Preview/Prediction

As the World Series moves to Wrigley Field for the first time since 1945, the emphasis at the venerable National League ballpark is on the change of rules that does not allow for a designated hitter.

In most years, this is something that tends to hurt the American League representative, because that league has used the DH to bat for the pitcher since the 1973 season.

All the betting trends seemed to be on the side of the Cleveland Indians after they won Game 1 of the World Series in a 6-0 rout Tuesday.

The 2016 World Series became all knotted up Wednesday, as the Chicago Cubs were able to steal a road win over the Cleveland Indians.

After Cleveland shut out Chicago 6-0 in Game 1, the Cubs returned the favor in Game 2 with a 5-1 win behind stout performances from Jake Arrieta and Kyle Schwarber. Now the series shifts for a three-game set in Chicago, as the Cubs have a chance to grab a lead at home.

MLB's offseason represents an opportunity for every team to start fresh.

Bloated contracts and payroll limitations often hinder franchises from living out fantasies of total transformations. Others are hamstrung by fear of the status quo.

The key is winning the offseason without being the team obsessed with winning the offseason. Last year, that dubious honor went to the Arizona Diamondbacks, who went backward in an eager attempt to contend.

The Chicago Cubs were flat as could be in Game 1 of the World Series, but the National League champions struck back with a statement in Game 2, tying up the Fall Classic with a convincing 5-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

And now that both sides have a victory under their belt, the scene will shift to Wrigley Field as the Cubs seek to protect home field and inch closer to their first world championship since 1908. 

Though the World Series is knotted at one game apiece, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians didn't play either game close.

Game 1 went to the Indians by a score of 6-0, while the Cubs took Game 2 5-1.

Regardless, both games underscored the ways each team could win the requisite three games moving forward and netted us some keys for Friday night's Game 3.

It only feels right that the 2016 World Series is already a back-and-forth affair, considering the history hanging in the balance.

The Cleveland Indians struck first in Game 1 behind a gem from Corey Kluber and dominant bullpen pitching from Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. The Chicago Cubs bounced back in Game 2 after Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

The Chicago Cubs bounced back from an abysmal Game 1 performance to beat the Cleveland Indians 5-1 on Wednesday, leveling the 2016 World Series 1-1 as it heads to Wrigley Field.

We've already spent a good deal of time looking at the upcoming free-agent market, breaking down the top players available and searching for potential fits on a team-by-team basis.

However, this year's trade market could prove to be just as interesting.

With such a limited pool of starting pitchers available, contending teams are expected to push hard for controllable young arms, and that could mean plenty of prospects and MLB-level players alike changing hands this offseason.

While the baseball world has focused its attention on the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians in the World Series, the offseason is approaching fast, which means trade talk is already beginning to heat up.

The rest of Major League Baseball's 28 teams yearn to be in the position the Cubs and Indians are currently, and trading is a big reason why Chicago and Cleveland have developed into the two best teams in the sport.