a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning of game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Both Chicago and Cleveland feature classic power hitting first basemen in Anthony Rizzo and Mike Napoli, who anchor the middle of their teams’ lineups, were among the best run producers in the game in 2016, and serve as leaders for their teammates.

Napoli seems to live in the playoffs, with this his eighth trip in an 11-year career. The 34-year old had a dream season for the Indians putting up personal bests with 34 home runs and 101 RBIs, while also becoming a rallying cry for the fanbase with his popular “Party at Napoli’s” t-shirts.

But he has struggled mightily at the plate throughout most of the postseason, with a 5-for-28 performance good for a .179/.233/.393 slash line. Napoli did begin to show signs of life near the end of the ALCS, though, collecting two doubles, a homer, and two RBIs in the final three games against the Blue Jays. That power and production is vital to the Tribe’s offensive gameplan.

Similarly, Rizzo has been ice cold throughout most of the playoffs, but broke out in a big way in his last three games. After starting out the postseason 2-for-26, the 27-year old trashed the Dodgers with a 7-for-14 outburst in Games Four through Six, with two doubles, two home runs, and five driven in.

Given how successful the top of the Cubs order has been in getting on base in October, Rizzo breaking out of his slump is crucial to the club’s chances of winning a championship. During the regular season, he posted a .292/.385/.544 slash line with 43 doubles, 32 homers, 109 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 146, as the northsiders ran roughshod over baseball.

Chicago is a different offensive team when Rizzo is in a groove, and a scary one at that. The same can be said for Cleveland and Napoli. If both players can continue to leave their struggles from earlier in the postseason in the past, we could see balls leaving the yard and runs being scored in bunches throughout the series.

Advantage: Chicago

Second Base

Oct 15, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (22) throws to first base during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game two of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The second baseman in this series offer an interesting contrast. Cleveland trots out solid, consistent Jason Kipnis while Chicago has the more mercurial Javier Baez, but both are impact players.

Kipnis has been one of the rocks of the Indians’ lineup, playing in all but five regular season games, slashing .275/.343/.469 with 41 doubles, a career-high 23 home runs, 82 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, and an OPS+ of 107. The 29-year old has also improved dramatically with the glove.

Like much of the Tribe’s lineup, though, Kipnis has struggled at the plate in the postseason. In eight games, he’s just 5-for-30, sporting a .167/.219/.367 slash line with a pair of homers and four driven in. It’s important to note that three of his five hits in the playoffs came in Cleveland’s first game, putting him in a 2-for-25 slump heading into Tuesday.

Kipnis has gone through these sorts of dry spells before, and tends to be a bit streaky. If he can get back on a hot streak in the World Series, he changes the complexion of Cleveland’s offense.

Baez, conversely, has been one of the breakout stars of the 2016 postseason, handling a hot bat, flashing highlight-reel defense, and being one of the most openly emotional players on the field. In the Cubs’ 10 games in October, he’s slashing .342/.366/.526 with four doubles, a home run, and seven RBIs.

During the regular season, the 23-year old from Puerto Rico split time between second, third, and shortstop, but has become Maddon’s everyday second sacker in the playoffs. In his first full big league season, appearing in 142 games, Baez had a .273/.314/.423 slash line with 14 homers, 59 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 96.

He can be strikeout-prone when his swing gets too big, going down 108 times this year, but has dramatically improved his approach and become a major weapon in Chicago’s lineup. Throw in some of the best defense we’ve seen in the postseason, and Baez has arguably been the Cubs’ MVP in their quest for a championship.

Advantage: Push

Third Base

Oct 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) throws to first base for an out during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

The hot corner has the distinction of being the home of arguably the most valuable players during the regular season for the Indians and Cubs. One shudders to think where the Tribe would have been without the breakout season that Jose Ramirez has had, and Chicago’s Kris Bryant may well take home the NL MVP award in just his second year in the big leagues.

Ramirez began 2016 as Francona’s super-utilityman, getting time all over the diamond, and most notably in left field in the absence of Brantley. The 24-year old switch hitter has also hit in every spot in the lineup one through nine throughout the season.

