Chicago Cubs were in a sort of must-win situation last night. They knew Corey Kluber waited on Saturday night at Wrigley Field, and with the wind blowing out, and a pitcher like Josh Tomlin whose served up meatballs like an Italian Deli, it seemed inevitable a Cubs hitter would run into one. Not the case. Chicago’s bats went quiet again as Cleveland won 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead with their ace on the mound. Cleveland is in control of their own destiny, but there’s still work to do.

Kluber pitched on three days rest once in his career, and it was about a two weeks ago. He did adequately going five innings and only allowing two runs in a losing effort. Kluber seemed unhittable versus Chicago in Game 1, and Cubs hitters will need a start like they had against Clayton Kershaw in Game 6. A part of me thinks something like this will happen again tonight. Cubs do a good job at making adjustments on pitchers, and we could see something like that. It starts with the middle of the order, and they know if they win tonight, Kyle Schwarber will be in that lineup on Tuesday and Wednesday if need be. That’s a huge lift.

If Cleveland ends up dominating again with their staff, and Andrew Miller continues to look like the grim reaper, Indians are in the catbird seat. Game 5 becomes a house money game because the worst thing that happens is the series goes back to Cleveland. Although as the Cleveland professional basketball taught us this summer, it’s not over when a team is up 3-1.

Tonight’s game will feature unseasonably warm weather with 70 degrees as a high and a slight wind. Cubs can’t come out tight or the Game 3 will find a way to repeat itself.

Charlie.