Sports Today 10/29/2014

Today kicks off the MLS playoffs with the first knockout round game. There is also a rather huge game in baseball; Game 7 of the World Series.

MLS Playoffs
The Western Conference knockout round game is tonight with Vancouver going to FC Dallas. Don't look for this game on television outside the Dallas and Canada, if you want to watch this game MLSLive is the only option. Vancouver got in the playoffs on the last day of the season. FC Dallas has been sitting in a playoff sport for most of the season. This year in three games each team won one game and drew the other. I expect a close game, but think FC Dallas as the home team will pull it out.

World Series Game 7

Here we are after 2461 major league baseball games played we come down to one game to decide it all. A game seven, winner take all game, in any sport where a serious is played is amazing, but I think baseball is the most intense. Here are some stats going in to this game. In the World Series Game 7's home teams are 18-18, however since 1979 home teams have won all 9 game 7's that there has been. The Giants are on a 7 game winning streak in playoff elimination games but the Royals are on an 8 game winning streak in playoff elimination games. The Giants are 0-4 all time in winner take all games. However all of these stats mean absoloutly nothing in the outcome of this game, what it does mean is that both teams can have hope that they will win tonight.

Pitching is going to decide the winning team tonight and here who has the advantages:

Starting Pitching - Slight edge Kansas City - In Game 3 Hudson went 5.2 innings giving up 3 runs on 4 hits with 1 walk and 1 strikeout, Guthrie went 5.0 innings giving up 2 runs on 4 hits with no walks or strikeouts.

Relief Pitchers - Advantage Royals - The Royals have Herrera, Davis and Holland, they are also well rested with only Frasor (16 pitches) and Collins (13 pitches) throwing in Game 6. The Giants had three pitchers throw last night and you would think that Machi who threw 51 pitches and Strickland who threw 25 pitches will not be able to pitch much tonight. The Royals also hit Petit for the first time in the postseason last night.

Bullpen Starting Pitchers - Advantage Giants - The only reason is Madison Bumgarner, he just knows how to pitch better than anyone else in the World Series. He may be the only starter for the Giants that may be able to go with Peavy throwing 42 pitches and Vogelsong throwing 15 pitches. The Royals will have Vargas and Shields if they are needed.

I will be amazed if any pitcher faces the same batter more than two times tonight.

I think there will be a race to try and get the lead in the game based on the pitching staff that both teams have. I also feel the Giants need to score early to try and take what will be a crazy crowd out of the game a little bit. The Royals need to keep the game close or have a lead to keep the crowd in the game. Everyone in the stadium and in all of Kansas City will be on the edge of their seats. I expect the managers to keep this game close and will pull any pitcher quickly if they get in trouble. This is going to be a late night in Kansas City, but I fully expect that the night will end with a huge party in Kansas City and a celebration parade on Friday!