Kansas City @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 24, 2014 ) Kansas City 3, San Francisco 2

Despite the fact they trail 2-1 in the World Series, the San Francisco Giants will bypass ace Madison Bumgarner and stick with scheduled starter Ryan Vogelsong for Saturday’s Game 4 against the Kansas City Royals. San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy considered switching starters before staying with Vogelsong. “He’s done a pretty good job for us, so he’s going to have his start (Saturday),” Bochy said in Friday’s postgame press conference. “Sure, we talked about other options, but there is a confidence we have in Vogey.”

Kansas City has won two straight games since losing the opener, and the relief trio of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland has combined to allow one hit in seven scoreless innings. A few standouts had their first hits of the World Series in Friday’s victory - Alex Gordon (11 at-bats) recorded an RBI double and Eric Hosmer (10 at-bats) delivered a run-scoring single. San Francisco's Pablo Sandoval was hitless in four at-bats to end his streak of reaching base in 25 straight postseason games, tied for third all-time with former Baltimore standout Boog Powell (1966-71).

TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Jason Vargas (1-0, 2.38 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (0-0, 5.19)

Vargas is pitching for the first time since Oct. 15 and only the third time this postseason. He endured a winless four-start stretch in September during which he gave up 18 runs in 18 innings but says he fixed a mechanical issue to get himself back on track. “Just some fine-tuning of not anything extraordinary,” Vargas said at his Friday press conference. “Just getting back on track and getting some opportunities to spend a couple more side sessions working on executing some things that we hadn’t.”

Vogelsong is making his second World Series start, having beaten Detroit in 2012 when he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings. He said he plans to lean on the experience to keep his focus in perspective when he steps on the mound against the Royals. “I think the biggest thing is just the experience of curbing the emotions,” Vogelsong said. “It’s definitely a situation where you have to be locked into the game and your thoughts need to be on the game, but you have to take a quick second to look around and take it all in.”

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals SS Alcides Escobar had two hits and scored twice Friday and is 5-for-12 in the series.

2. San Francisco C Buster Posey is 2-for-13 in the series and hasn’t homered in the postseason.

3. Holland has seven saves in this season’s playoffs, tied with five others for most in a single postseason.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Royals 3