Indians' Josh Tomlin looks to close out Cubs in World Series
CLEVELAND – As one of the longest tenured members of the Cleveland Indians, it seems only fitting that Josh Tomlin have the opportunity to start what could be a World Series-clinching win on Tuesday in front of the home fans.
Tomlin’s career has a lot in common with the Indians franchise. He’s seen a lot of ups and downs over his seven seasons in Cleveland.
“There's been a lot of guys that have been here a long time and never got to experience anything like this,” Tomlin told the media before Monday’s workout. “So for us to be able to experience this as an organization is very special to us, and it's something that we are humbled to be able to do.”
Despite a 4.40 ERA, this has been Tomlin’s best season. He set career highs in wins (13) and innings (174), and his pinpoint control produced a walk rate of 1.0 per nine innings – best in the American League.
With all the attention focused on ace Corey Kluber and the Indians’ fantastic bullpen this postseason, Tomlin has been outstanding as well. In three playoff starts, one in each round of the playoffs, the 32-year-old right-hander has allowed just three earned runs in 15 1/3 innings – that comes out to a 1.76 ERA.
“He’s not overpowering. As a catcher, you try to tell him to keep the ball down,” said catcher Roberto Perez. “He had success against Boston and Toronto. They’re good offensive teams. You just got to give credit to Tomlin, man. He’s pitching really good ballgames, he’s keeping the ball down and throwing a lot of strikes so that helps.”
He blanked the Chicago Cubs for 4 2/3 innings in Game 3 as Cleveland won a 1-0 squeaker.
But he’ll be coming back to start on just three days of rest, something he’s done only once before in his career.
“The preparation on the field really doesn't change that much,” Tomlin said. “You listen to your body a little bit more on days like today and days like the couple days leading up to it just because you know you don't have that bullpen day or that longer bullpen day.”
One major difference between this start and the one in Chicago is the presence of the designated hitter. It will be an advantage for the Indians to get Carlos Santana and Mike Napoli back in their primary roles.
“I thought Carlos did an amazing job,” manager Terry Francona said of Santana’s unexpected move to left field for two games in Chicago. “There were no crazy chances out there or anything, but everything that was hit to him, he looked like a left fielder.”
But the Cubs will also have the opportunity to get Kyle Schwarber’s bat in the lineup as their designated hitter.
“I’m not really a big fan of the DH as I am right now,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “And I’ve never wanted to play the seventh game of the World Series as much as I do right now either."
But before a Game 7, there has to be a Game 6.
And after throwing only 58 pitches last time out, Tomlin is out to make sure he does everything he can to see that the series ends on Tuesday.
“I know it's a Game 6 and we have a chance of winning a World Series, but you still can't have that mindset of trying to go out there and win the game in the first inning,” he said. “You have to go out there and take each pitch as it is and start living in that moment until Tito comes and gets the ball, and then see what happens.”
If Tomlin can produce another solid start and turn things over to the dominant Indians bullpen, there’s a decent chance the city of Cleveland can start planning a championship parade.
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