World Series 2014: Royals vs. Giants Game 5 Pitching Preview, Predictions

The San Francisco Giants' bats finally woke up in Game 4 to even up the 2014 World Series, which shifts to a decisive Game 5 that will decide who'll have the edge heading back to Kansas City.

The Kansas City Royals continued their momentum swinging in Game 3 by taking the air out of AT&T Park and thus taking a 2-1 series lead. But on Saturday by way of an 11-run outburst, the Giants picked themselves up off the canvas and laid a haymaker to even the series at two games apiece.

That means instead of facing elimination and a potential Kansas City celebration following Game 5, San Francisco can gaze toward the promise of taking a 3-2 lead back to Kansas City with two chances to wrap it up there.

Without further ado, let's dive in and break down Game 5.

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Series
Sunday, Oct. 26	Kansas City Royals at San Francisco Giants	8:07 p.m.	Fox	Tied 2-2

Game 5 Pitching Preview

Team	Pitcher	Postseason Stats
Royals	James Shields	1-1, 4 GS, 19 IP, 28 H
Giants	Madison Bumgarner	3-1, 5 GS, 38.2 IP, 22 H

With the two teams tied 2-2 and both clubs turning back to their aces Sunday, it certainly feels like both the Giants and the Royals are starting from scratch in Game 5.

MLB reported the Sunday starters following Game 4:

"

Game 5 brings us back to where we began. James Shields and Madison Bumgarner square off Sunday at 8pm ET on @MLBONFOX. #WorldSeries

— MLB (@MLB) October 26, 2014"

The Giants will turn to starting dynamo Madison Bumgarner, who has been nothing short of on fire during the postseason. In five starts, he has gone over 38 innings while conceding only 22 hits. He went at least seven innings in each start.

After shutting down the Royals in Game 1 en route to his third victory of these playoffs, Bumgarner is feeling confident but knows it will be easier said than done executing the second time around.

Jamie Squire/Associated Press

"You've got to realize it's the World Series and you're playing a really good team, both sides," Bumgarner told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. "You don't get here without being really good. So we've just got to go out there and you can't worry about the stuff you can't control. I know you hear it all the time, but that's the key to success in this game."

Bumgarner certainly followed his own advice throwing a pearl of a Game 1, but James Shields will want to rectify his performance in the opening game. He allowed five runs off seven hits in just three innings pitched.

Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan noted the contrast in the pitchers' playoff ERAs during Game 1:

"

A comparison of postseason ERAs in 2014: Madison Bumgarner: 1.23 James Shields: 7.11

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 22, 2014"

Shields was probably feeling confident watching the Giants' bats struggle in Games 2 and 3, but their revival in Game 4 might have him a bit uneasy. Plus, the Royals' bullpen that has been so dominant all postseason looked human in Game 4, giving up eight runs in four innings.

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

San Francisco's offense came through in Game 1 for Bumgarner and is feeling confident heading into Sunday, but Kansas City's pitching and offense both bounced back the last time it was in this position.

On Sunday, one of those will give way and one of these teams will move one win away from glory.

Prediction: Giants Win 4-2, Take 3-2 Series Lead

The last time San Francisco's offense exploded on the Royals for a bunch of late runs, it was followed up by two straight games of ineffective hitting. But it won't take 11 runs to win on Sunday.

The Royals have been a team of destiny, and there would be no better script than taking a 3-2 series lead over Bumgarner in San Francisco. But it's just too hard to bet against Bumgarner, who has a chance to enter the conversation of best World Series pitchers ever at the ripe age of 25, as Forbes' Vincent Frank notes:

"

Sandy Koufax (long considered best WS pitcher of the modern era) won his 4th WS game at 29. Bumgarner can accomplish that at 25. Craziness.

— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) October 26, 2014"

Kansas City's bullpen is sure to rebound, but Shields won't give them the lead they need to properly execute. Bumgarner will continue pitching World Series gems and send his team to Kansas City one win away from yet another title.