Jeremy Guthrie to start Game 3, Jason Vargas to start Game 4

The Royals have announced that Jeremy Guthrie will be their Game Three starter in Kansas City, with Jason Vargas most likely taking the hill in Game Four.

Guthrie was 13-11 with a 4.13 ERA and a 4.32 FIP for the Royals this season. He tied with James Shields for the most home runs yielded on the team with 23. Guthrie gave up six runs in 15 innings of work against the Orioles in two starts this year getting a no decision on April 26 and taking a loss on May 16. Guthrie pitched well down the stretch for the Royals with a 2.40 ERA in five starts in September including a gutsy performance in a 3-1 win over Chicago to clinch a post-season spot for the Royals. Guthrie is a former Oriole, spending five seasons in Baltimore.

Vargas was 11-10 with a 3.71 ERA and a 3.84 FIP for the Royals this season. He set a career-best for strikeout-to-walk ratio with 3.12. Vargas did not face the Orioles this season. Vargas struggled down the stretch with a 6.57 ERA in five starts in September, but pitched well in Game One of the ALDS against the Angels, giving up two runs in six innings.

So what about Danny Duffy? Why isn't the pitcher with the 2.53 ERA starting in this series?

Danny Duffy is healthy, all involved parties continue to maintain. The Royals remain wary after his mechanical breakdown in late Sept.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) October 11, 2014

Duffy has basically unable to throw strikes out of the windup during the last two starts. That's why the Royals are keeping him in relief.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) October 11, 2014

Aha.

The Orioles have yet to announce their starters, but it is expected to be some combination of Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez.