Expect Kelvin Herrera to bring the heat in Game 7. Getty Images
There was little drama and a lot of scoring in Game 6 of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night as the Royals demolished the Giants with a blowout 10 0 win.
Yet those hoping that Game 7 will bounce back with a close tight game should take heart Game 6 was simply following the well worn script. And if Game 7 does the same fans will be treated to a low scoring game and a better chance for good theater.
From the 15 2 Arizona Diamondbacks rampage in Game 6 of the 2001 World Series to the 13 1 Detroit Tigers victory in 1968 Game 6 s are often blowouts with high scoring affairs coming more often in Game 6 than any other. Including Tuesday night s game World Series teams have combined to average 8.52 in Game 6 s roughly a full run more than the average in other World Series games.
Whether it s due to mid rotation starters taking the mound tired out bullpens managers saving their best pitchers for Game 7 or other factors hitters have traditionally exploded in Game 6 sometimes leading to lopsided snoozers and sometimes to shootouts like the dramatic 10 9 St. Louis Cardinals win in the 2011 World Series.
But in Game 7 the pitchers take over. With no game tomorrow to worry about managers employ every weapon they have from bringing ace starters out in relief to asking closers for multiple innings. That has kept the scoring low teams have combined to score an average of 7.15 runs in Game 7 s lower than any other game. And low scoring games are close games.
Since 1903 the lowest scoring games have been the first two as managers bring out their top pitchers. Scoring picks up in the middle of the series as back end starters take the mound with games four and six averaging the highest scores before cratering in Game 7 when managers use every tool they have to keep runs off the board.
For this Game 7 Giants manager Bruce Bochy has stated that his all world lefty ace Madison Bumgarner is waiting to enter in relief perhaps for a long outing Bochy said.
I can t tell you exactly how far he could go or how many pitches he could go Bochy said adding soon after This is the last game of the year so it s easier to push a guy in the last game.
With the blowout in Game 6 the top relief arms in the Kansas City bullpen are also rested and ready allowing Kansas City manager Ned Yost to lean on his imposing trio of Kelvin Herrera Wade Davis and Greg Holland for heavy work.
Starters Tim Hudson and Jeremy Guthrie will be pulled at the first sign of trouble and all those factors have the players expecting a close game despite the fireworks of Game 6.
They ve got bullpen guys that are rested we ve got bullpen guys that are rested said Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt after Game 6. We ve got a good starter going tomorrow they ve got a good starter going tomorrow.
Hopefully it s a more competitive game and if it s not I m hoping we re the ones who are on the other side of the coin here Affeldt said.
Those rested pitching staffs and low scoring contests have usually meant close memorable games the 3 2 Diamondbacks walk off win in the 2001 series that followed that 15 2 Game 6 laugher for instance.
One of the few outliers however is fresh in the minds of Kansas City residents. In the Royals last World Series appearance in 1985 Games 6 and 7 switched roles with Game 6 the dramatic 2 1 nail biter and Game 7 an 11 0 Royals cakewalk.
Write to Daniel Barbarisi at Daniel.Barbarisi wsj.com
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