The Kansas City Royals have announced their probable starters for games one and two of the 2014 World Series. San Francisco Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy has not announced who will start the games for his team as of this time.
Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner pitched on short rest between games one and four of the National League Championship Series, however, he’ll have had quite a bit of time off by the time Tuesday and game one roll around. Bochy coould go with Bumgarner or completely switch it up. We just don’t know.
Oct 5, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields (33) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels during game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
The Royals on the other hand are not afraid to let the opposition know who they will be facing to begin the World Series.
After sweeping the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series, the Royals have had significantly more time to rest than the Giants so both their rotation and bullpen will be ready to go for the best of seven series that begins at Kauffman Stadium this Tuesday evening.
Royals’ manager Ned Yost has already made it known that the team’s ace James Shields will start game one and announced Saturday that the hard-throwing rookie Yordano Ventura will take the mound in game two for the boys in blue.
Prior to today's workout, Manager Ned Yost announced that James Shields will start Game 1, Yordano Ventura in Game 2. #TakeTheCrown
— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) October 18, 2014
While “Big Game” James Shields hasn’t had the best postseason, he hasn’t lost a game either. His postseason ERA is 5.63, but over 227 innings in the regular season he maintained a 3.21 ERA and is by far the ace of the Royals rotation. His getting the nod in game one should not be a surprise to anyone.
Yordana Ventura who is a rookie gave up four runs in his only postseason start thus far, having to leave the game early due to shoulder soreness, However, his shoulder must have improved a lot for Yost to look to him to start the second game. During the regular season Ventura, who throws in the upper 90’s, had a 3.20 ERA with 159 strikeouts and 69 walks over 183 innings. Not too shabby for a rookie at all.
The announcement of the starting pitchers by Yost means that the World Series is coming ever closer. I know he’s hoping that 2014 will be the year that the Royals “take the crown” home to Kansas City.
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