After the spectacle that was Game 5, what should we be looking for heading into this seasons' potential final game?

The Starting Pitching

Contrary to the popular saying, this pitching matchup may come down to quantity over quality. With trust in their respective bullpens at an all time low, the Dodgers’ Rich Hill and Astros’ Justin Verlander will be asked to carry the load for their clubs to have a chance at winning this series' sixth game. Verlander has been nearly flawless since becoming an Astro at the end of September. Owning a 4-0 record and a pristine 2.05 ERA, Verlander has gone at least six innings in each of his postseason starts. Hill has been equally as effective while on the mound these playoffs, to the tune of a 2.77 ERA over three starts. However, Hill has been unable to last longer than five innings in any of his starts and it could be a lot to ask for the Dodgers lefty to have his best start these playoffs in the most important game of the Dodgers season. Nonetheless, if either of these veteran starters can make it through six innings they will be giving their shaky bullpens the best chance to win the ballgame.

The Save Situations

This World Series has turned even the most positive of individuals into pessimists when their teams closers trot into games. Astros’ Ken Giles has had his struggles in the past, but his Dodger counterpart Kenley Jansen was one of the leagues most consistently dominant closers for the past couple seasons. Both have blown saves and looked far from speculator for their respective clubs so far this series, leading their fan bases, and more importantly managers, wary of their usage. If either team is given the opportunity to close this game six out, no fan will be confident of the result with the individuals set to take the mound. Jansen will still very likely be closing the game for Dave Roberts’ Dodgers if given the chance, but the Astros’ closer situation is far murkier. For either fan base to be calm, it will likely take an absurd lead heading into the final outs, otherwise a save situation will be far from safe in Game 6.

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The Managers

Though it will ultimately be decided by the players on the field, Dave Roberts and A.J. Hinch’s fingerprints will be all over the results of Game 6 and this series. The lack of trust (though rightfully so) each of these managers have shown in large portions of their bullpens has been a major story line in this World Series, and will certainly effect today's game. For Roberts, the Dodgers' manager is nearly forced to give Maeda, Morrow, and Jansen an opportunity to bounce back. Hinch on the other hand will likely ride Chris Devenski and his swingmen, Peacock and Musgrove. The managers’ ability to affect this game could come in the more subtle moves that will occur in the Dodgers’ National League home park. Bench management could decide this game if it is still close by the late innings, or creeps into extras. Hinch’s decision in Game 6 to pinch run for Brian McCann in the tenth inning could have left him with Jose Centeno, with only 101 games of Major League experience, to catch the remainder of the game. Instead, the pinch runner Derek Fisher beat a throw to the plate to win the Astros the game, and the chance to hoist the trophy in Game 6. Hinch played to win, and given he Astros can win the 2017 World Series tonight, they can win their first World Series title in Franchise history. The Dodgers are playing for their lives and have everything to lose. After the intensity of Game 5 there is simply no predicting how game six will go, but it feels as if this series isn't quite ready to end. If Hill, Jansen, and the Dodgers offense show up not ready to die, we will be looking forward to a fitting end to an amazing series in Game 7.