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Now the World Series is a best-of-three, and the Dodgers have home field advantage.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in Game 5, trying to send the Dodgers home on the right foot, against Dallas Keuchel and the Astros in a rematch of Game 1.
Kershaw was brilliant in Game 1, striking out 11 while needing only 83 pitches to get through seven innings. Kershaw is 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA this October, and his 27 strikeouts are five shy of the Dodgers record for a single postseason, set by Orel Hershiser in 1988.
Outside up being up 3-1 or having already won the series, having Kershaw on the mound to try and tile the World Series back in their favor is exactly the situation the Dodgers would have drawn up, if given the choice.
“I like where we're at,” Dave Roberts said on Saturday night. ”It's a three-game series, and we've got our ace going tomorrow. So I know that in our clubhouse we feel good.”
Kershaw seemed ready, taking time out of the postgame celebration after Game 4 to get his customary feel for a road mound the day before his start.
“IS IT GAME 5 YET?!” #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/cW8rFkjN1X
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) October 29, 2017
Game 5 history
This is the ninth time the Dodgers have been tied 2-2 in a best-of-7 World Series. They are 4-4 in the previous eight Games 5, with wins in 1952, 1955, 1965 and 1981, and losses in 1947, 1953, 1956 and 1978.
The winners of those Games 5 have won the World Series seven of eight times, with 1952 the exception. The Dodgers beat the Yankees 6-5 in 11 innings on the road in Game 5 in 1952, but then lost both remaining games back home at Ebbets Field to lose the series.
Seven of these previous eight Games 5 were against the Yankees.
Dodgers Games 5 in a 2-2 World Series
| Year | Opponent | Location | Result | Score | Series result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Opponent | Location | Result | Score | Series result |
| 1981 | Yankees | home | W | 2-1 | Dodgers 4-2 |
| 1978 | Yankees | road | L | 12-2 | Yankees 4-2 |
| 1965 | Twins | home | W | 7-0 | Dodgers 4-3 |
| 1956 | Yankees | road | L | 2-0 | Yankees 4-3 |
| 1955 | Yankees | home | W | 5-3 | Dodgers 4-3 |
| 1953 | Yankees | home | L | 11-7 | Yankees 4-2 |
| 1952 | Yankees | road | W | 6-5 (11) | Yankees 4-3 |
| 1947 | Yankees | home | L | 2-1 | Yankees 4-3 |
In 1920 the Dodgers and Indians were tied 2-2 as well, but that was a best-of-9 series. Cleveland won Game 5, 8-1 and won the series 5-2.
As for all of MLB in a Game 5 ...
The winner of Game 5 in a best-of-7 #WorldSeries that is tied 2-2 has gone on to win 28 of 42 times (66.7%). pic.twitter.com/cdwrFx0vqz
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 29, 2017
World Series Game 5 info
First pitch: 5:20 p.m.
TV: Fox (coverage starts at 5 p.m.)
Announcers: Joe Buck, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal, Tom Verducci
Online streaming: Fox Sports Go
Local radio: AM 570 (Charley Steiner, Rick Monday)
National radio: ESPN Radio (Dan Shulman, Aaron Boone)