The World Series will get under way tonight in Cleveland, Ohio, with the Chicago Cubs squaring off against the Cleveland Indians. The Chicago Cubs have reached their first World Series for the first time since 1945, an almost 71-year absence from baseball's biggest stage. This year, however, the Cubbies have been a revelation, securing the MLB's best record during the regular season with stars such as Kris Bryant, John Lester, and Kyle Hendricks. They're the heavy favorite, according to Vegas, to capture their first World Series title since 1908.
With all the noise surrounding Chicago, Cleveland comes into this series as quietly under the radar as an American League champion seemingly can be. They don't quite have the 107-year World Series title drought that the Cubs possess, thought they do hold a pretty substantial one themselves going back to 1948. However, there are three primary reasons why, this year, the Indians will be crowned World Series champions.
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1. Cleveland is 7-1 This Postseason
The Indians have been dominant this October, rattling off win after win with only a lone hiccup in the ALCS. As a result, the players are fresh, the pitching staff is rested and ready to be utilized however manager Terry Francona pleases. Moreover, the dismantling of the vaunted Toronto Blue Jays offense is a good sign considering the Cubs present a formidable lineup as well.
2. Home Field Advantage
At 53-28, the Indians tied for the second best MLB record at home. The only team in front of them? You guessed it, the Chicago Cubs. With the American League winning the All-Star Game this past summer, though, the Indians will have homefield advantage during the World Series and host four of the seven games (if necessary). With two teams who are so great playing in their home ballparks, this advantage will be more important than you think.
3. This is Cleveland's Year
It just has to happen. The city had not won a league championship in any of the major sports since a Browns' title in 1964, two years before the first Super Bowl, until the Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Golden State Warriors earlier this year. In 2016, The Cavs are the center of the NBA universe, the Indians are in the World Series, and the Browns simply don't count as they're a lost cause.
Consequently, it only makes sense that the Indians will ride this thing out and bring another title back to the city of Cleveland. It's meant to be.
