World Series 2014: Giants vs. Royals Game 6 Pitching Preview, Predictions

Only one thing stands in the way of a World Series title for the San Francisco Giants—a rookie pitcher.

The Kansas City Royals will turn to Yordano Ventura and his 98 mph fastball in Game 6 in front of what should be a raucous home crowd. The Giants will counter with veteran Jake Peavy in a rematch of the starting pitching matchup fans saw in Game 2.

The Royals won that one 7-2.

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

During the regular season, Ventura finished with a 14-10 record, 3.20 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .240 batting average against and 159 strikeouts. In the small sample size of the playoffs, those numbers have gone up to a 4.42 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and a .282 batting average against.

That hasn’t shaken the Royals’ confidence in the hard-throwing youngster, as first baseman Eric Hosmer said, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com:

"

We have a lot of confidence in Ventura. We have confidence that we will win every time he takes the mound. We know we can do it. We're a confident group. But we can't do anything without winning Game 6. We're excited to get back home, where we feed off the fans and that energy.

"

Ventura pitched 5.1 innings in Game 2 and allowed two runs and eight hits. He did not get the decision, but the bullpen combination of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland took care of business and only gave up a single hit the rest of the game.

Peavy got the loss in that game and allowed four runs and six hits in five innings-plus.

During the regular season, Peavy finished with a 7-13 record, 3.73 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .258 batting average against and 158 strikeouts. In the playoffs, he sports a 1-1 record, 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .226 batting average against and six strikeouts.

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

Those appear to be fairly similar numbers, and the Giants would likely prefer to get five or six solid innings from Peavy that keep the team in the game. After that, San Francisco can turn to the bullpen with a chance to win the World Series. 

SportsCenter noted that things may not go according to plan, though, if Peavy continues to struggle to go that deep in the game:

A couple of other factors to watch during Tuesday’s contest outside of the pitching are the home crowd and the overall pressure.

For one, the atmosphere should be electric for the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City is only two home victories away from its first World Series title since 1985, and it really would not be a surprise if the crowd willed an extra mile-per-hour or two from Ventura’s fastball. It may even get to Peavy early if he finds himself in some trouble.

As for the pressure, the Royals are in a win-or-go-home situation.

The Giants clearly want the win as well, but they have Madison Bumgarner in their back pocket if Kansas City wins on Tuesday. Bumgarner won’t start a hypothetical Game 7, but his 1.13 postseason ERA will likely be available from the bullpen if needed.

That at least takes some of the pressure off San Francisco in Game 6.

The question is whether the Royals and their home crowd can thrive under that type of pressure.

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Considering the fact that this team has delivered time and again down the stretch of the regular season, in the Wild Card Round and in the rest of the playoffs, it shouldn’t be an issue. The Royals will stick to the same formula that they did in Game 2 with the season on the line.

Ventura’s fastball and the energy from the home crowd will get the ball to Herrera, Davis and Holland with a chance to win and force a decisive Game 7.

Baseball fans across the country couldn’t ask for more. 

Prediction: Royals 5, Giants 3

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek