Cleveland Indians at Chicago Cubs: World Series Game 5 GameThread

Last night’s 7-2 win gave the Cleveland Indians a 3-1 lead over the Chicago Cubs in the 112th World Series. Do they wrap it up tonight in Wrigley Field, or will they have to go back to Progressive Field for a Game 6? Jon Lester tries to keep the Cubs’ hopes alive tonight as he takes the mound against Indians’ right-hander Trevor Bauer in Game 5.

Bauer started this past week in Game 2, the Cubs’ only win thus far. He takes the mound again after throwing 87 pitches in 3 ²⁄₃ IP in what ended up a 5-1 loss.

Chicago’s hitters fouled off a number of pitches, which led to his high pitch count in a short outing, which is something Bauer said was the case all season.

“I definitely missed location quite a bit last game,” Bauer explained. “And there were some that I was trying to elevate. But I think I gave up an abnormally high number of foul balls overall just all season. I don't know the numbers on that. I could be off base, but that's how I feel. So that's something I'm used to.”

Cleveland’s 25-year-old right-hander said he was looking forward to the opportunity to take the mound in hostile territory in a World Series game.

“Yeah, definitely,” Bauer said. “The best part of it is hearing them all leave silent, you know. There's a great crowd here. There have been great crowds on the road during all the playoffs. Being able to overcome that and win is a very rewarding feeling.”

Jon Lester, who took the loss in Game 1 last Tuesday, tries to help keep the Cubs’ season alive in his second start of the series.

He said he’s ready for the challenge, and he’s watched Cleveland before and after his start against them last week.

“Being a baseball fan myself I watched the playoffs and everything coming up to this point, leading up to this point,” Lester explained.

“The thing that impressed me the most was watching them through the rounds and now getting to see them in person. It's just kind of how -- I don't want to say ‘scrappy’ because they're not really a scrappy team. They have really talented hitters and talented players. But their at-bats, they're grinds. They see a lot of pitches. They foul a lot of good pitches off. You know, you have some guys that like to swing, but they're not swing-and-miss guys. So that can be tough.

“You have a lot of contact in that lineup. So that puts pressure on your defense when you're able to do that. When you don't strike out a lot, that puts pressure on your defense, and makes you continually execute pitches. And I think that's where they wear the starting pitcher down and get to that bullpen early.”

Will Bauer last longer than he did in his last start? Will Lester avoid giving up early runs like he did last time out when he allowed two early and three overall in 5 ²⁄₃ IP?

Game 5 gets underway at 8:00 PM EDT in Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game: