Before we get into the pitching matchups, let's get a few obvious reasons why the under is a strong play in this Game 3 World Series game.

The scene now shifts to San Francisco. That means no DH and no Billy Butler and Michael Morse in the starting lineups. AT&T Park is a spacious pitcher's park. The weather gets very funky in San Francisco. The weather forecast is calling for a slight cross-wind. It's going to be quite a cultural shock for the Royals and their hitters.

Jim Reynolds is slated to be the home plate umpire. He's been a huge under machine for slightly more than a year now. The under has cashed 78 percent of the time during his last 23 games behind the plate. 78 percent!

The starters are veterans Jeremy Guthrie against Tim Hudson. These guys aren't fancy or dominant. But they are true pros who I see getting the job done.

Guthrie is in a great form. He's allowed only two earned runs in his last four starts spanning 25 1/3 innings. The under is 16-5-1 in his last 22 starts. He will be well rested having last pitched against the Orioles in the ALCS where he gave up one run and three hits in five innings. The Royals have the deepest and best backend bullpen in baseball. So Guthrie will be able to go all out for five or six innings.

Hudson leads all active major-league pitchers in victories with 214. He's been waiting his entire 16-year career to pitch in a World Series game and now he has his chance.

Hudson is past his prime. The 39-year-old was bothered by assorted injuries, including a sore hip last month. But he's a savvy veteran who knows how to pitch. He'll be ready here. Hudson had a 13-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his two playoff starts this season against the Nationals and Cardinals.