The road to Game 5
It all comes down to a decisive Game 5 between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox. The Guardians won two consecutive road games in Chicago, forcing the American League Division Series back to Cleveland for Saturday night. The winner of this matchup moves on to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Championship Series.
First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, with Sean Burke starting for the White Sox against Gavin Williams for the Guardians.
Keys for both teams
The White Sox need length from Sean Burke. He gave them a strong performance in their Game 2 win by throwing 5.3 innings and giving up just one run. Burke has been the team's best starter all season.
For the Guardians, Gavin Williams and company must keep the White Sox from hitting home runs. Chicago ranked third in the American League with 211 homers during the regular season, so Cleveland cannot afford to let them get comfortable at the plate. Williams closed out Game 4 and stated he is ready to start Game 5.
Historical context
The Guardians are only the sixth team in playoff history to force a Game 5 after losing the first two games at home. Three of the previous five teams went on to win their series. However, bullpen fatigue could play a major role. Cade Smith threw 50 pitches over Games 3 and 4, raising questions about how much he has left in the tank after pitching in each of the first four games.
Predictions for these teams
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