Royals go with Ventura over Cueto for Game 1

The Kansas City Royals laid out their rotation for the first three games of the American League Division Series on Tuesday, with Yordano Ventura getting the ball in Game 1 at Kauffman Stadium on Thursday.

Ventura, who crafted a 2.16 ERA over his final four starts of the regular season, will open the best-of-five series against the winner of Tuesday's American League wild-card game, with veteran right-hander Johnny Cueto to follow in Game 2 and Edinson Volquez set to go in Game 3.

Ventura, 24, enjoyed a strong postseason debut in 2014, fashioning a 3.20 ERA over four starts and one relief appearance during the Royals' impressive playoff run.

Cueto, meanwhile, will make his fourth career postseason start Friday when he takes the mound in Game 2 against either the New York Yankees or Houston Astros. Acquired by Kansas City ahead of the trade deadline, Cueto was a disappointment down the stretch, crafting a 4.76 ERA with a 1.45 WHIP in 13 starts for the Royals while allowing 101 hits (including 10 home runs) over his final 81 1/3 innings.

Volquez will start Sunday in Game 3, wherein he'll try to put his rough outing in the 2014 National League wild-card game behind him. The 32-year-old, then with the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowed five earned runs over five innings against the San Francisco Giants, outdueled by Madison Bumgarner en route to an 8-0 loss in the one-game playoff.