MLB Playoffs 2014: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions for Day 13

The 2014 MLB postseason rolls along Thursday with a pivotal Game 5 bout between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Down 4-1 Wednesday night, the Giants rallied to upend the Cardinals in Game 4. Now, they'll send Madison Bumgarner to the mound to clinch the series. 

Following the Kansas City Royals' sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, all eyes are on the National League Championship showdown between two familiar World Series participants. While either NL representative will hold a stark experience advantage, they'll have their hands full with a red-hot squad riding an eight-game playoff winning streak.

First, of course, they need to take care of business in the NLCS. Take a look at all the pertinent info for Thursday's Game 5 matchup.

Away	Home	Time (ET)	Proabable Pitchers	TV
St. Louis Cardinals	San Francisco Giants	8:00 p.m.	A. Wainwright vs. M. Bumgarner	FOX Sports 1

Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

NLCS Game 5: St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants

Seeing Adam Wainwright as the probable pitcher typically relieves St. Louis Cardinals fans, as they anticipate their stopper to save the day. After two rocky postseason starts, however, the Redbirds have to fret their ace unraveling again in a must-win game.

Wainwright, who hurled an MLB-leading 468.2 innings through the past two seasons, has not escaped the fifth inning in his forgettable pair of playoff outings. He has surrendered nine runs through as many frames.

Game	IP	H	RA	K/BB
Game 1 NLDS vs. LAD	4.1	11	6	5/11
Game 1 NLCS vs. SF	4.2	6	3	2/3

While he posted a stellar 2.38 ERA during the regular season, he also recorded his lowest strikeout percentage (19.9) since 2008. His line-drive rate lingered at a career-high 23.9 percent, both alarming signs of his hefty workload finally getting the better of the veteran.

Per ESPN's Jayson Stark, Wainwright admitted that his arm doesn't feel 100 percent. Yet, he's determined to amend a stretch dating back to last year's World Series in which he has relinquished 17 runs in his last four playoff starts.

That admission won't lead to any action with a World Series spot at stake. Two bad starts won't erase a few sensational seasons, so he'll take the mound in Game 5. If he doesn't reboot in a major way, the Cardinals are likely finished. Mike Matheny cannot be afraid to yank his ace early if his struggles persist.

He's facing a San Francisco Giants team that collected 12 extra-base hits (two home runs) through eight playoff games before showing a pulse Wednesday night. Now, it's one win away from its third World Series trip in five years with the help of dominant pitching.

Luckily for them, the Giants won't need to score too many runs with Bumgarner on the hill. He hasn't allowed a run in his last three playoff appearances on the road, setting an MLB record.

He dominated away from A&T Park during the season as well, notching a 2.22 away ERA compared to a 4.03 mark at home. Perhaps that's why manager Bruce Bochy waited on announcing his Game 5 starter, as he could have theoretically saved his ace for Game 6 in St. Louis, as silly as that would have been.

Considering Bumgarner's more even career splits of a 3.12 ERA at home and 3.01 on the road, the skipper has no reason to worry. Just chalk up the recent discrepancy as random variance and trust the best ace left standing.

With Yadier Molina injured, the pressure falls on Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta, who posted a .907 and .879 OPS, respectively, against left-handed pitchers this season. They used up their magic last round when Matt Adams and his .566 OPS against southpaws connected on a Clayton Kershaw curve, so don't expect any similar miracle Thursday.

Prediction: Giants 5, Cardinals 2

Note: All advanced statistics are courtesy of Fangraphs.com.