SAN FRANCISCO — The reliable southpaw is getting the ball for another important Game 1.
Left-hander Madison Bumgarner will pitch the World Series opener for the San Francisco Giants at Kansas City on Tuesday.
Manager Bruce Bochy made the expected announcement Saturday as his team worked out under sunny skies, one day before traveling. Bumgarner, an 18-game winner, was voted NL Championship Series MVP as the Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.
Despite MadBum’s high innings, Bochy wasn’t worried about the 18-game winner. Bumgarner didn’t get a decision in the pennant clincher against the Cardinals on Thursday.
“I think I would’ve insulted him if I checked with him,” Bochy said. “He’s a big, strong guy. His last game I thought he had great stuff. It’s not like he’s thrown 120-130 pitches. His workload has been under control.”
Bochy is keeping his rotation the same as the first two rounds of the postseason. Right-hander Jake Peavy will pitch Game 2 on Wednesday, followed by 39-year-old right-hander Tim Hudson in his World Series debut Thursday at AT&T Park and then righty Ryan Vogelsong.
Yusmeiro Petit, who has twice provided a huge lift as a long man, will stay in his role as Bochy stuck with Vogelsong in the rotation.
“Petit in the job he’s done in that role that we’ve had him in, you go back to Washington and without Petit it’s hard to say what would have happened,” Bochy said. “In St. Louis he went out there and gave us three big innings. He’s a great swingman. Vogey, he threw a great game against Washington. He had a little bit of a hiccup but no, I didn’t think about changing.”
Unused two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum will make the roster. Bochy didn’t expect to make any changes from the 25 players used in the NLCS.
Lincecum pitched the Game 5 World Series clincher at Texas in 2010, then held a key role as a reliever in the 2012 championship run. Lincecum pitched his second no-hitter June 25 against San Diego but hasn’t pitched since Sept. 28.
“I’ve been thinking about Timmy, trust me,” Bochy said. “Timmy’s done a lot for us, and we know that.”
