KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Yordano Ventura, who starts Sunday for the Kansas City Royals in the series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays, can be exasperating -- excellent one start, mediocre the next.Examine Venturas home record. He won his first four decisions this season at Kauffman Stadium, posting a 3.75 ERA. However, hes lost his past three home starts, allowing 13 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings for a 6.75 ERA.Ventura is 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA in his past seven starts. He has not picked up a victory since June 17, when he defeated the Detroit Tigers 10-3. The Royals are averaging 2.7 runs per game in his starts since the W.The numbers do not equate to a right-arm that can throw a 100 mile per hour fastball and average 96 mph.There can be some comparisons between Ventura and Royals left-hander Danny Duffy, who started the season in the bullpen and has developed into clubs best starter. Duffy won his seventh straight decision in beating the Blue Jays 4-2 on Saturday night.Theres no frustration there because you know hes grown into it, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Its the same way with Ventura. You cant get frustrated. Theyre growing. Theyre getting better. Theyre learning what it takes to be successful. The light bulb is just starting to go on. You can see him getting a little better, a little better and understanding a little more and understanding a little more.Ventura had some unkind twitter words for Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista after a dugout clearing shouting match last August at the Rogers Centre. Ventura tweeted out to Bautista: Well meet again later, and called him a nobody who steals signs. The remarks were later removed and Ventura apologized.Ventura made two no-decisions starts against the Blue Jays in the postseason last October, allowing four runs in 10 2/3 innings on 12 hits, while striking out 11, walking four and hitting four.The Blue Jays counter with Marcus Stroman, who is 2-1 with a 3.72 ERA in his past seven starts. Stroman struck out 13 Houston Astros in a Monday start.With closer Roberto Osuna unavailable Friday after pitching in three of the four previous games, manager John Gibbons used Joaquin Benoit, who was acquired in a late July trade with Seattle, in the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead.Benoit has allowed two hits and no runs over six innings since joining the Blue Jays.I like everything Ive seen, Gibbons said of Benoit. I dont know how they let him go. We really didnt know what to expect. Hes been around a while. He came in against us when he was with Seattle and his arm was still there; you could tell that. And hes been perfect since hes been here. It seems like he enjoys it. I think hes happy to come over here.With the additions of Benoit and Jason Grilli, who was acquired May 31 from Atlanta, plus Osuna, Gibbons has at his disposal three veteran right-handers who have closed games.Everybody knows Osunas the guy, Gibbons said. Now the key is weve got to be able to use them all because were one less guy than we usually carry (in the bullpen) and youve got to watch those guys and get some innings out of the starters or it could blow up on us, like some of those extra-inning games. Lebron 14 Shoes Outlet . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Cheap Nike Lebron 15 Wholesale . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. http://www.lebronjamessneakerswholesale.com/lebron-james-on-sale/lebron-16-wholesale.html . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Cheap Lebron 14 . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Lebron 15 Shoes Outlet . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. A look at whats happening all around the majors Tuesday:---STAGE SETNext year? It can wait. The Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians play Game 1 of the World Series, each with hopes of ending a long championship drought. Chicago hasnt been to the Series since 1945 and hasnt won since 1908, and Cleveland earned its most recent title in 1948.How long has it been for Chicago? Dexter Fowler will become the first black player to suit up for the Cubs in a World Series when he likely bats leadoff at Progressive Field.Jon Lester gets the ball for Chicago, and at 32 years old, hes already one of the best World Series pitchers ever. Hes won all three of his starts and has a 0.43 ERA, third-best among pitchers with at least 20 World Series innings, behind Madison Bumgarner and Jack Billingham. Lester is matched up against 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber, a contender for the prize again this season.The Indians hope to have Jason Kipnis in the lineup after the second baseman sprained his left ankle celebrating the final out of the ALCS.HELP ON THE WAY?The Cubs might get back young slugger Kyle Schwarber, out since tearing knee ligaments on April 8. A person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday that Schwarber was traveling to Cleveland, but the person did not know yet if the slugger would be on the roster. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the roster wont be announced until Tuesday. Schwarber has played two games in the Arizona Fall League, going 1 for 6 with a double and two wwalks.dddddddddddd He hit five homers in nine postseason games as a rookie last year.THOUSANDS FOR TICKETSWant to get into Wrigley Field for Game 3? It will cost you a couple thousand dollars at least, and at that price point, dont expect a seat. Standing room tickets are going for more than $2,200, and fans have called ticket brokers willing to pay as much as $12,000 for a seat. Meanwhile, Cleveland figures to have some Wrigleyville vibes for Games 1 and 2 -- ticket-selling site StubHub reported a quarter of all tickets purchased for Game 1 are being paid for with credit cards associated with Illinois ZIP codes.SERIES UMPSUmpire Larry Vanover will work his first World Series game and do it from behind home plate. John Hirshbeck will be the crew chief, joined by Series veterans Joe West and Sam Holbrook and first-timers Vanover, Chris Guccione, Marvin Hudson and Tony Randazzo. Holbrook, working his second Series, will be the replay official for the first two games, then will switch places with Vanover. This will be the sixth World Series for West and fifth for Hirschbeck.STADIUM TWEAKSLess than a decade after its opening, Yankee Stadium is being renovated. New York is adding seven new social gathering spaces, a move that will cut capacity by about 2,100 seats. The Yankees are adding a childrens zone in the right-field upper deck and replacing obstructed view bleacher seats with outdoor party decks. ' ' '
