The White Sox announced the signing of first baseman Jose Abreu to a six-year, $68 million deal and introduced the Cuban slugger during a news conference Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field.

MLB.com reporter Jenifer Langosch examines three keys — revving up the offense, continued contributions from rookies and stopping David Ortiz — for the Cardinals to get past the Red Sox in Game 6 at Fenway Park.

If the Red Sox win Game 6, Jake Peavy will party with the rest of his mates on Fenway turf like it’s 1918, the last time the Red Sox won the World Series at home. If not, the veteran right-hander will have to take the Red Sox where no team in club history has tread since 1912: to a seven-game win in a World Series.

Miguel Cabrera underwent core muscle repair surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia. He will undergo physical rehabilitation for 6-8 weeks and it is anticipated that he will be ready for Spring Training in February.

This won’t diminish by one iota the genuine affection and high regard in which Adam Wainwright is held by the St. Louis Cardinals and their fans. But there can only be a mixture of surprise and dismay when looking at the statistics for the 2013 World Series and seeing that Wainwright has a record of 0-2. He deserves better, but there it is.

Koji Uehara is 38 years old, has never been an All-Star, throws only two pitches and can barely crack 90 mph. And for some reason, he’s been unhittable in the World Series. He’s surprising even himself.

There was a point this year when Red Sox catcher David Ross wondered whether he ever would be able to play again, let alone contribute the winning hit in a World Series game or combine with Jon Lester in all four of his postseason wins. After it all, he has become a big contributor to Boston’s run at winning its third Fall Classic in the past 10 years.

Jon Lester held the Cardinals to one run over 7 2/3 stalwart innings, while David Ross broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning with an RBI double to left as the Red Sox moved to the brink of their third World Series title in 10 years with a 3-1 win over St. Louis in Game 5 on Monday night at Busch Stadium.

While they have yet to find a solution to their World Series offensive woes, there is one thing the Cardinals’ batters can come to a conclusion on — Boston’s pitching has been tough.

One victory away. That’s where the Red Sox find themselves after a postseason run in which they have beaten David Price, Matt Moore, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Adam Wainwright (twice), among others. But teams have gone home with 3-2 leads in the World Series and watched the visiting team celebrate after Game 7.

Game 3 ended on an obstruction call against Will Middlebrooks, and Game 4 finished with Koji Uehara picking off Kolten Wong. Game 5 swung on Stephen Drew’s walk against Adam Wainwright.

David Ortiz’s historic streak of reaching base in nine straight World Series plate appearances, at 37 years old and for a team few thought had a chance to reach the postseason, is emblematic of the determined season the Red Sox have put together.

If John Lackey’s relief outing in Game 4 of the World Series cast any doubt over his availability for the now potentially Series-clinching Game 6 at Fenway Park, Lackey made certain to immediately and unequivocally cast it aside. “Oh,” Lackey said in Game 4’s aftermath, “I’ll be there.”

If the Cardinals — and their fans — felt destiny was on their side in the immediate aftermath of that incredible ending to Game 3, it’s understood. But the World Series did not end Saturday night, and now the Cards have to do everything in their power to ensure it does not end Wednesday night in Game 6. Because in the aftermath of two crushing losses in a ballpark they are usually prone to protect, they are flying back to Fenway down 3-2 to the Red Sox.

He’s already pitched one elimination game for the Cardinals and one clincher — and been superlative beyond his years in both. Now comes Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday night at Boston’s Fenway Park, where he will be tasked with saving his team’s season.

Unable to win behind ace Adam Wainwright for the second time in this World Series, the Cardinals head to Boston with the tall task of needing to win twice at Fenway Park to clinch their 12th title. Monday night’s 3-1 loss to the Red Sox in Game 5 sent the Cards to back-to-back losses at Busch for the first time since Aug. 9-10.

David Ortiz doubled and singled on Monday in his first two at-bats of World Series Game 5, reaching base safely for a Series-record-tying ninth consecutive plate appearance.