A's vs. Royals: Date, Time, TV Info, Live Stream, AL Wild Card Game Preview

The Wild Card Game takes a 162-game season and boils it down to just one, and the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals will be playing for their lives in an exciting battle.

It has been a long time since the Royals have been involved in a game of this magnitude, as noted by Sean Leahy of the Boston Globe:

The Athletics have a lot more experience, but they have lost in the American League Division Series in each of the past two years. Either way, the past does not matter as much as coming through in the big moments of the one-game series.

Although no one wants to play the Los Angeles Angels, both teams would rather face that tough task over going home. With that in mind, here is a look at what to expect in the American League Wild Card Game.

When: Tuesday, Sept. 30

Time: 8:07 p.m. ET

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

TV: TBS

Live Stream: Watch TBS, MLB.tv (subscription only)

Pitching Matchup: Jon Lester (Athletics) vs. James Shields (Royals)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

With the season on the line, both teams will turn to their best big-game pitcher.

Although the Royals have few players with playoff experience, James Shields provides that thanks to his time with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has made six starts in the postseason, including a World Series game, which he won in 2008.

Unfortunately, he has struggled in his past two appearances, allowing 11 runs in two starts over 9.1 innings.

Still, manager Ned Yost was willing to use his ace on short rest if the team needed to play a tiebreaking game for the division. Shields was not scared about the prospect either, saying, "This is what it’s all about. This is what playoff baseball is all about. You’ve got to push aside some of your aches and pains and go after it," via Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star.

He will get his extra rest, but fans have to like to see a motivated player ready to compete in the biggest game of the season.

Of course, he will have to come through against a pitcher who has been lights out all season. Jon Lester finished the year ranked fourth in the American League with a 2.46 ERA. He has surprisingly been even better since coming to Oakland from the Boston Red Sox, totaling a 2.35 ERA and six wins in 11 starts.

Meanwhile, this situation was exactly why the Athletics traded for the ace earlier in the year, as Marc Carig of Newsday argues:

Lester was outstanding in his postseason career with Boston, amassing a 2.11 ERA in 13 appearances to help him bring home two World Series titles. Only once in 11 starts has he allowed more than three runs in a game.

He should feel confident in coming through for his new team as well.

As if this was not enough intrigue in the pitching battle, though, each of these pitchers is also an impending free agent. Matthew Pouliot of Rotoworld.com jokes about the impact this game will have:

You can be certain both veterans will be at their best on Tuesday.

Prediction

TONY AVELAR/Associated Press

The big difference between these two teams is the ability to change games with the long ball. While guys like Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas can hit a home run from time to time, the Royals as a team finished last in the majors in home runs this season (95).

While the team was able to make up for it with a .263 team batting average that ranked fourth in the majors, Oakland still scored 78 more runs this season thanks to home runs.

Even after trading Yoenis Cespedes at the deadline, the middle of the lineup is scary with Brandon Moss and Josh Donaldson capable of going yard at any time.

With both pitchers unlikely to give up many baserunners, it will likely take a big hit or two to get onto the scoreboard. Oakland will have an easier time getting runs in and Lester will take care of the rest in a competitive game.

The Athletics will earn the win and advance to take on the division-rival Angels in the next round.

Predicted score: Athletics 5, Royals 2

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