Levine: Cubs' Jake Arrieta Focuses On Command, Holding Runners On
By Bruce Levine--
CLEVELAND (CBS) -- Game 2 of the World Series is crucial for the Cubs after a 6-0 loss to the Indians and ace Corey Kluber in the opener left them in a 1-0 hole. As Chicago looks to even the series, right-hander Jake Arrieta will be at the forefront of the discussion.
Arrieta has been ordinary in two postseason starts, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA. He's walked just one batter in 11 playoff innings after struggling at times with his command in the regular season, when he went 18-8 with a 3.10 ERA.
"This is why you play for the whole season," said Arrieta, who has a 4.11 ERA in five career playoff starts. "To hopefully be one of the last two teams standing with an opportunity to win it all means so much. You know there are only two of 30 that get these opportunities. There are some players that go their whole careers without being able to get to postseason. So we are so fortunate."
Often, it's the small details that determine the outcome of these huge contests. On Tuesday, an RBI infield single by Cleveland and a hit batsman with the bases loaded put Chicago and left-handed Jon Lester in an early 2-0 hole.
That would eventually be all the runs the Indians needed to win. With that in mind, Arrieta knows the margin for error is small.
"Not walking people, controlling the running game, not allowing your opponents to capitalize on your mental mistakes are big in postseason," Arrieta said. "The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually win these ball games. From my perspective, I want to get our defense in the dugout as quickly as possible. Like I said, the mental mistakes is really I think what is the turning point in a series like this."
Holding runners on base will also be a focal point. Arrieta and his catchers have allowed 23 of 25 runners to be successful in stolen-base attempts. Cubs manager Joe Maddon may use Willson Contreras as the starting catcher instead of Miguel Montero to help negate the Indians' running game. Cleveland led the American League in steals with 143.
Arrieta must hold runners more efficiently to allow his catchers enough time to throw out runners.
Opposing Arrieta in Game 2 will be Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer, who has four pitches and has grown into the kind of pitcher the Diamondbacks envisioned when they drafted him with their first-round pick in 2011. Bauer came on strong at the end of the season, winning five of his last seven starts.
Bauer has had an eventful postseason. He allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings in taking a no-decision against the Red Sox in the American League Divisional Series. Ahead of his Game 3 start against the Blue Jays in the ALCS, he cut his pinkie finger on his pitching hand in a drone accident. In the first inning of his start, it started bleeding profusely and he had to come out after recording just two outs.
The Indians are hopeful that Bauer is past that problem.
"I am confident the finger is not going to get in the way of his start," Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. "I said the same thing last time when it didn't work. I will send the doctor up here to talk to you guys if it doesn't work this time. He threw the ball well in his side session, and there was no blood. I don't think that finger will be the reason he wins or loses."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.