World Series Returns To Los Angeles As They Look To Get To Game 7

The World Series now returns to California where Los Angeles hopes they can even up the series to force a game seven against Houston who right now leads the series but to force a game seven to decide this years World Series Los Angeles is going to have to go through Houston's Justin Verlander who has been unbeatable in his starts this postseason.

The team on the cusp of a crown sends its unbeaten man to the mound. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

With the Astros having taken the 3-2 lead in this best-of-seven set with their 13-12 victory Sunday night in the wildest World Series game since, oh, last Wednesday, Game 6 on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium is Justin Verlander's game and his chance to be the hero Houston has waited 55 years to salute. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

 "It's not an easy place to play," leadoff man George Springer said of Dodger Stadium, "but we're giving the ball to Justin Verlander, and that's going to be awesome for us." "according tohttp://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

The alternative to a Verlander victory, of course, is a Dodgers surge that keeps this epically entertaining Fall Classic alive with a glorious Game 7 on Wednesday night. To give the baseball world at large that gift, the Dodgers, who will start Rich Hill in Game 6, will have to take down a dude who has been mostly indomitable since coming over to the Astros from the Tigers on Aug. 31. The Dodgers, though, aren't fazed, even despite the tough Game 5 loss. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

"This is not going to be finished Tuesday," said Yasiel Puig after Game 5. "There's going to be a Game 7. ... Everybody is going to be ready for Verlander [on] Tuesday night. The best pitcher they have." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

The Dodgers can take comfort in knowing they did get to Verlander in Game 2 with a pair of home runs from Joc Pederson and Corey Seager. But their 3-1 lead was wasted in that one with a rare blown save from Kenley Jansen, paving the way to the insanity of extra innings in what became a 7-6 Astros victory. (We'll let the baseball historians sort out whether Game 2 or Game 5 was the crazier of the two contests many moons from now.) "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

Bottom line is that Verlander didn't suffer the loss in Game 2 and, in fact, hasn't taken a loss since joining Houston. He is 9-0 with a 1.53 ERA since coming over from Detroit, and the Astros have not lost a single game he has pitched in (that includes relief appearances and postseason games). Everything in Verlander's baseball life has been dialed up a notch since that deal went down. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

Never higher than right now. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

"Absolutely, I think the level of focus and intensity does go up," Verlander said. "It especially goes up in the playoffs. I think that's something that you just can't sustain that over a full season. You'd be burnt out. You can't focus that much mental energy and physical drain on hanging on every single pitch that way and the crowd and the intensity that it all encompasses; you just can't do that every single day out for 34, 35 starts. But as soon as the postseason starts, you're living or dying on every single pitch, and your whole team is living or dying on every single pitch. It changes everything." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

In a game of this magnitude, one pitch can change everything. And for that matter, so can one pitching change. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts caught a lot of heat for the way he managed Game 2, when he yanked Hill after four innings in which the veteran allowed only one run on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. But Roberts managed games aggressively all year, and especially in October, and it will be interesting to see, given how gassed the bullpen looked in Game 5, how aggressive he is with Hill in this effort to avoid elimination. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

"I think if you look back at the Alex Wood start and what he did for us in Game 4, I think that it's kind of the same blueprint, where you obviously have to watch the game and see how he's throwing the baseball," Roberts said. "But I look for Rich to throw the ball really well. And under the circumstances of Game 5, you've got to be open to pushing him, and I know he's up for the challenge." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

Hill was visibly upset when he was pulled in his first start of this Series. And though he understands why Roberts did what he did (the Astros had five right-handers looming in the lineup), he would like to pitch deeper into this one, if possible. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

"It's something that all of us have been preparing our entire careers for," Hill said. "And for such a big stage and such a great opportunity to go out there and leave it all out on the field, and go out there with an intensity and a passion that everybody has for playing baseball, that is as an ultimate competitor. So going out there in Game 6 and having the ability to be in that position and leave everything on the field is just an amazing thought." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

Houston, a team swept by the White Sox in its lone previous World Series appearance in 2005, goes into this ballgame with one amazing thought: Win this game, win it all. "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

"We'll try to build off the momentum that Justin Verlander is going to create for us in Game 6, and then we're going to try to get to 27 outs with the lead," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Who that is or how we get there, it's going to be played ouhttp://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516t. But we have confidence that we have enough left in the tank to finish this." "according to http://m.mlb.com/news/article/20171029260037838/astros-head-to-la-looking-to-clinch-title/?game_pk=526516

As for Houston and Los Angeles last game,  It took an extra inning and a lot of offense to decide the game five winner at Minute Maid Park on Sunday.

