First pitch: Sunday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: N/A, Total: N/A

In the final game at Wrigley Field in 2016, Jon Lester and the Cubs host Trevor Bauer and the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Cubs (103-58) will have a clear pitching advantage over the Indians (94-67) in the final game at Wrigley Field in 2016. LHP Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA during the regular season) will take the ball for Joe Maddon, and he’ll be opposed by Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26 ERA during the regular season). Lester threw eight scoreless innings against the Giants in the NLDS and allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings against the Dodgers in the NLCS, but he struggled in Game 1 of the Fall Classic. The lefty lost the series opener after allowing three earned runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. He also walked three and forced in a run after hitting LF Brandon Guyer with the bases loaded. Bauer earned a no-decision (3 ER in 4 2/3 IP) against the Red Sox in the ALDS and was pulled after just four batters in his ALCS start because his pinkie was bleeding. He took the loss in Game 2 of the World Series after allowing two earned runs on six hits in just 3 2/3 innings of work.

The Indians looked confident against Lester in Game 1, but it won’t be easy to replicate their success just five days later. 3B Jose Ramirez had three hits off Lester in Game 1, SS Francisco Lindor had two and C Roberto Perez hit a 388-foot homer off him. The Indians have seen a fair share of Lester, considering the amount of time he spent in the American League with the Red Sox. 1B Mike Napoli, his former teammate in Boston, has homered off Lester twice, and LF Rajai Davis and OF Coco Crisp have taken him deep as well. Look for manager Terry Francona to go to his bullpen early if Bauer gets into trouble. LHP Andrew Miller—the ALCS MVP—and RHP Cody Allen have been brilliant in relief for Cleveland.

The Cubs punished Bauer on Wednesday night, knocking him out in the fourth inning, and there’s no reason to think they won’t do it again. DH Kyle Schwarber and 1B Anthony Rizzo had RBI hits against him, and 3B Kris Bryant, IF Javier Baez, LF/2B Ben Zobrist and SS Addison Russell hit singles before Zach McAllister came out of the bullpen to replace Bauer. Schwarber hasn’t been cleared to play the field, so he more than likely won’t get a chance to face Bauer again. You can expect the left-handed slugger to pinch-hit late in the game, though. If the Cubs have a lead in the ninth inning, they’ll more than likely protect it behind dominant left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman. Lester, a two-time World Series champion and the co-MVP of the 2016 NLCS (along with Baez), has had a brilliant postseason career. In 124 2/3 playoff innings over 20 appearances (18 starts), Lester is 8-7 with a 2.60 ERA, and 108 strikeouts to 30 walks.

*Stats provided are from 2016 MLB postseason, unless otherwise noted