World Series Game 5: Giants at Rangers

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We did't know whether Game 5 would be necessary, namely because there was a slight chance that one team or the other could sweep their way to a World Series title by Sunday. But, as local sports enthusiasts, we're happy this series has gone at least five if for no other reason than the pitching matchup Rangers fans get to witness in person.

Monday's contest is a rematch of Game 1, when former Cy Young Award-winners Cliff Lee and Tim Lincecum battled for an early edge in the series. At this point, you're surely familiar with Lee, who single-handedly won three games for the Rangers through the first two rounds of the playoffs. Lincecum might be a bit less familiar because he pitches halfway across the country, but all you really need to know is this: from '08 to '09, he was widely considered to be the best pitcher in baseball. This season was a bit of a down year for Lincecum, but of course, that's all relative. His 3.43 ERA was rock-solid and his 231 strikeouts were enough to lead the National League.