Kansas City Royals vs. San Francisco Giants
Sunday 10/26, 8:00 PM ET at AT&T Park
James Shields (0-1, 15.00) vs. Madison Bumgarner (1-0, 1.29)
This is the 44th time that the World Series has been tied 2-2. Of the previous 43, the winner of Game 5 has gone on to win the Series 28 times (65.1 percent), but interestingly, just four times in the last 11 occasions.
Shields’ postseason struggles continued in Game 1, as he gave up five runs on seven hits in three-plus innings. He has a 7.11 ERA in the playoffs, having allowed at least four runs while not making it through six in three of his four starts.
Bumgarner continued his World Series dominance and cemented his status as the ace of the postseason in Game 1, firing seven three-hit innings in the Giants’ 7-1 win. He struck out five and walked one, allowing one run on a Salvador Perez homer.
What’s important in Game 5 — for both clubs — is that these rotation horses live up to their billing. Because the bullpens have been counted upon quite a bit so far in this Series.
Hunter Pence has reached base safely in 17 consecutive postseason games, dating back to Game 2 of the 2012 World Series. He’s hitting .328 (21-for-64), with six doubles, a homer, seven walks and nine RBIs in that span.
