Giants vs. Royals: 2014 World Series Game 2 Predictions and Updated Odds

With two participants that missed the postseason last year, it is hardly shocking that the 2014 World Series has continued to surprise further.  While Game 1 looked like an ostensible pitchers' duel between aces Madison Bumgarner and James Shields, the San Francisco Giants put a massive dent in the Kansas City Royals' Cinderella run.  San Francisco chased Shields after just three innings, and Bumgarner shut down the Royals en route to a 7-1 victory.

Now, the Royals face the sobering possibility that Game 2 could represent their final game of the season at Kauffman Stadium, which has embodied the hysteria, energy and disbelief surrounding Kansas City's playoff run.  With Games 3-5 out West, a bounce-back victory is almost essential to forge a long series.

For those looking to get a jump on the Game 2 action, check out updated Series odds following the Giants' win, via Odds Shark, as well as analysis and predictions for Wednesday night's game.

Spread	Moneyline	Over/Under
Royals -1.5	Royals -113	7
Giants +1.5	Giants + 104

Giants Bats Stay Hot

The middle of San Francisco's order sustained its hot finish from the NLCS, roughing up Shields and keeping Kansas City at bay throughout Game 1.  The Nos. 3-6 quartet of Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt combined for a monster 6-for-14 effort with a home run, four runs scored and four RBIs.

Sandoval in particular represents a deadly threat who has gained steam as the postseason has worn on.  The 2012 Series MVP is now batting .326 in the postseason, setting franchise records and threatening all-time marks in the process:

Kansas City's Game 2 starter, Yordano Ventura, appears unlikely to totally stymie the Giants' bats.  While the precocious 23-year-old possesses the best pure stuff of any Royals starter, he has also exhibited control issues, highlighted by a 1.37 WHIP to left-handed hitters, according to Fangraphs.

Sandoval and Belt could benefit as a consequence.  The Giants drew five walks in Game 1, and if they exhibit similar patience, Kansas City's bullpen could once again get stretched out.

Royals Pull Out High-Scoring Affair

Despite the ominous matchup against San Francisco's lineup, the Royals figure to rebound from their one-run showing.  The Giants' Game 2 starter Jake Peavy wore down at the end of his 2013 playoff run with the Boston Red Sox last season, and it appears a similar pattern could be in store this season.

Peavy was solid in his NLDS start against the Washington Nationals, but he lasted just four innings in his lone NLCS start, allowing two runs before being pulled for a pinch hitter.  In his postseason career, Peavy has gone 1-3 with a ghastly 7.03 ERA.

Billy Butler, Alcides Escobar and Alex Gordon have particularly experienced plenty of success against Peavy, batting .419, .409 and .346 against the Giants righty over the last five years, respectively.  Moreover, if the Royals can hang with the Giants in the early innings this time, the lockdown bullpen trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland can restore Kansas City's late-game edge.  Even with San Francisco's prolific lineup, the backend troika figures to shut them down if given the opportunity:

And for all his regular-season inconsistencies, Ventura has lasted 7.0 and 5.2 innings in his two postseason starts.  He was not particularly effective in the latter instance, allowing four runs to the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS, but after the Royals burnt long reliever Danny Duffy, Ventura should allow them to use their more situational relievers.

San Francisco subverted Kansas City's postseason formula by burying them from the start.  The Giants appear unlikely to replicate that progression in Game 2, however, which should provide the Royals a chance to repeat the late-game heroics that have characterized their postseason run thus far.