In the absence of baseball (grumble), Marquee Sports Network is re-running the top-14 games from the Chicago Cubs historic 2016 World Series run. And since I freakin’ love that idea, I thought we might play along by posting regular Pre-Gamin’ posts before each and every one.
Game 4 of the World Series is tonight at 7:00, and this is the 11th televised event in this series so far (Game 1 of the NLDS, Game 2 of the NLDS, Game 4 of the NLDS, Game 1 of the NLCS, Game 4 of the NLCS, Game 5 of the NLCS, Game 6 of the NLCS, World Series Game 1, World Series Game 2, World Series Game 3). It’s also the last time the Chicago Cubs will lose in 2016. One more tough result, and then it’s all fun all the way.Â
This also happened to be my birthday, and a very memorable day for me. Because it was a Saturday, we had to get to a Wrigleyville bar at 11:00 am (no joke) to reserve a table (remember how crowded the bars were that month?). We spent the *entire* day at that table, and when the time came, my friends started to sing “Happy Birthday” to me and the whole bar – all Cubs fans – joined in (of course, they mumbled through “Michael,” because no one knew who I was, but it’s the thought that counts). And it was pretty surreal. The only thing that could’ve made that day better was a win.Â
 Alright, from now on, we’ll pretend like we’re back on that night. Mostly.Â
Alright, well, this is not exactly where we wanted to be – down 2-1 to the Indians with Corey Kluber coming back to the mound against John Lackey. We may be at Wrigley Field, Kluber may be pitching on short rest for the second time this offseason, and the Cubs might’ve just gotten a look at him in Game 1, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t on edge.
Now, the best case scenario is winning tonight and tomorrow for a shot at clinching in Cleveland during Game 6. But if the Cubs somehow lose tonight, they’ll be down 3 games to 1 with two of the next three in Cleveland. I’m all for fairy tale endings, but that’s quite a bit to come back from.
Worse, Lackey hasn’t had the best of luck this October. In his first two starts, NLDS and NLCS Game 4, Lackey failed to go further than 4.0 innings, allowing 3 and 2 earned runs a piece, before getting yanked. That said, Joe Maddon has had him on an extremely short leash – something Lackey has clearly noticed – with a full bullpen and no working out of it to be had. You can bet he’ll be trying his best to last deep into this one tonight.
Go Cubs.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ORIGINAL PRE-GAMIN’ POST FROM THAT NIGHT.
Game Info
Cleveland Indians (2-1) at Chicago Cubs (1-1) – Saturday, March 28th at 7:00 CT on Marquee Sports Network
Or … watch the condensed game right here:
Starting Pitchers
Indians: Corey Kluber (R)
versus
Cubs: John Lackey (R)
Cleveland Indians:
- Rajai Davis – LF
- Jason Kipnis – 2B
- Francisco Lindor – SS
- Carlos Santana – 1B
- José RamÃrez – 3B
- Lonnie Chisenhall – RF
- Roberto Pérez – C
- Tyler Naquin – CF
- Corey Kluber – P
Chicago Cubs:
- Dexter Fowler – CF
- Kris Bryant – 3B
- Anthony Rizzo – 1B
- Ben Zobrist – LF
- Willson Contreras – C
- Addison Russell – SS
- Jason Heyward – RF
- Javy Báez – 2B
- John Lackey – P