Kansas City Royals Ready To Unload Bullpen To Win 2014 World Series

By Doug LaCerte @DLaC on October 27, 2014

How does it feel to be a fan of a team that suddenly finds itself down 3-2 in the 2014 World Series? It feels amazing – it’s the World Series. There are other reasons, but seriously, I just love typing the words “World Series.” It’s still easy to be a happy Kansas City Royals fan, and it’s still easy to find hope left for KC in this Fall Classic.

Some reasons to believe are obvious, like the fact that KC already beat the next two slated San Francisco Giants starters in this series. A return to the K also helps a club thatis now just one loss away from its remarkable season coming to an end.

Kansas City lost the last two games of this series in painful fashion, thanks in no small part to their usually staunch bullpen giving up runs late in the game, thereby greatly limiting the team’s chance for a comeback. It wasn’t the three-headed monster, but the rest of KC’s bullpen that allowed the damage. Now that a maximum of two games remain in the MLB season, Royals skipper Ned Yost has every tool at his disposal.

Yordano Ventura stepped up during his last outing, allowing only two Giants runs in 5.1 innings. Fans can expect him to do well again in Game 6 after seeing him succeed in such a huge moment, but this is clearly the biggest start of his young career. If either Ventura or hopeful Game 7 starter Jeremy Guthrie falters in any major way, Yost shouldn’t be afraid to use any arm on the roster.

Kelvin Herrera allowed two runs in an inning pitched during Game 5, but hasn’t otherwise allowed a run in the postseason since that crazy Wild Card game. Yost won’t (or at least shouldn’t) hesitate to use him as much as he needs to, but other relievers could come into play if he needs to yank a starter early in either game. Jason Frasor only allowed a single run in his 4.1 postseason innings so far, and Yost has consistently trusted rookie lefty Brandon Finnegan to handle left-handed batters in huge moments.

Danny Duffy is another intriguing option for middle-inning relief in this season’s final games. Tim Collins gave up at least two hits in both of his World Series outings, but Duffy also hasn’t fared well in this series. Both lefties allowed two runs in two relief appearances against San Fran, so Yost will have another tough decision to make if he needs a lefty not named Finnegan to put out a fire in Game 6 or 7.

Doug LaCerte is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DLaC67, “like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google.