I'm not even remotely kidding.
The powers that be in MLB have changed the postseason schedule to make things better for TV, to get more games on the weekends and so forth. The games will be played on the 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 20th, and 21st.
That means you can use three starting pitchers and have a total of one game pitched on short rest. Historically short rest has been an absolute killer. Pitchers--even good ones--who pitch on short rest have generally gotten killed. The ability to maximize the number of innings pitched without pitching them on short rest is an absolute godsend to managers who have a couple topflight pitchers.
Both Boston and Cleveland have two absolutely top notch starters. Beckett, Sabathia and Carmona are in the top 6 in ERA in the American League. Schilling's 3.87 would be tied for 19th but he's been much better after his midseason DL trip.
In the seven games you could very well see three Beckett/Sabathia matchups and two Schilling/Carmona matchups.
Both teams have excellent bullpens. With this schedule it's entirely possible for them to effectively use a four man bullpen. If we assume the starter goes six, you would be talking about your top two starters and your top four relievers pitching 51 of the planned 63 innings. These are some of the best pitchers in the world going head to head with everything on the line. It just doesn't get any better than that.
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