Chicago Cubs: Position-by-position matchup versus the Indians

Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Cubs win 5-0 to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 22, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reacts after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in game six of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Wrigley Field. Cubs win 5-0 to advance to the World Series. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 10
Next

They did! The Chicago Cubs are going to the World Series! The Cleveland Indians await them for Game 1 on Tuesday. How do the team’s matchup?

It is happening! The Chicago Cubs are in the 2016 World Series! For the first time in 71 seasons, the Cubs represent the National League in the Fall Classic. Just let that soak in.

The regular season is over. The National League playoffs are completed, and the team that proved to be the MLB’s best all season came out on top. Now, all that stands between them and their first championship in 108 years are the Cleveland Indians.

What are the odds? The two teams with the longest champion droughts in baseball are facing each other for a chance to break the streaks.

More from Chicago Cubs News

Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein and Indians Manager Terry Francona once colleagues with the Boston Red Sox and responsible for ending their World Series curse, will be on opposing sides. Does the script get any better?

Now is the time to see how the teams stack up. The Chicago Cubs completed the season with the best record in baseball, with the Indians nine games behind. We know the Cubs were the best pitching staff in the majors, with Cleveland having the seventh best ERA and were fifth in batting average against. However, in the postseason, the Indians are the best in both areas.

But, even with the struggles in the NLCS, the Cubs’ offense is the postseason’s best, scoring 48 runs on 21 doubles and 12 home runs. In comparison, the Indians only scored 27 runs, relying heavily on the 11 long balls hit. They also played two fewer games than the Cubs.

So, how do they matchup? Here is our position-by-position analysis.