Having settled in as the everyday third baseman after the midseason release of Juan Uribe, Ramirez came out of nowhere to put up a .312/.363/.462 slash line with 46 doubles, 11 home runs, 76 RBIs, 22 steals, and an OPS+ of 112. He was also among the very best in the game at hitting with runners in scoring position, and particularly with two outs, becoming one of the more unlikely clutch run producers in the league.

Ramirez has been in a funk at the plate during the postseason, though, slashing just .222/.276/.259 with only one extra-base hit and a single run batted in. After a 5-for-10 effort against Boston in the ALDS, he had a mere one hit in 17 at-bats against Toronto. As much as Kipnis and Napoli, Cleveland desperately needs Ramirez to get going offensively if it hopes to keep up with the Cubs.

A big reason why that’s the case is Bryant, last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, who had a monster year at the plate. The 24-year old slashed .292/.385/.554 with 35 doubles, 39 longballs, 102 RBIs, and an impressive 149 OPS+. In addition to third base, Maddon also gave him time in the outfield, utilizing his athleticism.

Bryant has continued his torrid year in the postseason, sparking the Chicago offense from the No. 2 hole in the lineup with a .333/.409/.538 slash line, five doubles, a homer, and six RBIs. The San Diego State product has a hit in eight of the team’s 10 games.

It’s hard to argue with a guy that put up an MVP-caliber season as Bryant did, but those outside of Cleveland would do well to appreciate what an integral part of the Tribe’s success Ramirez has been.

Advantage: Chicago

Shortstop

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) hits a ground rule double during the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Of all the spots on the field, shortstop promises to display as marquee a matchup as this World Series will have to offer. 22 year olds Francisco Lindor and Addison Russell are two of the best among an unbelievable group of young shortstops in MLB, with each being able to impact every phase of the game in just their second big league seasons.

Lindor, last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up in the AL, smashed through any fear the Indians or their fanbase may have had about a sophomore slump, slashing .301/.358/.435 with 30 doubles, 15 homers, 78 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases, all of which were career-highs.

The native of Puerto Rico was also a staple of highlight shows throughout the season due to his otherworldly defensive skills. Lindor is on the short list to take home the Gold Glove in the American League, and has, like Baez, broken out on the national stage in the postseason with his energy and enthusiasm.

Lindor is also one of the few Cleveland players riding a hot bat into this series. He went 7-for-19 against the Jays, driving in the winning runs in each of the first two ALCS games, and is slashing .323/.344/.581 overall in October, with a pair of doubles, a pair of home runs, and four runs driven in.

Russell, who won the fan vote to start at short for the NL in the all-star game this season, also comes in swinging a hot bat. After a slow start to the postseason that saw him collect just one hit in his first 24 at-bats, the Pensacola, Florida product is six for his last 13, smacking two homers and driving in four runs.

The regular season saw Russell improve almost across the board as a big league hitter. He slashed .238/.321/.417, and saw his power numbers jump to 21 homers and 95 RBIs, giving the Cubs yet another source of production. Russell also boasts one of the strongest infield arms in the game, and with Baez forms a fluid double play combination.

Both players look to have bright futures as cornerstones of their teams for years to come, but right now, Lindor is simply counted on for more. The fact that he has delivered more than the Indians could ever have asked speaks volume for how special a player he is.

Advantage: Cleveland

Outfield/DH

Oct 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler (24) rounds second base to score a run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

We’ll look at the outfields and designated hitters for Cleveland and Chicago as whole units, as both Francona and Maddon are masters of shuffling several players in and out of the lineup in search of platoon advantages and have a number of such players to choose from.

The Indians have been hamstrung due to Brantley’s injury issues and PED suspensions for both Abraham Almonte and Marlon Byrd, yet Francona has squeezed better than average production from the unit. Tribe outfielders combined to slash .283/.340/.445 in 2016, and displayed a unique meshing of different skillsets.

