Cardinals vs. Giants: Game 5 Time, TV Info, Live Stream and More

The 2014 World Series could be a Wild Card-only affair, as the San Francisco Giants are one win away from a berth against the streaking Kansas City Royals.

The Giants have utilized a dominant bullpen and avoided the big mistakes en route to a 3-1 series lead in the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Game 5 should be a nervy contest, but the Giants should take comfort in knowing they can win the pennant in front of their own fans.

Here is a look at all of the necessary information for Game 5 of the NLCS, followed by a preview and a prediction of the pivotal contest.

Away	Home	Series	Date	Time (ET)	TV	Live Stream
St. Louis Cardinals	San Francisco Giants	SF 3-1 STL	October 16	8 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	MLB.TV

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Preview and Prediction

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Cardinals boasted a 4-3 lead after three innings of play in Game 4, chasing Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong out of the game early. It was a promising start, but the offense couldn't take advantage of the Giants' robust bullpen. Yusmeiro Petit was outstanding in long relief, throwing three shutout innings and allowing the Giants to come back with three runs in the sixth inning and go on to win the game.

"The bullpen was phenomenal again, starting with Petit. He bridged that gap from Vogey to Jeremy (Affeldt) in the seventh and really kept the game from getting away from us,” said Giants second baseman Joe Panik, via Sports Illustrated's Phil Taylor.

Giants catcher Buster Posey was instrumental to his team's success on the night, going 2-for-3 with three RBI. He's now hitting .250 for the series and will hopefully be able to contribute in a meaningful way at the plate in Game 5.

Defense and mental mistakes have been the difference in this series. The Cardinals gave the Giants a blueprint for scrapping, fighting and clawing their way back from an early deficit when, in Game 3, they tied the game at 4-4 after starting off in a four-run hole. Unlike their Bay Area foes, the Redbirds couldn't come up with a win, losing the game in the 10th on a walk-off error by reliever Randy Choate.

As MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch notes, defense has been an issue for the Cardinals throughout the playoffs and could hurt them in Game 5:

"

An error and a double play not turned sunk the Cardinals in Game 1. Their Game 3 loss ended on a throwing miscue in the 10th. And in Game 4, a missed catch in center and pair of mistakes by Matt Adams at first base provided the difference for the Giants. The Cardinals have a propensity for playing close games, and it was their strong defense that helped them win so many of them during the regular season. They need to get back to those ways if they want to extend this series.

"

The past two games are indeed demoralizing, but the Cardinals have no choice but to refocus and try to come up with some early runs once again. It could be much tougher to do so this time around, as ace pitcher Madison Bumgarner is in line to take the mound for San Francisco.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

The Cardinals hitters couldn't do much against him in Game 1 of the series. Bumgarner pitched 7.2 shutout innings and was in complete command throughout. In fact, he's been just about untouchable this postseason, posting a 0.76 ERA.

They will count on the red-hot Jon Jay and Matt Holliday, who finally woke his long-dormant bat in Game 4, to scrape out some offense against this elite pitcher.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright gets the nod for the Cardinals, despite allowing eight earned runs and 17 hits over nine innings in two 2014 postseason starts. His numbers are quite disconcerting considering he was one of the best pitchers in the majors during the regular season, going 20-9 with a 2.39 ERA. 

"Nobody else we’d rather have on the mound,” said manager Mike Matheny on Wednesday, per Ted Berg of USA Today. “Adam Wainwright is going to set the tone for us. Everybody’s got to follow suit and jump in and figure out a way to make it happen."

Matheny is in a tough spot here with no room for error and has no choice but to hope that Wainwright can work out the kinks and shut down the Giants lineup. Runs figure to be at a premium in Game 5 as both teams will likely come out a bit tight with so much on the line.

If Bumgarner can make it through seven innings again, this one is going to the Giants. Manager Bruce Bochy likely won't be afraid bring in Santiago Casilla for an extra out or two, considering he threw just 16 pitches in Game 4.

The Cardinals haven't been able to keep the Giants under three runs in any game this series. That total should do it with Bumgarner on the mound; look for the Giants to finish off the Cardinals on Thursday and get ready to take on the Royals.

Prediction: Giants win, 3-1