Giants vs. Royals: Viewing Info and Predictions for Game 6 of 2014 World Series

It's a shame this compelling World Series has to come to an end.

The Kansas City Royals and San Francisco Giants have provided even the most casual of baseball fans a fantastic closing series to the 2014 season. The season will close in Kauffman Stadium with two contests.

Then again, it might only be one.

Kansas City trails San Francisco 3-2, and it's now do-or-die time for the American League champs. Manager Ned Yost needs to rally his young team together, especially with young hurler Yordano Ventura on the bump.

The team has overcome adversity before. Game 6 will be decided by how resilient it can be against a veteran Giants team that knows how to win in October.

Don't miss a single pitch of Game 6. Below, you'll find important viewing info and a few predictions for the sixth installment of the 2014 Fall Classic.

Viewing Info

Date / Time (ET)	Home	Away	Score	TV
Oct. 21 / 8:07 p.m.	Royals	Giants	Giants, 7-1	Giants 1-0
Oct. 22 / 8:07 p.m.	Royals	Giants	Royals, 7-2	Series Tied
Oct. 24 / 8:07 p.m.	Giants	Royals	Royals, 3-2	Royals 2-1
Oct. 25 / 8:07 p.m.	Giants	Royals	Giants, 11-4	Series Tied
Oct. 26 / 8:07 p.m.	Giants	Royals	Giants, 2-0	Giants 3-2
Oct. 28 / 8:07 p.m.	Royals	Giants	TBD	Fox
Oct. 29 / 8:07 p.m.	Royals	Giants	TBD	Fox

Predictions

Yordano Ventura Will Get the Hook After Five Innings

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Ventura is on a short leash. Yost cannot afford to let his young pitcher get into trouble.

This prediction doesn't mean Ventura will be pulled after five iffy innings. Actually, this is quite the opposite. Ventura will go five frames, only scattering a few hits, before Yost goes to his strong bullpen.

Yost usually doesn't give his starters a long leash in the playoffs anyway. James Shields' performance in Game 5 was the first since the division series, noted SI MLB on Twitter:

In a do-or-die scenario, managers must use their best arms. Ventura is the future of the rotation, but Yost can't allow the youngster to blow the game after a strong start. Look for Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland to be used heavily.

Ventura will be the best supporting actor to the bullpen's starring role. With arms like that in late-inning relief, Yost would be foolish to put his season in anyone else's hands.

Giants Offense Will Go Quiet

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Ventura and the bullpen have to silence the Giants lineup in Game 6. They will.

The Royals have done a good job of limiting Travis Ishikawa, Buster Posey and (to some extent) Joe Panik. They have not, however, done a very good job of preventing Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval and others from doing damage with the stick.

ESPN's Adnan Virk pointed to Pence as the catalyst:

Team chemistry is big with the Giants. As one player does something productive, the next player comes up ready to continue the onslaught. Pence spoke about that chemistry, via MLB Network PR's Twitter account:

The key for Ventura will be getting each leadoff man out. When someone gets on to lead off an inning, the subsequent hitters salivate at the thought of being the guy to drive home a run.

By attacking hitters and getting ahead in counts, Ventura can use his devastating stuff to dominate the lineup. Getting him out of the game before the lineup gets a third look at him will be crucial, as the Giants are adept at making in-game adjustments.

Ventura has the stuff to dominate a lineup, even one as poised as San Francisco's. The Giants probably won't be shut out, but we won't see more than two runs cross the plate for the away team.

Royals Take Game 6

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

The last time Kansas City was down 3-2 in the World Series (1985), it headed back home to win the final two games. 

History doesn't always repeat itself, but there's still something magical about this team. Plus, there are a few inherent positives moving forward. For one, they're at home in front of their fans. That's huge.

Secondly, they won't have to face Madison Bumgarner in a starter's role. He could still pitch in relief, though, as Bruce Bochy told USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

"He would have two days off," Bochy said. "He's a strong kid. We wouldn't mind pushing him one time. He'll make himself available, I know." 

The Royals can regain some serious momentum if they take Game 6. Look for them to do so.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn