The set-up: The 2016 World Series began Tuesday night featuring teams that have combined for 174 seasons of futility (Cubs last won in 1908 and Cleveland last won in 1948). What we saw was a continuation of a dominant postseason pitching performance from the Indians, who won 6-0. Corey Kluber pitched six scoreless innings (4 hits and a 9-0 KW ratio), then Miller and Allen pitched the final three scoreless innings, as this incredible relief duo has now combined for 21.1 scoreless innings, striking out 39 and walking just seven. Miller got out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 7th and then stranded runners at the corners in the 8th. The six runs scored matches Cleveland's highest output this postseason, when the Indians beat the Red Sox 6-0 in Game 2 of the ALDS. Lester looked mortal fo Chicago (5 2/3 IP / 6 hits / 3 ERs) and outside of Zobrist, who had three hits, the Chicago bats were quiet (just six hits in the game, striking out 15 times!). The top-3 in the lineup went a combined 0-for-11.

The pitching matchup: Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91 ERA) goes for Chicago in Game 2, opposed by Cleveland's Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.06 ERA). Arrieta won the National League Cy Young Award in 2015 (22-6, 1.77 ERA) and went 18-8 with a 3.10 during the 2016 regular season. However, he opened by going 9-0 with a 1.56 ERA through his first 11 starts. Arrieta entered the playoffs with a 5.01 ERA over his final four regular season starts and after a sold first start in the 2016 playoffs (two ERs allowed in six innings), he allowed four ERs on six hits (including two HRs) over five innings in Game 3 of the NLCS. That gives him a 4.91 postseason ERA with opponents are batting .273 against him compared to .194 in the regular season. Bauer cut his hand repairing his drone and then lasted only two outs in his ALCS Game 3 start when his pinkie began bleeding. Bauer says the cut is now healed and he tested the finger by throwing 20 pitches on Monday without incident. "Threw it with max intent, just like in a game, as close to game intensity as I could possibly get to," Bauer said during a press conference. "There's no pain, no blood. I was able to execute all my pitches to a high level, and I'm really encouraged by it." Bauer was 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA during the regular season, as the Indians went 16-12 in his 28 starts. Yes, he's thrown just 99 pitches in Cleveland's first two series of the 2016 playoffs but it should be noted that he was a workhorse, averaging 99.8 pitches in his regular season starts.

The pick: Losing Game 1 does not bode well for the Cubs, as the Game 1 winner of the last 19 World Series has gone on to win that series 17 times. That said, one must look at every series one game at a time and I'll back Arrieta over Bauer, who I believe is a YUGE question mark coming into this contest. Don't forget, Miller threw 46 pitches in Game 1, his most in five years (can Cleveland count on him here, if needed?). The Cubs have responded both times when tested, using a 4-run 9th in Game 4 of the NLDS to end that series before being forced to a deciding Game 5. Then, the Cubs won three straight against the Dodgers to close out the NLCS, after falling behind 2-1 by being shut out in Games 2 and 3. Cubs respond here and I'll make them an 8* play.