Do or die: What you need to know about World Series Game 6
The Cubs are still alive.
Chicago eked out a 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night, marking the first Fall Classic win at Wrigley Field in 71 years.
The series heads back to Cleveland for Games 6 and (if needed) 7. Cleveland still leads the series, 3-2, and is one win away from their first World Series title since 1948.
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Here's how to watch the game that could spell heartbreak for the Cubs and ultimate victory for Cleveland:
Time: 8:08 p.m. EST TV: Fox Streaming: Fox Sports Go and MLB.TV
To get you prepared for tonight, here are a few things to chew on:
1. History guaranteed
Whether the Cubs defy odds and come back to win both games or the Indians win it all, one team will make history in Cleveland. The Cubs are chasing an end to their legendary 108-year World Series drought, while the Indians are looking to end theirs, which has lasted 68 years.
2. The big bats are back
Because the World Series has shifted to an American League stadium, the designated hitter rule is back in effect, as it was in Games 1 and 2. Pitchers don't hit in the American League, so lineups are awarded an extra hitter in their place.
That means Kyle Schwarber — the Cubs' young slugger whose knee injury prevents him from playing the field — will surely return to the Cubs lineup as their DH. Schwarber tore his ACL in April and missed the rest of the regular season. The Cubs activated him just in time for the World Series, where he proceeded to tally three hits, two RBI and two walks in Games 1 and 2.
On Cleveland's side, the DH rule lets them keep sluggers Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana in the lineup, instead of having to bench one in lieu of the other, as manager Terry Francona did in Game 4.
3. Are the elite lefties getting tired?
Chicago and Cleveland both traded for elite left-handed relievers at the trade deadline when they acquired Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, respectively.
Both have been revelations. This postseason, Miller has allowed only one run in 17 innings pitched, while Chapman has struck out 18 batters in 13 innings.
But here's the caveat.
Because of the big lefties' dominance and the must-win nature of the playoffs, their managers are calling on Miller and Chapman more often than usual.
Chapman fired 42 pitches in an eight-out save on Sunday. Even with an off day on Monday, that's a lot of work for a closer. Miller hasn't pitched since Saturday, but leads relievers with 5.1 innings pitched this postseason.
Game 6 could reveal how much that heavy workload is a factor, and how far each team is willing to stretch their dominant lefty with the season on the line.
For Cleveland, that means champagne baths and championship rings. For the Cubs, that's pushing the series to a winner-take-all Game 7.
