Dodgers-Rays World Series Game 5 FAQ

Where do you go after one of the most undeniably wild finishes to a World Series game in history?

You go to Game 5.

It arrives Sunday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, where the Fall Classic basically begins anew. As in Tuesday night's Game 1, it’s Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers opposing Tyler Glasnow of the Rays. And as in Game 1, it’s anybody’s title to take, albeit this time in a best-of-three set as opposed to a best-of-seven.

The Rays’ incredible, indelible, come-from-behind 8-7 victory in Game 4 on Saturday night dissolved the Dodgers’ chances of taking a commanding 3-1 lead with their future Hall of Famer on the hill. Instead, it’s on Kershaw, who was brilliant in the opener (one run, two hits, one walk, eight strikeouts) to stomp out the supposed momentum Tampa Bay gained in a terrific win.

“We have to turn the page,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “Now it's a three-game series, and we've got Clayton going and our focus has to turn to win.”

For Glasnow, Game 5 is an opportunity to right what went wrong in Game 1, when he walked a season-high six batters and allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings.

“A lot of the walks, especially early on, weren’t really all over the place,” he said. “If I were to go back and do it over, I would start going back to bigger zones. I think so many of the misses were kinda little. … I think, as far as timing goes, I think a lot of that’s been addressed.”

Here’s what history tells us about the importance of this one: The team that wins the fifth game in a tied best-of-seven postseason series has gone on to win 43 of 62 times (69.4%).

When is the game and how can I watch it?
The game will air on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 PT on FOX. It is also available to stream on MLB.TV with authentication.

Who will be the home team?
The Dodgers, as the top overall seed, were the home team for Games 1 and 2, but the Rays are the home team for Games 3-5 and will bat last.

• 7 key storylines for Game 5

What do the starting lineups look like?
Dodgers: They scored six runs in 4 1/3 innings off Glasnow in Game 1, so no reason to mess with that formula. That means Will Smith, who missed the relay throw home on the final play of Game 4, moves to designated hitter, while Austin Barnes, Kershaw's personal catcher, is behind the plate after his squeeze bunt/homer exacta in Game 3 on Friday night. Cody Bellinger, who served as the DH in Game 4 due to lower back stiffness, returns to center field.

Rays: They went with seven right-handed hitters in Game 4 against left-hander Julio Urías, and Tampa Bay stuck to that plan against Kershaw, starting six righty hitters. Instead of Mike Brosseau, Joey Wendle was in Sunday's lineup at third base as the Rays look to get his defense back on the field.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Dodgers: Kershaw gets an encore start after striking out eight and allowing one run in the Game 1 win. His only mistake was a home run to Kiermaier, as he needed only 78 pitches to work through six innings. Kershaw will be pitching on normal rest.

• Kershaw ready for biggest moment yet

Rays: Glasnow will get his rematch against the Dodgers after tying a career high with six walks in the Game 1 loss. The right-hander will be tasked with giving the Rays length, as the bullpen was exhausted in the Game 4 win.

• Glasnow brings Hart HS back to center stage

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Dodgers: Tampa Bay exploited the soft underbelly of the bullpen in Game 4. Kenley Jansen was unlucky, but he's not as dominant as in the past. Pedro Báez has a history of postseason meltdowns. Jansen, Blake Treinen and Brusdar Graterol have pitched the past two nights.

Rays: That’s a good question. Tampa Bay leaned on Ryan Thompson, Diego Castillo, Pete Fairbanks, John Curtiss and Nick Anderson in Game 4, which could limit their availability for Game 5. The good news for the Rays is that there’s a scheduled off-day on Monday before Tuesday night's Game 6, which would allow the “stable” to pitch on back-to-back nights.

Are there any relievers who are unavailable?
Dodgers: It’s the World Series, so everybody technically is available, even if it’s only to end an inning. How effective Jansen, Treinen or Graterol would be pitching on a third consecutive night is the real question, although Graterol threw only seven pitches. Neither Jansen nor Graterol has pitched on three straight days this season.

Rays: Curtiss has pitched the past two nights, which likely makes him unavailable Sunday. But in a pivotal Game 5, Curtiss will likely sign up to pitch if Tampa Bay needs him in a key situation.

Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Bellinger did not start in center field Saturday and went 0-for-4 with a walk as the designated hitter.

Rays: None

Who is hot and who is not?
Dodgers: Seager, who is coming off a four-hit night, is smashing offensive records. He has eight home runs this postseason. Turner, whose gone deep in back-to-back first innings, has become Mr. October again after a slow start to the postseason.

Rays: Arozarena set a new postseason record with nine home runs, breaking a tie with Seager (2020 Dodgers), Nelson Cruz ('11 Rangers), Carlos Beltrán ('04 Astros) and Barry Bonds ('02 Giants), who all hit eight homers in a single postseason. With another three-hit game in Game 4, Arozarena became the first player in Major League history with five three-hit games in a single postseason.

• Arozarena's unreal October: 7 facts to know

Anything else fans want to know?
Dodgers: This is the 11th time since 1900 that the Dodgers have been tied at two games in a Fall Classic. It happened most recently in the 2017 World Series, which they ultimately dropped to the Astros in seven games. Three times (1981, '65 and '55) they’ve gone on to win the World Series after splitting the first four games. … With another deluge of two-out runs in Game 4, Los Angeles has now scored 57 this postseason. Forty of its runs have come on two-strike hits. Both are playoff records.

Rays: With home runs by Arozarena, Lowe, Renfroe and Kiermaier, Tampa Bay extended its postseason record and has now clubbed 33 homers during its playoff run.