The 2016 World Series sure has some interesting storylines.
In the challenger's corner, the Cleveland Indians are a team of great pluck, brilliantly managed by Terry Francona, who is about to reestablish himself as, perhaps, the best manager in the sport. The Indians are looking to win the franchise's first World Series title since 1948 without their best all-around player, outfielder Michael Brantley, whose shoulder surgery ran afoul, causing him to play in just 11 games this season. Two of the Indians' top starters were on the disabled list during the past six weeks -- Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar. Carrasco couldn't return in time from a broken bone in his pitching hand suffered against the Tigers Sept. 17, but Salazar was added to the Indians' roster and a possible start during Game 4 is being blithely mentioned. It's probably more likely Francona will use Salazar as a right-handed version of chess piece reliever Andrew Miller, with Game 5 ALCS hero Ryan Merritt the likely alternative to start Game 4.
