Frank Lorenzo
San Francisco Giants (+130) at Kansas City Royals (-140, 7 o/u)
In just a few short hours, the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals will play the last game of the 2014 MLB season. Each pitch, each swing, each call will have the fans at Kauffman Stadium wincing in anticipation. Every at bat will bring a new chance at glory. So leave work early, get your snacks, turn off your phone, and, most importantly, enjoy Game 7!
San Francisco Giants (+130) at Kansas City Royals (-140, 7 o/u)
In just a few short hours, the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals will play the last game of the 2014 MLB season. Each pitch, each swing, each call will have the fans at Kauffman Stadium wincing in anticipation. Every at bat will bring a new chance at glory. So leave work early, get your snacks, turn off your phone, and, most importantly, enjoy Game 7!
For the finale, the Giants will turn to veteran hurler Tim Hudson, while the Royals will counter with Jeremy Guthrie, setting up a rematch of Game 3 (which the Royals won 3-2 in San Francisco).
Last night, the Giants missed their first chance to close the series, getting demolished 10-0. Jake Peavy added to his disappointing postseason stats, lasting just 1.1 innings and giving up five earned runs on six hits.
Tim Hudson will likely be on a short leash, and San Francisco’s ace, Madison Bumgarner, may be available in relief. “MadBum” last pitched in Game 5 on Sunday, throwing a complete game shutout.
In spite of the pressure, Hudson is ready to enjoy his Game 7 experience.
“I’m no different than anybody else. As a kid, you think about it. As a big leaguer, you think about it,” Hudson said. “You wonder if you’re going to have an opportunity to do it. Sixteen years in the big leagues, I’m finally getting that chance. I can’t wait to get out there and have some fun.”
Hudson had a decent outing in Game 3 even though he took the loss, going 5.2 innings and surrendering just four hits and three runs. He won’t have the home fans behind him tonight, though.
If Hudson struggles, Bumgarner is confident that he has the endurance to be effective in relief. “I don’t even know if I’m going to be called on. But if you are, as long as you’re getting outs and you’re not hurting …” Bumgarner said.
The Royals have faith that their starter, Jeremy Guthrie, can put in another solid performance. “We’re confident,” the Royals’ Billy Butler said. “Jeremy, every time out, gives us a chance to win.” Guthrie did just that in Game 3, scattering four hits and two runs over five innings of work.
If you’re looking for a trend: since 1980, the Royals are the ninth home team to win Game 6 when down 3-2 in the World Series. All of the others went on to win Game 7, as well.
Kansas City is listed at -140 in the MLB moneyline to win at home and get the title; San Francisco is +130.
(Photo credit: X Wad (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons. Photo has been cropped from its original.)
