Volquez to start World Series opener for Royals

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez delivers to the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in Game 5 of baseball’s American League Championship Series in Toronto, Wednesday, October 21, 2015. M…

That makes this year’s return to the Fall Classic so much sweeter. “To experience it past year was unbelievable”.

“We came in with one goal”, Cain said with a smile, “and that was to get back”.

Several members of the Royals were guests of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, watching their cross-the-parking lot neighbors beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to snap a five-game skid.

Ben Zobrist and Mike Moustakas homered, and Alex Rios also drove in a run for Kansas City, while shortstop Alcides Escobar was voted MVP after going 11 for 23 in the series.

The reality is the Royals are back largely because of all their new faces.

After Royals’ starter Yordano Ventura faltered Friday, reliever Kelvin Herrera cleaned up the sixth inning, striking out Chris Colabello with a 100 m.p.h. The New York Mets are waiting for the victor of the ALCS and whether they are flying west or north. There have been only 15 walk-off home runs in World Series history.

“Volquez lined up perfectly for the first spot for us”, Royals manager Ned Yost said. It is not just their pitching and hitting though, the Royals defense has been their biggest weapon so far. They still win by making fewer mistakes than the opponent. In the playoffs, he went 12 for 41 (.293) with four homers, 11 RBIs and eight walks.

First order of business is the future of Anthopoulos, whose contract is expiring. “He put up tremendous numbers, power numbers, RBI numbers, he’s been great from both sides of the plate”. If it wasn’t already the case, Price is developing a reputation as a hurler who seems to lose his touch with the pressure of the playoffs.

Deeds speakJose Bautista finished his season with two homers that accounted for all three of Toronto’s runs in Game 6. Wade Davis threw, lightly, just to stay loose, and Drew Butera caught. The utility men have been Paulo Orlando and Christian Colon, rather than Josh Willingham and Jayson Nix. Royals fans sat on the edge of their seats during a rain delay late in Game 6 when the teams were tied at 3 each.

Volquez was the Royals’ big offseason signing after Shields left in free agency. The home run stood and Kansas City had a 2-0 lead. “The team lose, I lose”, he said. I believe I can contribute, help your team, and I’ll do whatever you need me to do.

“I don’t have to do anything different than what I’ve been doing”, he said.

Ventura will start Game 3, in part, because he wouldn’t have been ready to pitch the series opener after starting Game 6 of the championship series. Brandon Finnegan has been traded, Jason Frasor released. Game one of the World Series will take place on Tuesday at 8:07. New York scored in the first inning of all four wins over Chicago.

“We feel really confident”, Zobrist said. “We just keep coming, one after the other”. He’s a guy that it doesn’t matter – there is nothing that’s going to distract him.