Kansas City at San Francisco

The San Francisco Giants have been living large mostly on the serves of Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner has started 5 of the 12 games played by the Giants in the postseason, logging a total of 38.2 innings. All other starters have logged a total of just 37 innings, and they have not been very effective as they combine for an ERA of 3.89. That is loose enough to allow the Kansas City bullpen to do its thing. The Royals' top five out of the pen are 5-0 so far int he postseason with six saves in six chances. They have allowed just 18 hits in 36 innings and have pitched to an ERA of 0.75. The KC pen has notched 41 strikeouts. Those are hard numbers to contend with, especially when you look at what the Giants have been left with after Bumgarner. It also helps to have speed, defense and great relief pitching if you want to contend on the road, and the Kansas City Royals are loaded with all three. The Royals are 24-9 in their last 33 road games vs. a team with a winning home record. Kansas City is also 9-1 as an underdog and has veteran Jeremy Guthrie, who has allowed 1 run in five innings of postseason work. This is not a great San Francisco offense at #18 in on-base percentage. The Royals are 30-14 when Guthrie faces a team with a winning record, plus the Royals are 18-6 against a right-handed starter. They face aging righty Tim Hudson, who has allowed more hits than innings pitched and had a dismal month of September (8.72 ERA). The Giants are 2-5 in Hudson's last seven starts, and are 0-4 in his last four interleague starts. The Royals are 6-1 in the last seven meetings, so grab the dog as the Royals claim the series lead with a game three win.