World Series Schedule: TV Info and Live Stream for Giants vs. Royals

The 2014 World Series marks the first matchup of two non-playoff teams from the previous season since the 2010 rendition.  

However, whereas the Kansas City Royals embody the underdog as one of the sport's most remarkable Cinderella stories in its history, the San Francisco Giants could become baseball's newest dynasty with their third championship in five seasons.

But in spite of this stark contrast, the Giants and Royals have both dominated their competition over the first two playoff rounds, romping into the World Series with just two combined losses.  Kansas City has started with eight consecutive victories, a postseason record that illustrates how a string of late-inning success has buttressed this seemingly charmed run.

For fans looking to catch the finale to the MLB season, check out full TV and live streaming information below, as well as analysis of the single most important player for both pennant champions.

	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.

*Live stream available via MLB.TV for $9.99 subscription.

Giants Key Player: Buster Posey

It's no secret that the former MVP catcher Posey has been San Francisco's most valuable player all season. According to Fangraphs' metrics, Posey's 5.7 WAR was 12th-most among all position players during the regular season and trailed only Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy among catchers.  Many, like Fangraphs' Tony Blengino, believe that Posey is the best player in this series, and based on his postseason resume, it is difficult to argue with that assertion:

However, Posey has not posted an MVP-caliber October thus far.  While he was excellent against the Washington Nationals in the NLDS, Posey hit just .200 against the St. Louis Cardinals last round.  Apart from a three-RBI Game 4 performance, he was essentially shut down by the Cards pitching staff.

Posey possesses a track record that would suggest an imminent turnaround, but his brief history against Kansas City is inauspicious.  During a three-game set in August, Posey batted just 1-for-13.  San Francisco was swept, and the failings of its best position player accounted prominently in that equation.

Posey should receive some juicy opportunities against most of the Royals' starting rotation.  If he can make hay in his first two to three at-bats before Kansas City's dominant bullpen takes over, that could be the catalyst San Francisco needs to ensure that the Royals' personnel, uniquely adapted for late-inning success, cannot take over.

Royals Key Player: James Shields

The trio of Yordano Ventura, Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie represent unknown propositions, albeit ones that have done enough for the Royals to not drop a game this postseason.  Nonetheless, against a complete Giants team, Shields represents the bedrock that must carry Kansas City's staff in this series.

Despite his reputation as "Big Game" James, Shields has actually been quite shaky this postseason.  In fact, following a mediocre five-inning, four-run outing in Game 1 of the ALCS, some noted the incongruence between Shields' nickname and his actual performance:

Shields had several excellent outings in the Tampa Bay Rays' 2008 World Series run, starting the Rays' only victory of that series in Game 2.  Moreover, Shields finished the 2014 regular season with six consecutive quality starts, highlighting his stellar form and durability despite a massive 227-inning workload.  That included a complete game, four-hit shutout against the Giants back on Aug. 9.

With Shields unlikely to return to Kansas City following the postseason, this is his final opportunity to provide a return for the Royals' all-in investment two years ago.  By delivering an unexpected championship to a snakebitten franchise, Shields would forever provide the template for small-market teams going against the grain to maximize their brief windows of contention.