SASKATCHEWAN (CBC) - Record-setting second baseman Chase Utley will try to help the Philadelphia Phillies draw even with the New York Yankees on Wednesday night, which would force a deciding Game 7.

Utley has smacked five home runs in the World Series, the most ever for a National League player and tied with former Yankee Reggie Jackson for the all-time lead.

Utley could very well break the record before the series is done. Many baseball observers think the final game(s) will be high-scoring, with the pitching staffs of both the Yankees and Phillies reflecting the nearly 180 games of meaningful baseball played.

Game 6 starters Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez are a combined 75 years of age, raising questions about how effective they'll be in their second go-round in the series.

A final game would pose more questions for both clubs. C.C. Sabathia of New York would pitch for a third time in a Game 7 but has looked progressively more hittable with each outing Utley has tagged him for three home runs while the Phillies may have to resort to inconsistent Cole Hamels or Cliff Lee, who has already pitched 16 innings.

The starter uncertainty could put the spotlight in determining the Series outcome on the least heralded role in baseball middle relief. With the exception of Philadelphia's Chan Ho Park, it has not been a strength for either team.

New York sends cagey veteran Pettitte to the mound on Wednesday, but the lefty hasn't pitched on three days' rest since 2006.

Pettitte was so-so in Game 3, benefiting from the fact that Hamels struggled badly for Philadelphia.

Martinez was in prime form while striking out eight in the second game of the series, but was outduelled by A.J. Burnett. The question is whether the 38-year-old Dominican can summon one last bit of magic.

Should Martinez flourish he could help play a part in one of the most unusual repeat baseball championships. Unusual in the sense that the team's two most important pitchers Lee, Martinez weren't even on the squad as recently as late July.

Should Martinez falter early, the Phillies are likely to call on J.A. Happ. The lefty started 23 games this season for Philadelphia, but has been relegated to just two innings of relief work since a poor outing in the National League Divisional Series.

The weather forecast for the Bronx makes a potential Game 7 questionable for Thursday. Showers are expected throughout the day.

Each team has a slugger searching for answers at the plate. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard has struck out 12 times to tie a World Series record set in six games by Willie Wilson in 1980.

Howard, who has smashed 198 home runs over the past four seasons has none against the Yankees. He is just 3-for-19 (.158) at the plate, with one run batted in.

New York's Mark Teixeira has a home run, but is just 2-for-19 (.105), with seven strikeouts.

Teixeira has alternated between looking at too many pitches to flailing wildly at the wrong ones.

Johnny Damon, on the other hand, has bedevilled the Phillies with his discipline at the plate. After a slowish start, Damon is now 8-for-21 (.381) with just two strikeouts. He's stolen three bases and scored five times, while driving in four.

Wednesday's game is the first Game 6 for the World Series since 2003, when the Florida Marlins defeated the Yankees.

New York is trying to win an all-time best 27th championship for a North American sports franchise. The Yankees last won in 2000.

Philadelphia is trying to become the first team to come back from down 3-1 since Kansas City overtook St. Louis in 1985. The Phillies will have to win the last two games on the road, something done only six times, most recently by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979.