MLB Playoffs 2014: Full Postseason Schedule and Wild-Card Predictions

The path to the 110th Fall Classic is now mapped.

For some, a chance to win the World Series has been a reality for some time. For others, it took all 162 games to secure a spot in the playoffs.

Regardless, the top prize is very much any team's to grab at this juncture. Cork Gaines of BusinessInsider.com has a look at the bracket in visual form: 

"

For the fans of the other 20 MLB teams, here is the bracket for the playoffs most of you wont watch pic.twitter.com/oUyXxLkwrZ

— Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) September 29, 2014"

Below, let's take a look at the full schedule and take a deeper dive into the two wild-card matchups that usher in the 2014 postseason. 

2014 MLB Playoffs Schedule

American League	National League
Wild-Card Games
Tuesday, Sept. 30 (TBS) Oakland at Kansas City, 8:07 p.m.	Wednesday, Oct. 1 (ESPN) San Francisco at Pittsburgh, 8:07 p.m.
Division Series
Thursday, Oct. 2 Oakland or Kansas City at L.A. Angels (TBS) Detroit at Baltimore (TBS)	Friday, Oct. 3 Pittsburgh or San Francisco at Washington (Fox Sports 1) St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers (Fox Sports 1)
Friday, Oct. 3 Oakland or Kansas City at L.A. Angels (TBS) Detroit at Baltimore (TBS)	Saturday, Oct. 4 Pittsburgh or San Francisco at Washington (Fox Sports 1 or MLBN) St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers (Fox Sports 1 or MLBN)
Sunday, Oct. 5 L.A. Angels at Oakland or Kansas City (TBS) Baltimore at Detroit (TBS)	Monday, Oct. Monday, Oct. 6 Washington at Pittsburgh or San Francisco (FOX Sports 1 or MLBN) L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis (Fox Sports 1 or MLBN)
Monday, Oct. 6 *L.A. Angels at Oakland or Kansas City (TBS) *Baltimore at Detroit (TBS)	Tuesday, Oct. 7 *Washington at Pittsburgh or San Francisco (Fox Sports 1 or MLBN) *L.A. Dodgers at St. Louis (Fox Sports 1 or MLBN)
Wednesday, Oct. 8 *Wild-card winner at L.A .Angels (TBS) *Detroit at Baltimore (TBS)	Thursday, Oct. 9 *Pittsburgh or San Francisco at Washington (Fox Sports 1) *St. Louis at L.A. Dodgers (Fox Sports 1)
League Championship Series
Friday, Oct. 10: Game 1 (TBS)	Saturday, Oct. 11: Game 1 (Fox)
Saturday, Oct. 11: Game 2 (TBS)	Sunday, Oct. 12: Game 2 (Fox Sports 1)
Monday, Oct. 13: Game 3 (TBS)	Tuesday, Oct. 14: Game 3 (Fox Sports 1)
Tuesday, Oct. 14: Game 4 (TBS)	Wednesday, Oct. 15: Game 4 (Fox Sports 1)
Wednesday, Oct. 15: *Game 5 (TBS)	Thursday, Oct. 16: *Game 5 (Fox Sports 1)
Friday, Oct. 17: *Game 6 (TBS)	Saturday, Oct. 18: *Game 6 (Fox)
Saturday, Oct. 18: *Game 7 (TBS)	Sunday, Oct. 19: *Game 7 (Fox Sports 1)
World Series
Tuesday, Oct. 21	Game 1 at American League city (Fox)
Wednesday, Oct. 22	Game 2 at American League city (Fox)
Friday, Oct. 24	Game 3 at National League city (Fox)
Saturday, Oct. 25	Game 4 at National League city (Fox)
Sunday, Oct. 26	*Game 5 at National League city (Fox)
Tuesday, Oct. 28	*Game 6 at American League city (Fox)
Wednesday, Oct. 29	*Game 7 at American League city (Fox)

Oakland Athletics at Kansas City Royals

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The two have very different stories and paths to this point, but Tuesday's matchup comes down to one thing: pitching. 

For the first time in 29 years, the Kansas City Royals are through to the postseason. There is little time for Ned Yost's team to rest on the accomplishment, though, because the Athletics and ace pitcher Jon Lester are on the way to town.

The Athletics have the advantage in terms of experience as owners of three consecutive playoff berths, even if this one came down to the final game of the season when Sonny Gray pitched a complete-game shutout.

Gray will not be on the mound Tuesday but Jon Lester will be. In fact, this is exactly why the brass traded away Yoenis Cespedes, and it is a notion Lester is well aware of, as noted by Jane Lee of MLB.com:

Lester knows the Royals quite well, which one can glean from his 9-3 mark and 1.84 ERA against the club. Outside of being the hero for Boston last season, he has a 6-4 career postseason record with a 2.11 ERA.

The opposition is James Shields. While his playoff numbers are not as sexy—2-4 with an ERA of 4.98—at home he figures to stand a strong chance of silencing the bats of Josh Reddick, Josh Donaldson and more.

In this particular matchup, though, it is tough to ignore the pitching advantages held by the visitors. Not only is Lester elite but so is the bullpen behind him, which ranks no worse than second in ERA (2.59), walks allowed (122), opponents' batting average (.222), and total bases allowed (565).

Experience and pitching tend to do the trick in the postseason.

Prediction: Athletics 5, Royals 3

San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

For those who want even matchups in the playoffs, look no further than the impending showdown between the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Andrew Baggarly of Comcast SportsNet Bay Area has the proof:

Then again, one could point out conflicting stats such as the fact the Pirates are a league-best 51-30 at home this year. Others will point to the fact Pittsburgh starter Edinson Volquez has a somewhat miserable .283/.355/.428 slash line against current Giants hitters.

Baggarly notes, though, that simple recent momentum may outweigh any numbers observers can bring to light:

Madison Bumgarner is the man on the mound for the Giants after getting the nod over Jake Peavy, although he will need to effectively deal with one of the league's best lineups thanks to names such as Andrew McCutchen, Russell Martin, Neal Walker and Starling Marte.

Bumgarner has one loss to his name between since Aug. 8, but going to Pittsburgh is a different animal, even if he has a pair of World Series wins on his resume.

Volquez is simply too hot at this juncture, running up a scoreless streak that stretches back as far as 18 innings and all of four runs surrendered in his last five starts. Backed by a powerful lineup seemingly clicking at the right time and a comfortable home environment, the Pirates will advance.

Prediction: Pirates 4, Giants 3

Stats and info via MLB.com unless otherwise specified.