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What you need to know before Game 3 of the World Series

CHICAGO — Everybody in Wrigleyville is happy about seeing the Cubs in the World Series for the first time since 1945. But Kyle Hendricks has to be really happy that he’s starting the first Cubs’ World Series game at home in 71 years.

The reason? He’s super, super good at Wrigley.

Hendricks isn’t the biggest name in the Cubs rotation, but he could very well win the NL Cy Young this year thanks to a season in which he had a 2.12 ERA and a 16-8 record. So instead he’s one of the most underrated players in baseball this season. Part of what makes him fantastic is a home split that certainly favors the Cubs in Friday night’s Game 3 of the World Series.

Hendricks’ ERA at Wrigley this season was 1.32. That includes two complete games in 14 starts.

Kyle Hendricks is usually at his best at Wrigley Field. (AP)
Kyle Hendricks is usually at his best at Wrigley Field. (AP)

“It just feels like I’m right at home, honestly,” Hendricks said Thursday. “I think that’s part of why I’ve had the success here. Just being able to make pitches. I know when I come in, I know what my timing is, I know my routine, I know where I’ve got to go. Coming out, you know what you’re going to get out of the crowd: There is going to be a lot of energy every game, even regular season. So it really prepared me coming into the postseason, just all that energy throughout the regular year.”

If there’s any solace in this for the Indians — who send Josh Tomlin to the mound — it’s that Hendricks did have a rough (by his standards) outing at home this postseason. He lasted just 3.2 innings against the Giants in the NLDS, allowing four hits and two runs.

Of course, Hendricks also threw seven shutout innings in 7.1 innings in the Cubs’ NLCS clincher at Wrigley Field. So keep that in mind too, Cleveland.

STARTING LINEUPS
The Indians make the biggest lineup change as we moved to NL rules. Carlos Santana, the Indians’ usual DH and leadoff hitter, will stay in the leadoff spot, but he’s playing left field.

No doubt about it: This is unusual. Santana has only played left field once — four innings on Aug. 12, 2012. But his bat is valuable enough to the Indians that they’re taking the chance is Game 3.

Here’s the Cubs’ lineup, which again has Jason Heyward on the bench. Jorge Soler starts in right field.

HE AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GOAT
Cubs superfan Bill Murray has an official job for Game 3. The Cubs have cast him in the Wrigley Field ritual of singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch. Here’s hoping he’s wearing this fantastic T-shirt.

GAME 3 DETAILS
• First pitch is at 8 p.m. ET. The TV broadcast starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox. The MLB on Fox pregame show starts at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

• Pregame festivities include a first pitch from Cubs legend Billy Williams. Patrick Stump from Fall Out Boy, a Chicago native, will sing the national anthem.

GOOD READING
Read all this stuff before the game:
How Roberto Perez overcame Bell’s palsy to become an unlikely World Series hero
Kyle Schwarber not medically cleared to play field as World Series moves to Wrigley
Addicted to losing: Some Cubs fans want their team to lose World Series, survey shows
Sammy Sosa won’t reunite with the Cubs during the World Series
Some Wrigleyville bars charging $250 to watch the World Series on TV

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!