They were down but never out. They were bruised but not beaten. The never-say-die Astros -- facing a four-run deficit in a pivotal Game 5 of the World Series with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound -- pulled off the unthinkable in an epic game in an unforgettable Fall Classic. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Alex Bregman hit a walk-off single into left field off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the 10th inning to score pinch-runner Derek Fisher from second base and put an end to the second-longest World Series game in history, sending the Astros to a dramatic 13-12 victory on a Sunday night that drifted into Monday morning at Minute Maid Park. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"It's an unbelievable moment," Bregman said. "You dream about it as a little kid. To be living a dream, one win away from the World Series, is really special." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"Just when I thought I could describe Game 2 as my favorite game of all time, I think Game 5 exceeded that and more," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's hard to put into words all the twists and turns in that game, the emotion, doing it at home, in front of our home crowd. Just exactly what you expect to come to the park with [Dallas] Keuchel and Kershaw pitching." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Neither Keuchel nor Kershaw, a pair of Cy Young Award winners, made it through the fifth inning. Kershaw allowed six runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings, and Keuchel allowed four runs (three earned) and five hits in 3 2/3 frames. Both bullpens got battered -- Houston's gave up eight runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, and Los Angeles' allowed seven runs and 10 hits in five innings. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

You're emotionally exhausted because of the hype, I guess, and everything of the World Series," said Astros reliever Joe Musgrove, who worked a scoreless 10th for the win. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Jansen, working his second inning, recorded two outs in the 10th before hitting Brian McCann with a pitch. When George Springer followed with a walk, Fisher replaced McCann at second as a pinch-runner and scored when Bregman hit a soft liner over shortstop to win the game. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"Tried to go up and in and missed my spot, and he did a great job," Jansen said of the Bregman at-bat. "Just missed my location. I was feeling great. McCann, tried to go in and yanked it. … It's over, man. Just got to worry about Tuesday." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Fisher was appearing in just his fourth playoff game this year -- his first since Game 3 of the American League Championship Series -- and hasn't had an official at-bat in the postseason. Still, he was able to come off the bench and score the biggest run in Astros history. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"[Cameron] Maybin said today, 'I feel like one of us is going to score the winning run today,' and when he got on second base [in the ninth], I was like, 'This is going to be his time,'" Fisher said. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen at that point, and after it happened, he came up to me and said, 'Don't tell me I didn't tell you you were going to score the winning run today.'" "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

After the Astros wiped out deficits of 4-0, 7-4 and 8-7 with game-tying home runs, Los Angeles turned the tables on Houston by coming back from a 12-9 deficit in the ninth inning. Yasiel Puig hit a two-run homer off Astros reliever Chris Devenski, who was one strike away from ending the game when Chris Taylor shot an RBI single to center to tie it at 12. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"It was back and forth and you're trying to calm yourself down, calm your nerves," Devenski said. "All the excitement that was going on, all that stuff, just trying to go out there and slow the game down and do the best that you can." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

When McCann went deep in the eighth to put Houston ahead, 12-9, it was the Astros' fifth homer of the game. McCann became the 14th different player to homer in the World Series, setting a record. The 22 homers in the World Series and 101 in the postseason set Major League records. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

The Dodgers took an 8-7 lead in the seventh when Springer dove in center for a sinking line drive off the bat of Cody Bellinger and allowed it to go under his glove and roll to the wall for a triple that scored Enrique Hernandez. But Springer atoned for the misplay when he crushed the first pitch thrown by reliever Brandon Morrow in the bottom of the inning and hit a homer to left to tie the game. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"That's a very lonely feeling to know that I made a bad decision," Springer said. "I'll own up to it. I should have stopped. I got told by [bench coach] Alex Cora, by A.J. Hinch, [third-base coach] Gary Pettis, 'It's over. Just go have a good, quality at-bat and we'll see what happens.' To go from that low to that high is very, very emotional. I don't really know how to describe it." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Morrow has pitched in all five games of the Series and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game that he wanted to avoid using him in Game 5. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"I saw where the game was at when I was getting loose," said Morrow, who called the dugout to say he could pitch. "I felt OK. It was probably selfish on my part to go down and push to let him know that I'm ready and want to get in. Obviously, we're very plan oriented and I should have stuck with that and not deviated from that." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

