NLCS Schedule 2014: Cardinals vs. Giants Game 5 TV Coverage and Predictions

The San Francisco Giants bullpen did it again on Wednesday. After Ryan Vogelsong was pummeled early by the St. Louis Cardinals lineup, a six-inning scoreless effort from Yusmeiro Petit, Jeremy Affeldt and Co. propelled San Francisco to a 3-1 National League Championship Series lead.

While the Cardinals started out hot at the plate—they continue to get great production from Kolten Wong—the team was let down on the mound and is now on the brink of elimination. Can Adam Wainwright get this team back on track in Game 5, or will this series end in San Francisco?

Before we predict the answer to that question, let's fist take a glance at all of the essential viewing information for Thursday to ensure not a moment of the forthcoming pivotal game is missed.

Viewing Information

Series: Giants lead 3-1

Where: AT&T Park in San Francisco

Date: Thursday, October 16

Time: 8 p.m. ET

Channel: Fox Sports 1

Live Stream: MLB.TV (requires subscription)

Preview and Prediction

Dilip Vishwanat/Associated Press

The Cardinals are a very good baseball team, but the Giants are playing on a whole other level right now. Even when San Francisco's starting pitching has gone awry, the bullpen has been there to pick up the pieces, and there's consistent production at the plate. Not only are the team's hitters reliable, but they've been extremely clutch in October.

This isn't to say the Cardinals don't have the same attributes. After all, this is a very well-rounded squad; however, St. Louis just hasn't been able to put it all together the way the Giants have.

With Wainwright returning to the mound on Thursday, the Cardinals have a chance of bringing this series back to St. Louis. But he hasn't been solid in the postseason, and he was peppered for six hits and three runs over 4.2 innings in Game 1 of this series.

Even Wainwright has recognized his mediocre playoff performance thus far, via Jayson Stark of ESPN.com:

On the mound for the Giants will be Madison Bumgarner once again. He was phenomenal in San Francisco's Game 1 shutout, pitching 7.2 strong innings while allowing no runs on four hits and striking out seven batters along the way.

There is very little risk for San Francisco to start Bumgarner on Thursday. His status for Game 1 of the World Series wouldn't be affected with a win, via Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News:

All of the advantages are in the Giants' favor in Game 5. This team is red hot, is playing at home and has the advantage on the mound, in the bullpen and at the plate. Combine all of these elements with an exuberant amount of confidence and momentum, and you get your NL World Series representative.

Prediction: Giants 5, Cardinals 3