Royals finally announce World Series rotation, with no real surprises

Edinson Volquez will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Royals. (AP) KANSAS CITY — A day after withholding his World Series rotation because he was “being a little bit of a punk,” Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost announced which pitchers he’ll start against the New York Mets. And there were no surprises.

Edinson Volquez will start Game 1 for the Royals, followed by Johnny Cueto, Yordano Ventura and Chris Young. It’s the same rotation the Royals used in the American League championship series. The Mets had already announced their rotation, starting with Matt Harvey in Game 1, then Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz.

“Volquez lined up perfectly for the first spot for us,” Yost said. “If we brought Ventura back for Game 1 he would have been a day early. We didn’t want that. We wanted Johnny Cueto in Game 2, because Johnny really feeds off the home crowd. And we’re able to have Johnny in Game 2 and Game 6 here at home, where we think that that gives us a bit of advantage having Johnny pitching at home in front of our home crowd. They really, really give him a lot of energy. He’s pitched his best games here.

“And then Ventura in Game 3. We really like Chris Young in Game 4. He’s a guy that it doesn’t matter, there’s nothing that’s going to distract him. There’s nothing that’s going to slow him down. He’s had a great year for us, he’s been a great addition for us. We like the way it sets up with Volquez, Cueto, Ventura, and Chris Young.”

Getting the Game 1 nod signals another step in Volquez reviving his career. He had a 5.71 ERA in 2013, and was cast aside by the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was pretty good last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was a strong addition for the Royals this season, going 13-9 with a 3.55 ERA. The big moment won’t sway Volquez, at least that’s what he’s saying.

“It’s another game,” Volquez said. “I don’t have to do anything different than what I’ve been doing. I’ve got to stay focused in what you’re doing, especially this game, because this is a World Series game. You don’t have too many chances to make a lot of mistakes in those games. So I’ve got to stay under control and pitch [my] game.”

Yost, having fulfilled his World Series obligation to announce his rotation, walked out of his press conference Monday, saw a Royals beat writer to the right and said, “Hey, I announced the rotation.”

So, in other words, he was still being a little bit of a punk — playfully, of course.

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