3 things you need to know for Game 2 of the World Series
The Kansas City Royals went from undefeated to underdog over the course of one game, and now find themselves in a fight against history.
After dropping Game 1 of the Fall Classic, the Royals face the daunting task of doing what only one team has done during the past 11 years: win the World Series.
San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner staked his team to a significant one-game edge with a dominating effort Tuesday, and hands the ball off to veteran right-hander Jake Peavy in search of a commanding series lead.
Here are three things you need to know for Game 2:
Royals' fate rests in rookie Ventura's hands
The headline screams alarmist, but here's the bottom line: if Yordano Ventura does not turn in an A-1 performance, the Royals' chances of winning this series decrease by a significant margin.
While the Royals' vaunted threesome of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland remain rested, Ventura will need to give his club at least six solid innings in the biggest game of his career. Kansas City can't afford to dip into its middle relief for a second straight game.
| Yordano Ventura's 2014 splits | K% | BB% | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st half | 20.3% | 7.1% | 3.22 |
| 2nd half | 20.4% | 10.9% | 3.16 |
| Playoffs | 15.1% | 7.6% | 4.85 |
The Royals' hard-throwing rookie pitches well to hitters on both sides of the plate so Bruce Bochy's left-handed heavy lineup shouldn't be a concern. At issue could be the 23-year-old's workload, which is up about 31 percent from last season.
Given Ventura's high-effort approach - he led the majors in pitches 97 mph or more - the right-hander's ability to be at his best this late in the season is the most critical element to Wednesday's game.
Ned Yost and managing outside the box
After Royals manager Ned Yost's ill-advised decision to pitch Ventura in relief during the wild-card game, pitching coach Dave Eiland reportedly urged the skipper to be more aggressive in using Herrera and Davis. The next night, Yost used both relievers an inning earlier.
Yost's on-the-fly decision making will be critical Wednesday with the Royals desperate to avoid an 0-2 hole heading to San Francisco, where Bochy maintains the clear managerial advantage.
And it's not just how he deploys his bullpen. With Nori Aoki struggling, Yost shouldn't hesitate to sub-in Jarrod Dyson or Terrance Gore early should the opportunity present itself, and exploit the Royals' speed advantage.
Stay patient, San Francisco
Pivoting off the previous two points, it will be in the Giants' best interest to make Ventura work early and often. The rookie struggled with command during the second half of the year, and it would benefit San Francisco hitters to get to the Royals' bullpen early.
Bochy's group has been the most disciplined team these playoffs, ranking first by a wide margin in pitches per plate appearance after finishing 22nd overall during the regular season.
The Giants are in a rush to win their third title in five years, but a little patience could be the difference maker in Game 2.