World Series 2014 Schedule: Full TV Info and Key Matchups in Royals vs. Giants

The 2014 World Series offers one of the most striking contrasts the Fall Classic has seen in recent memory.  Whereas the National League champion San Francisco Giants have an opportunity to become the definitive modern-day dynasty with their third championship in five seasons, the Kansas City Royals could complete one of the sport's great Cinderella stories by winning the World Series in their first postseason appearance in 29 years.

Despite that storyline, this is far from a David vs. Goliath matchup, as the Royals and Giants have deep rosters that match up fairly similarly against each other.  Both teams have cruised thus far, combining to drop just two games over the first two rounds, but clearing the final hurdle should represent their toughest challenge of the postseason.

Check out full TV viewing information below, as well as a couple of matchups that could decide the MLB championship.

	Date	Location	Time (ET)
Game 1	Oct. 21	Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)	8:07 p.m.
Game 2	Oct. 22	Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)	8:07 p.m.
Game 3	Oct. 24	AT&T Park (San Francisco)	8:07 p.m.
Game 4	Oct. 25	AT&T Park (San Francisco)	8:07 p.m.
Game 5 (if necessary)	Oct. 26	AT&T Park (San Francisco)	8:07 p.m.
Game 6 (if necessary)	Oct. 28	Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)	8:07 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary)	Oct. 29	Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)	8:07 p.m.

Giants' Key Matchup: Bullpen vs. Top of Royals Lineup

The Giants bullpen proved vital in pulling out several late-game victories over the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals during the first two rounds.  After finishing the regular season just 28th in total WAR, per FanGraphs.com, San Francisco relievers have allowed just seven earned runs in 35.1 innings, good for a sterling 1.79 ERA. 

Indeed, despite midseason turmoil at the closer position, Santiago Casilla has stabilized the ninth inning and has been perfect in four save opportunities during the postseason.  In fact, even behind Casilla, San Francisco has several established late-inning weapons:

Most importantly, the relievers have combined for just 11 walks in that period, limiting the opposition's on-base percentage.  That will be key against the upper third of a Royals lineup that has made its living on getting on base and stealing second to create a plethora of runners-in-scoring-position at-bats.

But with the trio of Casilla, Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt, as well as terrific long reliever Yusmeiro Petit, the Giants do have the personnel to combat Kansas City's table-setters.  If San Francisco can limit the trio of Alcides Escobar, Nori Aoki and Lorenzo Cain, it can essentially snuff out Kansas City's source of offense.

Royals' Key Matchup: No. 2-4 Starters vs. Middle of Giants Lineup

The Royals know they can lean upon ace James Shields, whose postseason experience and steadiness make him the workhorse of the staff.  But while Kansas City can throw out Shields two or perhaps even three times in the series, the Royals clearly need quality starts from the rest of their rotation as well, which is a far less stable proposition.

The trio of Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie provide varying levels of experience and tools, but the common denominator is that none had started a postseason game before 2014.  In six combined starts, they have combined for a reasonable 3.40 ERA, but none has posted particularly successful career splits against the Giants, as one astute fan points out:

Their ability to hold up the second and third time through the lineup is unclear, which could spell trouble against the No. 3-6 quartet of Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt.  The four provide the bulk of San Francisco's offense and will be the batters who need to sustain a Giants offense that has gotten by with modest yet timely production.

Kansas City's lockdown bullpen provides the Royals a significant advantage if the game remains close in the late innings.  The Royals' non-Shields starters do not need to carry the team in their starts, but they do need to ensure that Kansas City preserves the late-inning edge they have used to post an MLB-record eight straight postseason wins thus far.