Cleveland saw a 35-year old Rajai Davis lead the AL in stolen bases, got a 126 OPS+ out of rookie Tyler Naquin, watched Lonnie Chisenhall settle into right field after spending his career as a third baseman, and were rewarded with big late-season and postseason contributions from Brandon Guyer and Coco Crisp.

Those five players don’t give Francona and the Tribe any legitimate superstars, but each has done their part to get the club to the Fall Classic, whether it be Chisenhall’s three-run homer off David Price in Game Two of the ALDS, Naquin’s two-run single in the clincher against the Red Sox, or Crisp’s two home runs at the exact moment his team needed them.

Cleveland made its way through Boston and Toronto on the back of its pitching and defense, but timely hitting also played a critical role. The corps of outfielders the team has at its disposal was responsible for more than its fair share of those, and must continue to produce in clutch spots if the Indians are to win.

The Indians also have the luxury of designated hitter Carlos Santana being accustomed to that role. Splitting time between the leadoff spot and the middle of the order during the regular season, the 30-year old had a pretty Santana-like season, slashing .259/.366/.498, drawing 99 walks, and setting career-highs with 34 home runs and 87 RBIs.

In the postseason, though, he’s seen some of his usual patience at the plate dissipate, drawing just two walks and slashing .172/.250/.379. The issue Cleveland will have is that one of Santana or Napoli will likely find themselves on the bench when the series shifts to Wrigley Field.

Maddon has a little more stability in the outfield, with Dexter Fowler an all-star in center field and Ben Zobrist having moved to left field with the emergence of Baez at second base. The real question for the Cubs is in right field, where Jason Heyward and his $184 million contract have had a decidedly down year.

Chicago’s outfield combined to slash .261/.353/.423 in the postseason, with Fowler being an on-base machine at the top of the order (.393 OBP) and Zobrist being his old, reliable self in the middle, hitting 18 home runs and driving in 76 while serving as protection for Rizzo.

Fowler has continued to be a catalyst in October, reaching base 13 times in 10 games, and scoring a team-high eight runs. Zobrist, though, has struggled to the tune of .167/.244/.250 and had just three hits against the Dodgers in the LCS.

Heyward slashed a meager .230/.306/.325 during the regular season, and has looked increasingly uncomfortable at the plate during the postseason. In the club’s 10 games, he’s just 2-for-28, good for a .071/.133 /.179 slash line, with his lone RBI coming on a groundout in the NLDS.

Behind Heyward and serving as both platoon options and potential DHs are rookie Albert Almora and second year man Jorge Soler, both of whom are hitless thus far in the playoffs. The one looming question, of course, is the potential that Kyle Schwarber, one of last season’s big playoff contributors for the Cubs who’s been out since the first week of the season with a knee injury, could return to the team for the series. Schwarber would be the logical DH choice for Chicago if that’s the case, but it’s still up in the air.

Advantage: Cleveland

Assessing the Matchup

Oct 19, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game five of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

On paper, it’s hard to argue that Chicago doesn’t have the edge in talent over Cleveland. There’s a reason the Cubs were the best team in baseball during the regular season, and why they find themselves on the doorstep of putting an end to their 108-year World Series drought.

They have a host of young all-stars, a few savvy veterans who have been there before, and one of the most forward-thinking managers in the game. In 2016, Chicago has seemed like MLB’s team of destiny, and that’s not something easily overcome.

But as the Indians have proven all season long, games aren’t won on paper. This is a club that has overcome adversity at every turn, endured injuries that would have been debilitating for a lot of teams, and have proven all the experts wrong in October. As Chisenhall said after learning Chicago would be the Tribe’s opponent, “That’s why we play the games.”

The Indians have also proven since April that they love to play at home, winning 53 regular season games at Progressive Field and going a perfect 4-for-4 thus far in the postseason. With home-field advantage, a raucous fanbase still experiencing the high of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA title and hungry for more has been a decided advantage for the Tribe.

Regardless of what either team has done before or where the games are played, the history of baseball in October tells us that anything that can happen. Unlikely heroes emerge and underdogs often do the seemingly impossible. It’s Cleveland against the world, to quote LeBron James, and the Indians wouldn’t have it any other way.

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