CLEVELAND — Andrew Miller stood next to Corey Kluber’s locker after Game 6 and said what almost every Indians fan is thinking, hoping and believing heading into Wednesday's Game 7 of the World Series against the Cubs at Progressive Field.
“All of our pitchers have thrown the ball well, but he’s the guy for us,” Miller, the club's ace reliever, said. “I don’t think any team could draw up a better starting pitcher for a Game 7 than Corey Kluber, and fortunately we’ve got him.”
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Kluber, who is 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings in this postseason, could solidify his place as a World Series legend by leading Cleveland to its first World Series championship since 1948. He already has become the first pitcher since Cincinnati’s Jose Rijo to win Game 1 and Game 4. Rijo, of course, keyed the Reds’ sweep against Oakland in 1990.
“I know (Rijo) pitched for the Reds in the World Series,” Kluber said before Game 6, which Chicago won 9-3. “But as far as the historical significance . . . Those are things you’ll probably look back on (after) the fact and not during the middle of it.”
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There are a couple other milestones on which Kluber could look back should he deliver that decisive third victory. According to Stats LLC, 13 pitchers have won three games in a single World Series. The last pitcher to do it was the Diamondbacks' Randy Johnson in 2001, and he won Game 7 against the Yankees as a reliever.
Only seven pitchers have started and won three games without making another appearance. The Tigers' Mickey Lolich (1968) is the last to do it. That exclusive list also includes the Giants' Christy Mathewson (1905), the Pirates' Babe Adams (1909), the A's Jack Coombs (1910), the Indians' Stan Coveleski (1920), the Braves' Lew Burdette (1957) and the Cardinals' Bob Gibson (1967).
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The good news for Kluber? He doesn’t have to be as good as those guys; all seven pitched 27 innings total in their respective World Series. That’s still unbelievable company.
Kluber also will be just the seventh pitcher to start three games in a World Series in the past 30 years. The Cardinals' Chris Carpenter was the last to do that in 2011. Kluber said before Game 6 he would be ready for this situation.
“I think that my mindset was I’d rather be prepared and not have to pitch than try to will us to a Game 7 and then not be ready to be pitch if it comes,” he said.
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The Cubs will have the challenge of trying to figure out a pitcher who has beaten them twice in the series. Kluber has an 0.75 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings. Chicago's offense has heated up the past two games, both victories.
“Kluber has one of the best curveballs in the game,” Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said. “Hopefully we make the adjustment the third time around.”
GAME CENTER: Score, stats
Cleveland, meanwhile, has its ace on the mound in the franchise’s biggest game since Game 7 of the 1997 World Series. It has the guy who can best get the ball to a bullpen that features Miller and closer Cody Allen. Those two have combined to allow just one run in 28 2/3 innings, with 51 strikeouts, this postseason.
That’s what Indians are thinking, hoping and believing heading into Game 7. Kluber is a hell of a start — or a hell of a starter — to get the game to that tandem.
“That’s a good feeling, and I know (the Cubs) love their guy, too, as they should,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “You’ve got two really, really good pitchers, and it will be exciting.”