Ned Yost is not going to try to keep Game 7 starter Jeremy Guthrie in just to get credit for a World Series win. He made that much clear at his press conference, where he detailed his plans for his pitching staff in what will be the final game of 2014 regardless of outcome.
Ned Yost shares the Royals Game 7 bullpen plans
We know what the Giants are up to with Madison Bumgarner, and now Ned Yost has tipped the Royals’ hand as well.
Yost stated that if Guthrie gets the Royals through four innings, "we're in great shape." That would leave five innings for his bullpen to take care of, but just between Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, and Greg Holland, that's a reasonable expectation. Those three might be the only ones the Royals end up utilizing, too, unless Guthrie can't get through four: Yost also stated the trio is all ready to go multiple innings to make sure the Royals end this thing with a win.
"Hooks will be quick," per Yost, so even if the goal is four innings of Guthrie, if he's struggling before then, he'll likely get yanked. The Royals also have Danny Duffy, Brandon Finnegan, and James Shields on short rest if they want to go that route in a pinch, so it's not as if the Herrera, Davis, and Holland are all that's available.
Speaking of starters-turned-relievers, Yost had this to say about Giants' ace Madison Bumgarner:
Yost: "Bumgarner is a great starting pitcher. We'll see what kind of reliever he is."
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 29, 2014 We’ll look it up for you, Ned. It’s only 6-2/3 innings over four career relief appearances, but Bumgarner has struck out seven batters without allowing a run in that time. Things might be different on short rest, but our advice to you would still be to score early and often, just in case.
See More:
