MATCHUPS

Baseball’s two longest championship droughts, so one is about to end. While the Indians seek their first World Series title in 68 years, the Cubs haven’t won it all since 1908. Chicago captured NL pennant for first time since 1945.

… Teams are intertwined at the top. Cubs executive Theo Epstein won two World Series titles in Boston with Indians manager Terry Francona. In 2004, they helped Red Sox win World Series for first time since 1918.

… Francona and Cubs skipper Joe Maddon will match wits. They are two of baseball’ most creative, risk-taking managers.

… Cleveland and Chicago are separated by roughly 300 miles, and both cities sit on Great Lakes. … Clubs are 9-9 against each other in interleague play. They split four games in 2015, with each team pitching a shutout. Chicago’s 17-0 drubbing was most lopsided shutout in interleague history.