After Springer's homer, Bregman singled and scored from first on a double by Jose Altuve to give the Astros their first lead, 9-8. Carlos Correa then hit a towering fly ball to left field that sneaked into the first rows of the Crawford Boxes for a two-run homer to put Houston ahead, 11-8. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"This was crazier [than Game 2]," Correa said. "It was back and forth. Nonstop. It was unbelievable. The best game ever, for sure. Emotions are really high right now. We have the lead in the Series and we need to go take it in L.A." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

The Dodgers cut the lead to 11-9 in the eighth on an RBI double by Corey Seager, but reliever Will Harris got Justin Turner to line out and Devenski got Andre Ethier to ground out with runners on second and third to end the threat. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"I'm sure everybody's pretty exhausted, emotionally and physically," Kershaw said. "It was a tough one. But you know what? We've still got a chance at this thing. We're going to go home and get ready to go. ... I just lost my command a little bit there in the fourth inning and that's all it took." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

  Yuli Gurriel's second homer of the playoffs was a game-tying no-doubt blast to left field in the fourth that Statcast™ projected at 389 feet, getting the Astros back in it against Kershaw and setting the tone for the classic back-and-forth nature of the game. For Gurriel, it was a big moment that came one day after he was suspended for five games at the start of next season for an inappropriate gesture he made in Game 3. For Kershaw, it was his Major League-record eighth homer allowed in the postseason. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Bellinger, who had a go-ahead double in the ninth inning of Los Angeles' 6-2 win in Game 4, came through in the fifth, answering Gurriel's blast with a three-run homer of his own to put the Dodgers ahead, 7-4. Bellinger became the youngest player to homer in the World Series since Miguel Cabrera in 2003. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"That was the craziest game I've ever been a part of, probably ever will be a part of," said Bellinger. "And got to tip your cap, they never gave up and we never gave up. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Kershaw was pulled after walking Springer and Bregman with two outs in the fifth. With the crowd breaking into its "M-V-P" chant, Altuve worked the count full against reliever Kenta Maeda. After hitting a long foul ball to left field, Altuve turned on a fastball and deposited it onto the home run porch in left-center to tie the game again, 7-7, with a three-run homer -- Altuve's seventh homer of the postseason. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"The thing is we never gave up," Altuve said. "It doesn't matter if we start the game, 4-0, but we keep playing, we keep putting some really good at-bats together. We came back twice, they took the lead, they tied the game and we did it again. This is the team we are. This is the team we've been all season long, and I'm really proud of every single guy in that clubhouse because tonight we did something to help us win that game." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"Somehow the stars are aligning." -- Devenski "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

"It's the best lineup we've seen, one through nine, especially in this ballpark. When you've got McCann hitting [ninth], it's a very talented group, certainly." -- Roberts "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

The six game-tying home runs in this World Series are the most for any Fall Classic on record, which for that stat is since 1974. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

The Dodgers challenged a safe call at second base with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning when Correa was ruled to have beaten the tag of second baseman Charlie Culberson on his RBI double. The call was confirmed. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

In the first, the Astros challenged a tag play at second base on a Logan Forsythe stolen base. Forsythe was called safe, and it was determined the call would stand after a replay review. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/260033600/astros-beat-dodgers-in-wild-game-5-go-up-3-2/

Right -hander Justin Verlander who has a record of 15-8 with a 3.36 earn run average will be on the mound for Houston. Game 6 will go to Verlander , who is 4-0 with a 2.05 earn run average in five games. (four starts) this postseason. He allowed three runs on two homers in six innings in game two. He's 9-0 with a 1.53 earn run average in ten games (nine starts) since joining Houston. He will oppose Los Angeles left-hander Rich Hill who has a record of 12-8 with a 3.32 earn run average. Hill gave up one run on three hits , walking three while striking out seven over four innings in Game 2. Overall this postseason he's posted a 2.77 ERA. (four earned runs in 13 innings. )with seven walks and 19 strikeouts. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-dodgers/2017/10/31/526516#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526516

First pitch is set for 8:00pm. The game will be televised on Fox. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/astros-vs-dodgers/2017/10/31/526516#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526516