It worked before, so Royals might not change roster for ALCS against Orioles

It’s possible the Royals will go into the American League Championship Series against the Orioles with the same 25-man roster, including 11 pitchers, that they used to sweep the Angels in the division series.

And it appears likely that Yordano Ventura will be the game two starter on Saturday.

“We’re pretty set with Ventura in the second game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

A couple of factors weighed in Ventura’s favor over Jason Vargas, who opened the division series in Anaheim.

Ventura went 1-1 with a 1.26 ERA in 14 1/3 innings in two starts against the Orioles this season. Also, Ventura surrendered fewer home runs this season (14) than any of the Royals starters except Danny Duffy. And Duffy’s role for the ALCS — starter or long reliever — hasn’t been determined.

The Orioles led the majors in home runs and hit 107 of their 211 homers at cozy Camden Yards.

“That plays into it,” Yost said.

The Royals carried 11 pitchers on the roster for the Angels series. All but Jeremy Guthrie threw at least one inning, and Guthrie could have been used as a starter or entered a game as a long reliever. For the ALCS, the rotation beyond James Shields in Friday’s opener and Ventura on Saturday hasn’t been settled.

Whatever happens, it appears the Royals will have at their disposal the same group that pitched so effectively against the powerful Angels.

In three games, the Royals posted a 1.74 ERA. In 12 innings, the relief corps surrendered one run.

“We feel pretty comfortable with 11 pitchers right now,” Yost said. “We have time to analyze it and think about it, but as we sit here today that’s where we are right now.”

The same could be said for the position players and reserves. The Royals and Orioles have until Friday to set their rosters.

For the ALDS, the Royals had outfielders Jarrod Dyson, Josh Willingham and Terrance Gore, infielder Christian Colon and catcher Eric Kratz on the bench.

Colon backs up three infield positions, Dyson is integral for speed and defense, Willingham is a right-handed power hitter against an Orioles team with several left-handed relievers, Kratz is a must as a second catcher and Gore is a pinch-running weapon.

“We’re talking about different scenarios and looking at different things, but at the end of the day it very well might stay the way it was before,” Yost said.

This story was originally published October 7, 2014 at 3:05 PM with the headline "It worked before, so Royals might not change roster for ALCS against Orioles."