On Tuesday, Oct. 21, the Kansas City Royals will host the San Francisco Giants at the Kauffman Stadium for Game 1 of the best-of-seven World Series - 2014 MLB Season.

The Royals have remained unbeaten in the playoffs on the way to the Fall Classic, while the Giants lost only one game in each series. Albeit the two teams combined to go 8-1 in the series, none of them had found winning the pennant easy.

Even as Kansas City brushed off the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship Series, each game had a nail-biting finish. In fact, the wild-card team need 10 innings to win Game 1, and did not secure a win in Game 2 until the ninth inning. On that note, the Royals ended the series 2-1.

While San Francisco blocked the St. Louis Cardinals in the opening game of the National League Championship Series, three of the final four games concluded in a walk-off manner. For most part of the clincher, the Giants actually trailed, but succeeded in tying the game in the end of the eighth inning, and clinched the game with a home run by Travis Ishikawa in the ninth inning.

As the Royals made their first playoff appearance in almost three decades, they don't have the experience of the Giants, who are looking forward to their third crown in five seasons. While most players of the Kansas City team are new in the post-season, they have been quite impressive since the end of the regular season. In fact, this Bovada says that this has made them somewhat favorites to win the World Series.

Apart from their 89-73 record, by and large the Royals have been an average team throughout their 162 games. With a run differential of only +27, they ranked 14th in runs scored and 12th in the earned-run average. In fact, Kansas City has played like a team in their last eight games, which makes some feel as though they are destined to win it all.

Almost 50 percent the playoff wins of the Royals came in extra innings. Only their ALDS clincher was not decided by a solitary run or in the ninth innings. Kansas City's lineup that has produced when it mattered most over the last eight games is perhaps the most impressive thing about the team.

On the other hand, the Royals ranked last in the previous season with just 95 homes runs. However, the playoffs were an entirely different story, as Kansas City averaged a long ball for each game. In addition, they have also had an enhanced their slugging percentage (.390) - thanks to Eric Hosmer and his 22 total bases.

The offense of the team during the regular season was somewhat better, but the Giant's lineup has struggled in the playoffs. Every other game, San Francisco is hitting a home run and racking up a .240 batting average. Their most steady hitter was Pablo Sandoval, while Buster Posey is still hunting for his first extra-base hit.

If San Francisco wins the World Series, it will probably be owing to their strong starting staff. Unlike Kansas City's Game 1 starter James Shields, left hander Madison Bumgarner may not have been dubbed "Big Game," but he's separated himself from the remaining pitchers in the 2014 playoffs. In fact, he might prove to be the biggest weapon either team has, taking into account the fact that he has pitched no less than seven innings in all post-season start, posting a 1.42 earned-run average.

Interestingly, neither SF Giants nor KC Royals was among the World Series favorites in the beginning of the season. In February, the Giants were tied with the eighth-best betting odds to win the title and only 10 other teams were given worse odds compared to the Royals.

Here's the full World Series schedule:

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