The Cleveland Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948, but that long drought may soon come to an end.
With a win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday, the Indians took a deciding 4-1 lead in the American League Championship Series, won the pennant and punched their ticket to the Fall Classic.
They'll face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Chicago Cubs when the World Series gets underway next week.
Regardless of their opponent, though, it's time to talk about the Cleveland Indians, because they have the tools to win it all this year.
So much of the 2016 season was spent buzzing about the Chicago Cubs, their 107-year World Series drought, their overwhelming young talent, their quirky clubhouse and their supposedly cursed franchise. Entering the season, Las Vegas pegged Chicago as the favorite to win the World series with 4-1 odds.
This was the Cubs' year.
But here come the Indians, whose 67-year World Series drought is second to the Cubs'.
The franchise has seen its ups and downs. Cleveland failed to make the postseason every year between 1969 and 1993, during which the Indians had a winning record only four times. They had a good run in the 1990s, winning their division five consecutive times, but lost the World Series in 1995 and 1997 — their last appearance.
This postseason, Cleveland has lost only one game after sweeping the Red Sox in the first round and making quick work of the Blue Jays in the ALCS.
The best playoff teams are defined by dominant pitching, clutch hitting, and a little bit of magic.
The Indians have all three.
That starts with the thing championship teams have relied on in past years — a dominant bullpen, led by Cody Allen and All-Star Andrew Miller, both of whom have yet to allow a run this postseason.
The Indians pitching staff as a whole has been stalwart as well. Facing the Red Sox and Blue Jays, two of the best offenses in baseball, Indians pitchers have allowed less than 2 runs per game — on average — in the postseason.
Cleveland didn't hit as many home runs as the Orioles, or get on base as much as the Red Sox did during the regular season. But the Indians' ability to hit in the clutch makes them a formidable postseason team. With runners in scoring position, the Indians hit 519 RBI during the regular season, the most among American League playoff teams.
Then there's manager Terry Francona, who has led six teams to the postseason in the past 12 years. And if there's one thing Francona is familiar with, it's ending championship droughts. He managed the 2004 Red Sox team that won its first World Series since 1918.
And if you believe in postseason magic, fans are already drawing parallels between the 2016 Indians and the 2004 Red Sox. Starting pitcher Trevor Bauer's bloody finger in Game 3 of the ALCS bore a striking resemblance to Curt Schilling's bloody sock in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS, both teams managed by Francona.
Bottom line is Francona knows how to push the right buttons under the brightest lights, and he might have a bit of playoff mojo on his side.
The good vibes are rolling in Cleveland.
LeBron James can feel it. The Indians' masterfully snarky Twitter account can feel it. The Red Sox and Blue Jays have felt it, and the national league pennant winner is about to.
Say what you will about the Cubs.
The Indians have arrived, and they won't go down quietly.
