Strasburg Pre-game

What do you do when you're trying to avert a six-game losing streak by beating the greatest pitching prospect in history?  Yes, it is a tough task the Royals have in front of them, so here are some things to get us thinking before first pitch:

Runs:  Will they get one or two?  They might scratch across a third due to that unwritten anti-Mark Prior pitch count clause he has to deal with, that is if the Royals can make him throw enough pitches to get him out by the 7th.  I'm going with one run; a single and double combo from Callaspo and Aviles will keep them from being shutout.

First Hit:  S Pods will surely squib one through the 6-5 hole and keep his hot streak going.

J Guillen:  Will he strike-out once, twice, thrice or get the golden sombrero?  I'm going with two, a jam-shot back to the pitcher and a late inning meaningless single with no one on.

J Kendall:  Does he have a prayer?  We know he has been horrible lately, but he is a veteran who takes pitches and can handle the bat.  However, my guess is he keeps up the sinking average and lowest-in-the-league SLG% battle by not getting a single ball out of the infield.  I wouldn't be surprised to see a drag bunt, obviously any other manager in baseball would bench Kendall but I'm betting he'll still get the start today despite every logical thread of evidence going against that decision.

Opposing Pitcher:  Hey Banny, you've been really bad lately so today you get to square off against the future best pitcher in baseball, have fun.  Poor Brian, our heart goes out to you buddy; best case scenario is you get a no decision, sometimes that's just how the cards fall.  You simply couldn't pair two more polar opposites on the mound.  

Opposite Day:  Having said all of that, this game also has the feeling where there is so much going against the Royals, that they will win and just make us shake our heads.  Yuni just might walk multiple times, Kendall goes yard, Butler triples, no one talks about DDJ being traded, Bannister Ks 10 and the Burg walks 5.  Basically the Royals have almost no chance of winning this game but, we've all seen those random things happen and given that the Royals attempt to defy logic in every single way it would be fitting if some how they pulled this one out.

Go Royals, sorry to say that the most exiting thing happening for you right now is that the schedule happens to fall such that we get see a particular starting pitcher who might be the greatest thing since...the last greatest starting pitching prospect ever.