After pounding the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the ALCS, the Kansas City Royals are one win away from returning to the World Series.
K.C. can close the series as soon as Wednesday, when Game 5 takes place at the Rogers Centre at 4:07 p.m. EST. Edinson Volquez and Marco Estrada will face off once again in a Game 1 rematch, which saw the latter shut down the vaunted Toronto lineup.
Before first pitch, let's dive into some keys that could potentially decide this crucial game.
Can Toronto Keep Kansas City's Table-Setters Off Base?
So far in the ALCS, Toronto has had no answer for Alcides Escobar and Ben Zobrist.
Escobar is a whopping 9-for-15 with six runs scored in four games, while Zobrist is 7-for-18 with seven runs scored. Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Kendrys Morales have been the beneficiaries of those multiple run-scoring opportunities, driving in 14 runs between them.
Escobar and Zobrist have driven in their share of runs, too. The Royals shortstop has three extra-base hits and five RBI, while Zobrist has chipped in with four extra-base hits of his own.
Whether it's starting rallies or finishing them, Kansas City's table-setters have been difference-makers throughout the series.
“They’ve been table setters. They’ve been run producers. It’s been fun to watch them go to work every day,” Royals manager Ned Yost told Blair Kerkhoff of the Kansas City Star.
For the Blue Jays to be successful in Game 5, Estrada has to limit production from Escobar and Zobrist.
Will Volquez Continue to Own the Middle of the Toronto Lineup?
Toronto's biggest weapon is its powerful middle of the lineup. Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Troy Tulowitzki accounted for 125 homers and over 300 RBI this season.
Each slugger has had their moment in the 2015 playoffs, but none will be happy to see Volquez return to the mound in Game 5. Take a look at how the heart of the Blue Jays lineup has fared against the right-hander:
In Game 1, Volquez proved that those numbers are no fluke. He allowed just two hits in six shutout innings to put the Royals up 1-0 right out of the gates. Donaldson, Bautista, Encarnacion and Tulowitzki combined to go 1-for-11.
Volquez's standout season often gets lost in the shuffle, but the Royals would be sunk without him. The 32-year-old was extremely steady, posting a 3.55 ERA and logging 200 innings for K.C.
If he continues his good work over Toronto's big bats, he'll be a key reason why the club returns to the World Series.
Can the Blue Jays Stay Out of the Kansas City Bullpen?
It's always important to score first, but it's even more imperative for the Blue Jays to get on the board early in this series.
The secret is out regarding Kansas City's dominant bullpen. The Royals came within one run of a World Series title last season, largely because there was no chance that they would surrender runs in the later innings.
Kansas City's bullpen was electric again in 2015, ranking second in ERA. Ryan Madson and Luke Hochevar joined the outstanding trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera to give the Royals a deep mix of hard-throwing out machines.
That depth has been vital for the Royals in the postseason. Even with Holland undergoing Tommy John right before the start of the playoffs, Madson and Hochevar have managed to succeed in taking on bigger roles, while Davis and Herrera have proven to be virtually unhittable.
Toronto has only taken advantage of Kansas City's weak starting pitching one time this series. If the Blue Jays fail again in Game 5, the Royals bullpen will slam the door shut on their season.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Oct. 21.
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