One last day off for the season as the World Series shifted back to Philadelphia for the final two games. Kansas City’s task for Game Six was daunting: beat Steve Carlton, who would win the Cy Young Award for the National League in 1980. The Royals were buoyed a bit by the fact they collected 10 hits and six walks off Carlton in Game Two, although they also struck out 10 times.

Royals manager Jim Frey announced that Jose Cardenal and John Wathan would be in the lineup in right field and at catcher, respectively, for Game Six, despite Cardenal being 0-6 and Wathan being 0-4 in the Series so far. As right-handed hitters, Frey thought they had a better shot against Carlton than left-handers Clint Hurdle and Darrell Porter. Hurdle was having a good Series (5-12) but Porter had just two hits in 14 at-bats.

Frey also said he would stick with his decision to keep left-handed veteran starter Paul Splittorff out of the rotation. The Royals would use right-hander Rich Gale for Game Six, although he allowed seven hits and three walks in 4 ⅓ innings in Game Three. If the Royals won and forced a Game Seven, Dennis Leonard would get his third start of the Series.

Today’s birthdays: Bobby Floyd (1943), Luis Encarnacion (1963), Harvey Pulliam (1967), Rudy Seanez (1968), Juan Gonzalez (1969), Michael Mariot (1988)