World Series Game 3: Royals, Giants look to gain momentum
Oct 24, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants fan Mark Garcia watches batting practice before game three of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The World Series has returned to the Bay Area, and though Game 3 may feel like just the beginning, it could be the deciding factor as to which team will go on to take the title.
Sixteen of the past nineteen teams that have won Game 3 with the series tied 1-1 have gone on to win the Commissioner’s Trophy. In every tie series situation of the Fall Classic, the home team is 26-30 in Game 3, meaning Friday night’s contest is anybody’s game. Tonight, both Tim Hudson and Jeremy Guthrie will make their World Series debut.
The San Francisco Giants return home to AT&T Park to continue October baseball after dropping Game 2, 7-2 on Wednesday night in Kansas City. The Giants’ relievers will play a huge role in following up their veteran starter Hudson. The sinkerballer has appeared twice this postseason, once in the National League Division Series (7 1/3 innings) and once in the National League Championship Series (6 1/3 innings). In seven of 13 second-half starts, Hudson failed to make it past the sixth inning. Whether or not he can work deep into the game tonight will no doubt impact the work of manager Bruce Bochy.
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Two of the Giants relief options – Hunter Strickland and Jean Machi –have struggled significantly under the bright lights of the postseason stage. With two questionable relievers, the Giants look to Tim Lincecum, who performed well after 1 2/3 innings in Game 2 and left the game with tighteness in his lower back. It’s clear that the San Francisco bullpen, following a poor performance Wednesday, has to handle the contact hitters with a the tease of the chase, especially in tight situtations.
Back in National League territory, the designated hitter is not allowed, and with that rule comes the benching of game-changer Michael Morse. For the Kansas City Royals, it means the loss of Billy Butler, who will serve as pinch-hitter during series play in San Francisco. The baserunning skills of Kansas City will be especially needed against at least five innings of Tim Hudson, who has allowed 182 total stolen bases since his 1999 rookie year.
Guthrie has won eight of his past twelve starts this seasons, performing exceptionally well away from home with a 5-1 record and 2.95 ERA. Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland follow Guthrie in the bullpen to execute the final innings on a near-nightly basis. A solid start from Guthrie could push the Royals toward a solid victory in the Bay. The Royals finished the regular season 47-34 away from home going 8-2 at National League parks.
Pinch-hits and mid-game bullpen performances are most likely going to be the biggest factors in Game 3 Friday night in San Francisco. The two Wild Card victors will square off, each looking to tilt momentum in their favor.