Game 4 starter Michael Wacha understands mission as Royals face elimination [Video]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Only one Kansas City Royals hurler on the American League Division Series roster has ever pitched in the World Series.

And he’ll get the ball to start Game 4 on Thursday as the Royals, who trail 2-1 in the best-of-five ALDS against the New York Yankees, aim to stave off elimination and force a winner-take-all battle Saturday in the Bronx.

“All hands will be on deck,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “You have to put everything out there to try to stave off elimination. But we have (Michael) Wacha going. We have a ton of confidence in him, so we’re going to approach it like a regular game — but understand what the gravity of the situation is.”

Wacha was a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2013 when he started two World Series games against the Boston Red Sox, picking up the win in …