Manager Joe Maddon made no drastic changes for the Cubs lineup for Game 5 of the World Series Sunday at Wrigley Field, a win-or-go-home situation for the National League champions who trail the Cleveland Indians three games to one.
Maddon’s message to Cubs fans? “Please be nervous. You should be nervous,” he said during his session with media before the game. “We have to win tonight.”
Addison Russell was moved up to fifth as the Cubs face right-hander Trevor Bauer. Jason Heyward makes his second straight start in right field after going 2-for-4 in the Indians’ 7-2 win in Game 4 Saturday. He was 2-for-31 with one RBI in the postseason going in.
“We’ve won a lot of games this year and we’ve run into a hot pitching staff,” Maddon said. “It’s not that complicated.”
The Cubs are struggling at the plate, particularly their younger players. Javier Baez, the co-MVP in the NLCS, is 2-for-17 in the World Series; Kris Bryant is 1-for-14, Willson Contreras 1-for-13 and Addison Russell 2-for-15.
This is the 47th time a team has led the World Series 3-1, and the team leading has won 40 of 46 times (87 percent).
Bauer is starting on short rest for the first time in his career. He needed 87 pitches to get through 3 2/3 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs on six hits in a 5-1 Cubs win.
The Indians, needing one victory to claim their first World Series title since 1948, are starting Carlos Santana in left field as they did in Game 1. Santana, a designated hitter and first baseman, had never started in the outfield before the World Series. Santana homered against John Lackey in Game 4.
Here’s how the Cubs line up:
Dexter Fowler CF
Kris Bryant 3B
Anthony Rizzo 1B
Ben Zobrist LF
Addison Russell SS
Jason Heyward RF
Javy Baez 2B
David Ross C
Jon Lester P
Indians:
Rajai Davis CF
Jason Kipnis 2B
Francisco Lindor SS
Mike Napoli 1B
Carlos Santana LF
Jose Ramirez 3B
Brandon Guyer RF
Roberto Perez C
Trevor Bauer P
