The Latest: Indians Ace Corey Kluber Set To Pitch Game 4
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times Eastern):
4:05 p.m.
The Chicago Cubs are going to see a whole lot of Cleveland ace Corey Kluber.
Indians manager Terry Francona says Kluber is "all set" to start Game 4 at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Saturday.
Kluber tossed six shutout innings in Cleveland's 6-0 victory in Game 1 on Tuesday night. Francona removed Kluber after 88 pitches, and the bullpen kept the Cubs in check the rest of the way.
Kluber is 3-1 in the postseason and lowered his ERA to a sparkling 0.74 while scattering four hits and striking out nine without issuing a walk.
Starting Kluber in Game 4 opens the possibility of Kluber getting the nod again if the series goes the full seven games.
The Cubs already have named John Lackey their starter for Game 4.
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3:45 p.m.
If you know the whereabouts of the Cubs' offense, please contact the Cleveland Police Department.
After the hometown Indians blanked the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the World Series opener Tuesday night, Cleveland police hit the Cubs and their fans hard with this tweet : "Missing persons report filed for @Cubs offense. #RallyTogether #gooseegg #GoTribe @Indians."
Chicago's men in blue countered with this post : "Shake it off! Tomorrow is game 2! @Cubs CPD supports you! #FlyTheW."
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3:30 p.m.
Indians manager Terry Francona more than tweaked his lineup for Game 2 of the World Series.
Switch-hitting designated hitter Carlos Santana, who batted fifth in the opener, will lead off against Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta. Also, Tyler Naquin will replace Rajai Davis in center field and Coco Crisp will play in left instead of Brandon Guyer.
Francona likes Santana at the top of the order because of his patience at the plate. He walked 99 times during the regular season. Santana also hit 34 home runs and has set the tone with several homers to open games.
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2:40 p.m.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon made a pair of lineup changes for Game 2 of the World Series, inserting right fielder Jorge Soler and catcher Willson Contreras in place of Chris Coghlan and David Ross.
Jason Heyward, the right fielder with the $184 million, eight-year contract, remains on the bench. He is 2 for 28 in the postseason.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler will lead off, followed by third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, left field Ben Zobrist, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, second baseman Javier Baez, Contreras, Soler and shortstop Addison Russell. Jake Arrieta was scheduled to pitch.
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2:25 p.m.
The tarp is covering the infield at Progressive Field, five hours before the scheduled 7:08 p.m. start of Game 2 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians.
A light drizzle began at around noon Wednesday, and the chance of rain was 40 to 50 percent for each hour through 8 p.m.
Cleveland won Tuesday's opener 6-0.
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12:30 p.m.
Even if one team has a big late-inning lead, there could be a daylong wait to finish Game 2 of the World Series if rain hits Progressive Field.
While regular-season games can be shortened because of a bad weather as long as the losing team has completed at least five innings, a rules change approved in 2009 mandates that all postseason games and regular-season tiebreakers must be played to conclusion at the ballpark where they began.
Thursday is a scheduled off day before the Series is set to resume at Chicago's Wrigley Field, which last hosted the Series in 1945.
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12:10 p.m.
The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians are hoping to beat the rain forecast for Wednesday and get in Game 2 of the World Series.
It was overcast and dry at noontime following the Indians' 6-0 victory in the opener, but wet weather was forecast for the evening.
Major League Baseball moved up the start of the game by an hour to 7:08 p.m., when Accuweather forecast a 48-degree temperature, a little rain and winds of 10-20 mph. Accuweather said that if rain tracks to the north, there will be a spot shower or two during the game, but if rain remains over the area, it could be steady and cause delays.
Meteorologist Ryan Adamson says in a statement: "Game 2 of the World Series looks rather dry to start, but possibly wet to finish, depending on how long the game goes."
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