Edinson Volquez to start Game 1 of World Series for Royals, followed by Cueto, Ventura, Young

As the 111th World Series approaches, Mets manager Terry Collins announced his rotation on Saturday, laying out the four flamethrowers heading the Royals’ way this week. Royals manager Ned Yost opted for a different approach on Sunday evening during a workout at Kauffman Stadium.

Yost knows his team will face Matt Harvey in Game 1 on Tuesday. He also knew who will start for the Royals. But he wouldn’t reveal his rotation until Monday’s Media Day.

“I’m just being a little bit of a punk,” Yost cracked after repeated inquiries about his pitching schedule.

Even so, the setup of the rotation was not difficult to discern. The alignment, announced Monday, will begin with Edinson Volquez on Tuesday followed by Johnny Cueto in Game 2, Yordano Ventura in Game 3 and Chris Young in Game 4. Volquez would pitch Game 5, followed by Cueto in Game 6 and Ventura in Game 7.

Any other reasonable alignment would either force Ventura to pitch on short rest or expose Cueto to the hostility of pitching on the road. Kansas City would prefer to avoid both outcomes.

Cueto will face Jacob DeGrom in Game 2, with Noah Syndergaard pitching Game 3 for the Mets and lefty Steven Matz set for Game 4.

“You look at all four starters that they’re going to start – they’re all phenomenal starters, all of them,” Yost said. “Really, their top 3 guys could be No. 1’s on any organization. Matz, maybe he’s a no. 2, maybe he’s a no. 1, he’s tough, too. They’re a dynamic starting rotation.”

Ventura threw in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Friday. With Game 1 of the Fall Classic only three days later, the Royals would have to use Ventura without his usual rest. Although Ventura has already done that once this year, at this point in the postseason, Volquez appears to be the team’s most reliable pitcher.

Volquez owns a 4.32 ERA in three postseason starts, and three of his earned runs occurred after Kelvin Herrera allowed a bases-clearing double to Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in Game 5. In Game 6, Ventura limited the Blue Jays to one run in five inning, which slimmed his ERA to 5.09.

So if Kansas City decides a fully rested Volquez is a better choice than Ventura on three days of rest, how to stack the rest of the group? Cueto serves as the critical piece in the puzzle.

After his meltdown at Rogers Centre in Game 3, when Cueto gave up eight runs and could not complete the third inning, the Royals lack interest in starting him again on the road. And that’s even in the spacious confines of Citi Field, playing National League rules without a designated hitter.

Cueto offered his finest performance as a Royal in the clincher of the American League Division Series against Houston. He limited the Astros to two runs in eight innings and behaved as if electrified by the Kauffman Stadium crowd. The Royals will likely search for a repeat performance from Cueto in Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 6.

This story was originally published October 25, 2015 at 9:02 PM with the headline "Edinson Volquez to start Game 1 of World Series for Royals, followed by Cueto, Ventura, Young."