World Series Schedule: TV Info and Live Stream for Giants vs. Royals Game 1

The San Francisco Giants may have needed the Wild Card Round to reach the National League Division Series, but you lose your underdog status when you reach a third World Series since 2010.

Their opponents, the Kansas City Royals, can certainly be tagged with that underdog designation, though.

Kansas City has only been to three Fall Classics in its history and hit fewer home runs than any team in baseball in 2014. Instead, it relied on timely pitching, speed, stolen bases, a shutdown bullpen and excellent defense throughout the postseason and captured America’s heart along the way. 

Here is a look at the broadcast information and schedule for both Game 1 and the entire World Series before we dig into the pitching matchup for Game 1:

Game	Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Channel
1	Tue., Oct. 21	Giants at Royals	8 p.m.	Fox
2	Wed., Oct. 22	Giants at Royals	8 p.m.	Fox
3	Fri., Oct. 24	Royals at Giants	8 p.m.	Fox
4	Sat., Oct. 25	Royals at Giants	8 p.m.	Fox
5*	Sun., Oct. 26	Royals at Giants	8 p.m.	Fox
6*	Tue., Oct. 28	Giants at Royals	8 p.m.	Fox
7*	Wed., Oct. 29	Giants at Royals	8 p.m.	Fox

Live Stream: MLB.tv (requires subscription)

Game 1 Pitching Matchup

The San Francisco Giants will send their ace and workhorse, Madison Bumgarner (18-10, 2.98 ERA regular season and 2-1, 1.42 ERA postseason), to the mound in Game 1 to face the Kansas City Royals’ James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA regular season and 1-0, 5.63 ERA postseason).

While Shields is certainly a solid pitcher, Bumgarner has been on a roll in the playoffs.

He won the National League Championship Series MVP, was incredible in the Wild Card Round win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and has only given up five earned runs in four postseason starts. Throw in a 0.76 WHIP and 28 strikeouts with his 1.42 ERA, and he has arguably been the best player in the entire playoffs.

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

He has also made it to at least the seventh inning in every one of his postseason starts.

Bumgarner will make his fifth start since the playoffs began, but manager Bruch Bochy didn’t seem too concerned with the high usage rate, via ESPN.com, “I think I would’ve insulted him if I checked with him. He’s a big, strong guy. His last game I thought he had great stuff. It’s not like he’s thrown 120-130 pitches. His workload has been under control.”

The fact that Game 1 is on the road should help the southpaw as well. He sported a 2.22 ERA in the regular season on the road compared to a 4.03 ERA at home, and he has yet to allow a run in 16.2 innings pitched on the road in the playoffs.

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

It is certainly a strange phenomenon, but you won’t find too many people arguing against success in the MLB postseason.

As for Shields, he will look to snap out of his recent struggles. In fact, he has allowed opponents to hit .309 in the playoffs, which is a major reason why his postseason ERA is 5.63 and his WHIP is 1.63. 

As America’s Pregame from Fox Sports 1 noted, this is not that unusual for Shields in the postseason:

The good news is that Shields pitched a shutout back on Aug. 9 against this same Giants team in his only career start against San Francisco. If he can get through the first couple of innings unscathed, that performance may creep into the back of his mind and inspire more confidence on the World Series stage.

While the Royals appear ready to win a title with their defense, bullpen and speed, the Giants will find a way to win Game 1 behind Bumgarner. What's more, Shields' struggles in the postseason are difficult to ignore when he is going up against a dominant opposing pitcher.

The lefty ace has been too impressive to bet against, and the fact that the game is on the road should help his cause if recent history is any indication. San Francisco will seize the early momentum in what could be a back-and-forth series between two red-hot teams.

Prediction: Giants 4, Royals 2

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