USA Today Sports, Getty ImagesMadison Bumgarner faces James Shields in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night.Importance of Game 1
In the previous 108 World Series, 63 percent of Game 1 winners went on to win the title. But in the past 17 World Series, 15 Game 1 winners won the series; the exceptions are the 2002 Giants and 2009 Phillies. The overall percentage is similar for home teams that win Game 1, as 43-of-63 (68 percent) proceeded to lift the trophy. However, 13 straight home teams to win Game 1 have won the World Series; the 1992 Braves are the last home Game 1 winner to lose the series.
If the Giants win, they'll look to join the 56 percent of road teams to win Game 1 and also win the series (25-of-45). But since 1982, only 5 of 12 road teams to win Game 1 also won the series.
Best or worst World Series ever?
On one hand, this World Series matches two of the worst regular-season teams to reach the Fall Classic. The Royals (89 wins) and Giants (88) combined for 177 regular-season victories, the second-fewest ever by two World Series teams in a non-strike season, behind the 176 wins in the 1973 Series between the Athletics (94 wins) and Mets (82).
On the other hand, the Royals (8-0) and Giants (8-2) are a combined 16-2 this postseason. The Elias Sports Bureau tells us that's the best combined playoff record in the wild-card era entering the World Series.
The Royals are the first team to win their first eight games in a single postseason, and their 11 straight playoff wins since 1985 comprise the third-longest streak in MLB history, behind two 12-game runs by the Yankees, from 1998 to 1999 and 1927 to 1932.
Streaking managers
In his first postseason, Kansas City's Ned Yost is the first manager to win his first eight playoff games. He broke the record of Colorado's Clint Hurdle, who won his first seven games in 2007 before getting swept by the Red Sox in the World Series.
Yost's counterpart, Bruce Bochy, has won nine straight postseason rounds since 2010, the second-longest streak ever by a manager, trailing only Joe Torre's 11 straight with the Yankees from 1998 to 2001.
Aces up in Game 1
Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco's Game 1 starter, hasn't allowed a run in 15 innings over his first two career World Series starts. Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson is the only pitcher in MLB history to not allow a run in his first three World Series starts.
Kansas City beat Madison Bumgarner 4-2 at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 8, though Bumgarner did throw an eight-inning complete game, allowing seven hits and three earned runs. Kansas City scored twice on Billy Butler's home run and twice after an error in the sixth inning.
Royals Game 1 starter James Shields threw one complete game and one shutout this season: against the Giants on Aug. 9.
But Shields has struggled this postseason, with a 5.63 ERA in his three starts. Perhaps his problem was the kidney stone he passed last week during the ALCS. Despite his difficulties, the Royals have won all three of his postseason starts, though two of them went to extra innings.
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