World Series 2014: Step-by-Step Guide for Kansas City Royals to Win the Series

The Kansas City Royals are the team of destiny. 

Unfortunately for manager Ned Yost and his squad, the road to the World Series in 2014 runs through the San Francisco Giants, a team that simply doesn't lose in the playoffs.

It doesn't matter how badly the Giants are leaking oil during the regular season. When the calendar flips to October, San Francisco is a whole different team. Manager Bruce Bochy's club has ripped off eight series wins in a row, which ties the 1927-1941 New York Yankees for the second-longest streak in the history of baseball, according to ESPN Stats & Info. 

As the Royals get set to try to put an end to the Giants' reign and claim their first World Series tile since 1985, it begins with an impossible assignment against Madison Bumgarner in Game 1. 

Step 1: Beat Madison Bumgarner in Game 1

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The Royals need to do something that's never been done in the series opener. 

The club needs to beat Madison Bumgarner when he's pitching away from AT&T Park in a playoff start. In four career postseason road outings, the left-handed pitcher has racked up four wins while allowing just two earned runs. 

The goal for any road team in a seven-game set is to secure a split in the first two games of the series. If the Giants win Game 1, the team will be playing with house money when Jake Peavy takes the mound in the second game.  

Step 2: Don't Be Afraid to Use Herrera, Davis and Holland in Unfamiliar Roles

The Royals' bullpen was historically dominant during the regular season. 

Between Kelvin Herrera (1.41 ERA), Wade Davis (1.00 ERA) and Greg Holland (1.44 ERA), Kansas City became the first team ever to have two, let alone three relievers who piled up at least 60 innings of work and posted sub-1.50 ERAs, according to Steve Gardner of USA Today.

All three of those relievers appeared in each of the club's four American League Championship Series games, and the Royals will once again have to rely heavily on them in the Fall Classic. 

While the relievers had clearly defined roles during the regular season, it's crucial that Yost be much more flexible with how he utilizes Herrera, Davis and Holland against the Giants. Yost already began to do just that in the series against the Baltimore Orioles.

"We would make sure that Wade Davis and Herrera generally during the season weren't pitching unless we were tied or ahead. That's apt to change," Yost explained via Gardner before Game 3 of the ALCS. 

In addition to deploying his relief aces when the Royals are trailing, Yost must also be willing to call on the three before the seventh inning. In both Games 1 and 4 against the O's, Yost brought in Herrera during the sixth inning. 

If there's one lesson that Yost can learn from his counterpart Bochy, it's to always use his best arms in the biggest moments. Yost can't be like manager Mike Matheny of the St. Louis Cardinals, who left his closer in the bullpen in the ninth inning of a tied elimination game.  

In the postseason, tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Bochy gets that. The veteran skipper manages to win each at-bat and each inning. Yost needs to follow suit. 

Step 3: Rely on Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer to Lead the Offense Again

Kansas City's incredible postseason run has been built on speed, defense and an airtight bullpen. 

However, the contributions made by the middle of the order can't be ignored, either. During the ALCS, Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer, the club's third and fourth hitters, combined to bat .466 (14-for-30). It's no coincidence that the O's, the team that the Royals swept past, received negligible production from their No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in Nelson Cruz and Adam Jones. Those two totaled just a pair of extra-base hits. 

Admittedly, Cain and Hosmer aren't hitting for much power. What they are doing is consistently putting the ball in play and coming up big when their team needs them most. The Royals will need that to continue in the World Series. 

Step 4: Continue to Make Game-Changing Plays on Defense

The Royals' glove work has been unreal in October. 

From Alex Gordon to Jarrod Dyson to Lorenzo Cain, the club's outfielders have been flying all over the place. As general manager Dayton Moore explained via Tyler Kepner of The New York Times, that's exactly how the Royals drew it up. 

"

We understood from Day 1 the importance of having athletes who could run down the baseball here. The reason we’re successful is our starting pitchers throw strikes and our bullpen matches up well late and the outfield catches everything in the air.

"

That works out well since the outfield at Kauffman Stadium is the most expansive in baseball, as Kepner notes. Of course, the infielders have been making highlight-reel plays, as well. In Game 3 of the ALCS, Mike Moustakas went nearly horizontal to catch a pop-up before toppling into the stands. 

The Royals will need Moustakas and his teammates to make a few more of those big-time plays if the team is going to get past the Giants. 

Step 5: Bring Back the Running Game

Kansas City's running game was in hibernation during the ALCS. 

During the team's four-game romp over the Orioles, the Royals recorded just one steal. That's a significant drop-off from the early rounds of the playoffs. In the division series, Kansas City totaled five steals, and even Billy Butler stole a base. The designated hitter hadn't picked up a steal since the 2012 season. In the AL Wild Card Game, the Royals racked up seven stolen bases. 

Tim Hudson, the Giants' Game 3 starter, could be particularly susceptible to the Royals' speed. During the regular season, attempted base stealers were 15 out of 18 against the right-hander. Out of the bullpen, Yusmeiro Petit (15 out of 19) and Jeremy Affeldt (six out of six) could also be exposed. 

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.