2014 World Series
Game 2 - San Francisco leads series 1-0
First pitch: Wednesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Kansas City -110, San Francisco +100, Total: 7

After being handed their first loss of the postseason in Tuesday's Game 1, the Royals look to even up the World Series with the Giants on Wednesday.

San Francisco certainly has the advantage in experience for this series, as it was victors in the World Series in both 2010 and 2012 while showing how well it can perform on the big stage with a 7-1 win on Tuesday night. The Giants had no trouble getting to starter James Shields as they tagged the ace for five runs on seven hits over the first three innings of the game and did not look back, as Madison Bumgarner put together another big performance on the mound (7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 K's). OF Hunter Pence provided some power with a two-run homer in the top of the first inning, which gives him at least one hit in nine of 11 playoff games. Kansas City appeared to have fate on its side this season, but that was quickly turned around by Bumgarner and the Giants, who held the Royals to four hits in Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday. The only real source of offense came off the bat of C Salvador Perez who had a solo homer, but has otherwise been poor in the postseason with a mere five hits in 37 at-bats (.135 BA). K.C. hopes that 1B Eric Hosmer can help cure his team's offensive woes moving forward, as he has collected a hit in 7-of-9 games thus far with multiple knocks four times. Looking to give San Francisco a big 2-0 series lead will be RHP Jake Peavy (1-0, 1.86 ERA), as he goes against 23-year-old RHP Yordano Ventura (0-0, 4.85 ERA) for the host Royals. Tuesday's win on the road improved the Giants' away record to a huge 48-39 (.552) while Kansas City saw its home mark drop to 46-40 (.535) on the year. These clubs played just one series over the past three seasons with the Royals sweeping three games at home back in August while outscoring San Francisco 16-6. On the injury front, 2B Marco Scutaro (back) and OF Angel Pagan (back) remain out for the duration of the playoffs for the Giants while Kansas City has no significant omissions from its lineup.

Jake Peavy did not have the best regular season of his career with just seven wins and a 3.73 ERA, but the Giants grabbed him from the Red Sox due to his playoff experience (7 starts) which includes helping Boston to a win in last year’s World Series. He has seen his strikeout rate drop in each of the past three seasons as he struck out 7.0 batters per nine innings in 2014 and actually has more walks (6) than strikeouts (5) over two starts (9.2 IP) in these playoffs. Overall, he is 1-3 with a miserable 7.03 ERA and 1.72 WHIP in his postseason career, but his team has gone 5-2 in those outings. In his time facing the Royals, Peavy is 5-7 with a 4.97 ERA and 1.38 WHIP while allowing 10 HR in his 83.1 frames. DH Billy Butler (.424 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI in 33 AB), SS Alcides Escobar (.409 BA, 2 HR, 8 RBI in 22 AB) and OF Alex Gordon (.357 BA, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBI in 28 AB) have all done very well against the veteran, while 3B Mike Moustakas and OF Josh Willingham have combined to go a meager 7-for-43 (.163) in this matchup. San Francisco’s bullpen carries an outstanding 37-15 (.712) record with a solid 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while saving 51-of-70 (73%) games. Closer Santiago Casilla (0.00 ERA, 4 saves) has allowed just two hits in his 6.2 postseason innings while going a perfect 4-for-4 in save chances.

Yordano Ventura has a mere 35 career starts under his belt as he makes his first World Series appearance and will look to his heater, which averaged 96 MPH this year, to help him shut down the Giants. He struck out 7.8 batters per nine innings over the regular season while giving up 14 HR in his 183 frames (0.69 HR/9). So far in these playoffs, he has allowed seven runs over his three games (13 IP) while his club is a perfect 3-0 when he makes an appearance. The 23-year-old has never faced the Giants in his young career and will need to be careful when facing C Buster Posey who is 14-for-48 (.292) with five RBIs and four runs in this postseason after a big season where he hit .311 with 22 HRs and 89 RBIs. On the other hand, SS Brandon Crawford has been the least consistent batter in San Francisco’s lineup as he has just three hits in his last 19 at-bats and should be Ventura’s easiest target. The bullpen for the Royals has been the MVP throughout the postseason and overall has gone 34-18 (.654) with a 3.19 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while going a tremendous 59-for-71 (83%) in save opportunities. Closer Greg Holland (1.13 ERA, 6 saves) saved all four games in the ALCS while giving up three hits and striking out 10 in his eight playoff innings.