Click Here For A Free Pick On Game 2 Of The 2014 World Series

The Kansas City Royals will host the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium to open the 2014 World Series. The Giants, winners in 2010 and 2012, will hope to claim their eighth title, while the Royals are looking for their second ever, 29 years after they won in 1985.

Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Giants in Game 1, and he has been a beast in the playoff, shutting out his opponent in two of his four starts. He has conceded only five earned runs on 19 hits while fanning 28 over 31 2/3 innings. Hurling on the road is not a negative for this 25 year old lefty, as he was stronger away from home than in San Francisco during the regular season, winning 11 of his 18 starts behind a 2.22 ERA. Norichika Aoki is batting .259 in the playoff so far, but has yet to get a hit on Bumgarner, going 0-for-13 lifetime.

The Royals will try to counter with their own ace, as they send James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA) to the mound. “Big Game James” has not lived up to his reputation at all so far though, surrendering 10 runs on 21 hits over 16 innings in this years playoff. Pitching in KC has not been beneficial for him this season, as he’s 4-6 while compiling a 3.51 ERA over 15 starts at Kauffman.

Kansas City has gone through the playoff undefeated thanks to great defense, speed on the bases and a phenomenal bullpen. The visitors bullpen has not done too shabby either though, and the Royals will struggle to even get men on the bases tonight. The Giants have won four of their last five on the road, and expect them to start the 2014 World Series off with a win in KC tonight.

Play on: San Francisco Giants

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