3 things you need to know for Game 4 of the World Series
The Kansas City Royals are two wins away from claiming their first World Series title in 29 years.
Following a pair of blowout wins by each team to begin the series, Kansas City clung onto a 3-2 win in typical Royals fashion in Game 3, giving them a 2-1 series lead over the San Francisco Giants heading into Game 4 on Saturday.
Here are three things you need to know for Game 4:
Giants' hitters can't solve the Royals bullpen
As has been the case for much of the 2014 season, the Royals bullpen has puzzled the opposition through three games of the World Series.
The combination of Brandon Finnegan, Wade Davis, Kelvin Herrera and Greg Holland has limited Giants' hitters to go 1-for-28 (.035) with 10 strikeouts.
Manager Ned Yost didn't hesitate to use Herrera an inning early in Game 3, as the right-hander came on in the sixth. Yost even allowed Herrera to hit in a one-run game so that he could use him for part of the seventh inning.
If there's one concern for Yost, it's whether the bullpen can handle all the work that's being sent their way. The four relievers have combined to toss 41 innings this postseason and the series is set for three games in three days as Game 5 takes place Sunday.
Michael Morse can't shake the injury bug
After missing the National League Division Series with an oblique injury, Michael Morse is now battling the flu. Giants manager Bruce Bochy opted to use Morse as the designated hitter for Game's 1 and 2, but moved him back to the bench to pinch-hit once the series switched back to using NL rules.
Morse, who hit a pinch-hit double in the sixth inning of Game 3, was hooked up to an IV on Thursday and was running a high fever. Bochy added that he's unlikely to start the slugger on Saturday, as he likes having his bat off the bench.
Vogelsong vs. Vargas
Trying to avoid a 3-1 series deficit, Bochy avoided the temptation of using Madison Bumgarner on short rest - the only pitcher to beat the Royals this postseason - opting to go with the original starter for Game 4 in Ryan Vogelsong.
Vogelsong, who last recorded a win on Aug. 29, was roughed up in his last outing, allowing four runs off seven hits and a pair of walks in three innings during the NLCS. Bochy will hope the veteran right-hander's previous World Series experience shines through in Game 4, as Vogelsong tossed 5 2/3 shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the 2012 World Series.
The Royals counter with Jason Vargas. The left-hander has been excellent in each of his postseason starts in 2014, allowing three runs off five hits, while striking out eight in 11 1/3 innings. A fly-ball pitcher, Vargas should enjoy pitcher-friendly AT&T Park.