For the first time in the 2014 MLB Postseason, we have a close series on our hands. Sure, plenty of games in the Wild Card, Division Series, and LCS rounds were competitive, often decided by the fastest of the fast on the base paths and on the mound. But this year’s World Series marks the first time both teams have won at least two games, so it’s also the first (and last!) time for a series to return back to the city where it started for a Game 6.

Luckily, for the Kansas City Royals, that means they get a chance to leverage their home field advantage; unfortunately, that Cinderella story is approaching midnight, as the Royals are returning to Kauffman Stadium trailing the San Francisco Giants 3-2 in the Fall Classic. Giants ace Madison Bumgarner has done everything in his power to turn the feisty Royals back into pumpkins and secure San Francisco’s third title in five seasons.

Another game, another shutout; Madison Bumgarner has owned the postseason for the San Francisco Giants.

The Royals have to overcome the fact that their bullpen is no longer invincible, and their running game has been neutralized by San Francisco’s MVP-caliber catcher Buster Posey. The Giants offense has been paced by characters like Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence, as well as standout first baseman Brandon Belt. This Kansas City squad hasn’t backed down from any challenge during the playoffs, though, so expect their cast of speedsters, big bats and shutdown arms to be amped up by the home crowd and ready to open up the throttle to force a Game 7.

Jerrod Dyson wasn't at his best in game five, so he and his Royals teammates will need to rev it up in game six.

When the World Series initially began, tickets for a potential Game 6 averaged $966 on the secondary market. That average rose slightly to $977 over the first three games of the series. After the Royals dropped two consecutive games for the first time since mid-September, the overall average ticket price fell to about $927, making it 5% cheaper for fans to see their beloved Boys in Blue back in “The K” with a fighting chance for the title. Young fireballer Yordano Ventura will take the mound once again, and the Royals hope the returns of Nori Aoki and Billy Butler to their lineup in an American League stadium (hola, designated hitter!) helps to put a spark back in their recently-quiet offense.

Kansas City Royals Tickets & Game Dates

Ticket Demand for Kansas City World Series Game Six

The Royals are still going all out and still alive in the World Series, but a short streak of bad luck has them returning to Kansas City for a must-win Game 6 in the World Series.

After splitting the first two games in Kansas City, fans purchased about 2,600 tickets over the next three days for an average of $1037. When the Giants took Game 4, tickets sold for an average of $894 the following day, about 13% less than tickets were going for just a few days earlier. A Game 5 shutout by Madison Bumgarner certainly didn’t help, as ticket prices decreased to $484 the day before Game 6, a decrease of 53% over just a few days. The overall average ticket prices are still buoyed by the initial demand, but it’s clear that more doubt in KC has slashed some hope and plenty of cash out of the recent World Series demand.

Ticket prices for Game 5 in San Francisco averaged $860 on the secondary market. Although this still represents a lower overall average price than the Royals game tomorrow night, Giants fans looking to buy at the last second can get a steal on tickets for a potentially clinching World Series game. As of right now, the lowest ticket is about $300 on SeatGeek. That leaves plenty of cash for a last-minute flight out of the Bay Area and a hotel (preferably near a great BBQ joint).

World Series Highlights

Dyson Makes Amazing Catch

Bumgarner Dazzles Again