Game 3 of this ALDS comes down to the middle innings. Both clubs are opening with a reliever, so the real question is who covers innings three through six. Chicago have a quick turnaround with Game 4 coming straight after, and they're holding arms back. Cleveland are facing elimination and won't hold anything back.
Will Venable said it plainly before the game: with no off day after this one, "we're going to see some arms potentially that we haven't seen yet in this series or even in the playoffs." Sean Burke has been Chicago's only real bulk arm this October, and he threw 83 pitches in Game 2. Davis Martin and Noah Schultz haven't pitched in the postseason yet. Even GM Chris Getz admitted the rotation isn't the strength of this team.
Cleveland's relief corps is about as fresh as it gets. Gaddis, Armstrong and Cade Smith threw 17, 16 and 5 pitches in Game 2, then got the off day. Gavin Williams, who struck out 11 in Game 2, has already said he'd come out of the pen if needed.
The series has been closer than 2-0 sounds. Game 1 finished 3-0 and Game 2 4-3, and Cleveland led early in Game 2. Parker Messick and Williams both held Chicago to two runs. Chicago's bullpen has been excellent, but the innings that decide this one fall to a different group of arms than the ones that won the first two games.
