SAN FRANCISCO — Here is what we understand to be two absolute truths about the World Series: The Giants' Madison Bumgarner is clearly the best starter in the bunch, and the Royals' bullpen is superior to the Giants' pen that cost them Game 2.
So, with the lineups relatively even, what will decide who wins the 110th World Series, which resumes with Game 3 on Friday night at AT&T Park tied 1-1?
A popular neighborhood to visit is the starting pitching matchups, beginning Friday when veteran Tim Hudson — who is 39, has pitched 16 years in the big leagues but never has been in baseball's premier event — goes for the Giants and Jeremy Guthrie starts for the Royals.
Saturday's Game 4 features right-hander Ryan Vogelsong against lefty Jason Vargas. In Game 5 the Series reverts to Bumgarner against James Shields, which was a mismatch for the Giants in Game 1. Game 6 likely would be a Game 2 rematch between Yordano Ventura and Jake Peavy in which Ventura was better.
"After Bumgarner against Shields, I would say the edge goes to the Royals,'' an AL talent evaluator said. "I like their variety. They have a power guy [Ventura], an in-between guy [Guthrie] and a nickel-and-dime lefty [Vargas]. Peavy isn't a mystery to the Royals, they have seen him a lot. Hudson has a ton of experience, and Vogelsong, even in the game he pitched [against the Nationals in the ALDS] and won, he got away with getting the ball up in the zone.''
Another reason offered was the trio of gas-throwers who have developed into the story of October: Royals relievers Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland.
"When you look at it, the Royals' starters only have to pitch six innings, and if they have the lead those three power arms are coming in, and we have seen what they have done,'' the scout said.
"Especially, when you are talking about Vargas. He throws enough strikes and keeps hitters off balance with the change-up.''
Since the Royals swept the Orioles in the ALCS, each starter got one game. Vargas started and won the Game 4 clincher, going 5 ¹/₃ innings in which he gave up a run and two hits against a lineup that is better than the Giants'.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy, whose World Series experience and ability to get the best of the late-game matchups was supposed to give him an edge over Ned Yost but didn't in Game 2, was satisfied with leaving Kansas City with a split since he said he believes there is plenty of October baseball remaining.
"You would like to get greedy, but we know it's going to be a tough series,'' Bochy said after his bullpen, especially Hunter Strickland, imploded in the sixth inning of Game 2 when the Royals scored five runs to break a 2-2 tie. "With their pitching and our pitching and the way both teams play, we are going to have a fight, I think, every game.''
Playing the next three games without the DH, and remember Bumgarner is a very accomplished hitter for a pitcher, will help the Giants. So, too, will be home in one of the most unique settings in sports — where the smell of weed drifts around the jewel of a ballpark, fans drink wine from canvas containers and dance in the aisles in between innings.
Yet, pitching carries the day from April 1 to the final out of the World Series, and after Bumgarner it looks like the Royals have the better starters who can get them to the seventh with a lead.
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