Kansas City Royals Still in Drivers Seat of ALCS

Well, so much for the potential humor of the Kansas City Royals trying to get 35 drunk ballplayers through customs as they headed back from Canada. Now, if the Royals are to win the American League pennant for the second consecutive year, they will need to do so in the friendly confines of Kauffman Stadium.

Yet, all things considered, this foray to the frozen tundra filled with glaciers, hockey rinks and Tim Horton restaurants that one expects Canada to be was a success. The Royals only needed to capture one game from the Blue Jays, and they did exactly that in their 14-2 drubbing of Toronto in Game Four. While it would have been great to batter the Blue Jays again in Game Five, and either have some momentum or win the pennant outright, the sky is not falling.

Instead, the Royals will get a raucous crowd at Kauffman Stadium to back them up as they look to punch their ticket for a second consecutive World Series berth. Yordano Ventura, who has earned his postseason stripes, will be on the mound against David Price. While Ventura has proven that the glare of the postseason spotlight is not too much for him, the same cannot be said of the Blue Jays ace. In his 13 postseason appearances, Price is 2-7 with a 5.24 ERA, failing to win any of his seven starts.

Given Price’s postseason history, and what should be a raucous atmosphere at Kauffman Stadium, it may be fair to wonder if he will be able to withstand the pressure of carrying the Blue Jays season on his shoulders. he has yet to do so as a starter at any other point in time, and if the Royals bats can get going early, that doubt may creep in once more.