The Kansas City Royals outlasted the Oakland A's in a thrilling AL Wildcard game that was billed as a heavyweight pitching matchup, but ended up being a high-scoring affair highlighted by the Royals' clutch hitting and aggressive baserunning. Kansas City now moves on to face the top-seeded Los Angeles Angels, while the Detroit Tigers will face the Baltimore Orioles in the other ALDS clash.
Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have one major advantage over Kansas City right off the bat-they have their ace, Jered Weaver, ready to go for Game 1.The Royals burned "Big Game" James Shields in the wildcard matchup vs. Oakland, and had to dig deep into their bullpen when the game reached extra innings.
The Royals showcased aggressiveness and ingenuity against the A's Tuesday night, and their small-ball prowess, along with their high-level defense, has covered over some disappointing seasons at the plate for several of their stars.
The Angels, on the other hand, feature the one of the best players in baseball in Mike Trout; Trout is joined in the lineup by Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton, who says he's ready to go for the postseason. That power in the lineup, combined with several high-contact hitters throughout the order, make for arguably the best lineup in the American League. With Shields unavailable until late in the series, the Royals might be bludgeoned into submission.
The Royals' saving grace could be a fine bullpen, anchored by Wade Davis and closer Greg Holland. Kansas City must start fast and get leads to that 'pen.
Prediction: Angels in 4.
Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Tigers and Orioles both boast stellar lineups chock full of power hitters. Despite the presence of Miguel Cabrera in Detroit's order, the O's may have the edge in that department. Yes, slugging first baseman Chris Davis will miss this series thanks to a PED suspension but that may be just as well-his .196 batting average was unlikely to help much vs. the Tigers' deep pitching staff.
That's where the Tigers, on paper, have the clear edge. They have a former Cy Young winner in David Price starting Game 3. He's preceded by fellow Cy Young winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. No one doubts the Orioles' hitting chops, but can their staff measure up to Detroit's?
It's important to note that Verlander has not been anything close to Cy Young-caliber in 2014. He posted a 15-12 record with a 4.54 ERA and certainly makes for a curious choice to pitch ahead of Price. The Orioles were third in the American League this season in runs allowed per game (3.66), so does that mean their hurlers have been underrated?
Not necessarily. They are middle of the pack or worse in several important categories, such as strikeout to walk ratio (11th), FIP (11th) and home runs per nine innings (9th).
Prediction: Tigers in 4
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