MLB Playoff Bracket 2014: Updated Postseason Schedule and NLWC Prediction
Then there were nine.
On Tuesday evening, the Kansas City Royals defeated the Oakland Athletics by a score of 8-7 for the right to face the Los Angeles Angels in the American League Division Series. One team is already eliminated from World Series contention, and another will follow suit Wednesday night.
The National League's wild-card teams are set to clash in another single-elimination contest that will send either the San Francisco Giants or the Pittsburgh Pirates to the National League Division Series to face the Washington Nationals. This contest figures to kick off the month of October with some compelling baseball.
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To ensure not a single pitch is missed, here's a look at the remaining postseason schedule, followed by a prediction for Wednesday's contest.
| National | SF at PIT | Wed., Oct. 1 | 8:07 p.m. | ESPN |
| 1 | KC at LAA | Thurs., Oct. 2 | TBD | TBS |
| 2 | KC at LAA | Fri., Oct. 3 | TBD | TBS |
| 3 | LAA at KC | Sun., Oct. 5 | TBD | TBS |
| 4* | LAA at KC | Mon., Oct. 6 | TBD | TBS |
| 5* | KC at LAA | Wed., Oct. 8 | TBD | TBS |
| 1 | DET at BAL | Thurs., Oct. 2 | TBD | TBS |
| 2 | DET at BAL | Fri., Oct. 3 | TBD | TBS |
| 3 | BAL at DET | Sun., Oct. 5 | TBD | TBS |
| 4* | BAL at DET | Mon., Oct. 6 | TBD | TBS |
| 5* | DET at BAL | Wed., Oct. 8 | TBD | TBS |
| 1 | NL Wild Card at WSH | Fri., Oct. 3 | TBA | FS1 |
| 2 | NL Wild Card at WSH | Sat., Oct. 4 | TBA | FS1 or MLBN |
| 3 | WSH at NL Wild Card | Mon., Oct. 6 | TBA | FS1 or MLBN |
| 4* | WSH at NL Wild Card | Tues., Oct. 7 | TBA | FS1 |
| 5* | NL Wild Card at WSH | Thurs., Oct. 9 | TBA | FS1 |
| 1 | STL at LAD | Fri., Oct. 3 | TBA | FS1 |
| 2 | STL at LAD | Sat., Oct. 4 | TBA | FS1 or MLBN |
| 3 | LAD at STL | Mon., Oct. 6 | TBA | FS1 or MLBN |
| 4* | LAD at STL | Tues., Oct. 7 | TBA | FS1 |
| 5* | STL at LAD | Thurs., Oct. 9 | TBA | FS1 |
| 1 | TBD vs. TBD | Fri., Oct. 10 | TBA | TBS |
| 2 | TBD vs. TBD | Sat., Oct. 11 | TBA | TBS |
| 3 | TBD vs. TBD | Mon., Oct. 13 | TBA | TBS |
| 4 | TBD vs. TBD | Tues., Oct. 14 | TBA | TBS |
| 5* | TBD vs. TBD | Wed., Oct. 15 | TBA | TBS |
| 6* | TBD vs. TBD | Fri., Oct. 17 | TBA | TBS |
| 7* | TBD vs. TBD | Sat., Oct. 18 | TBA | TBS |
| 1 | TBD vs. TBD | Sat., Oct. 11 | TBA | Fox |
| 2 | TBD vs. TBD | Sun., Oct. 12 | TBA | FS1 |
| 3 | TBD vs. TBD | Tues., Oct. 14 | TBA | FS1 |
| 4 | TBD vs. TBD | Wed., Oct. 15 | TBA | FS1 |
| 5* | TBD vs. TBD | Thurs., Oct. 16 | TBA | FS1 |
| 6* | TBD vs. TBD | Sat., Oct. 18 | TBA | Fox |
| 7* | TBD vs. TBD | Sun., Oct. 19 | TBA | FS1 |
| 1 | NL Champion vs. AL Champion | Tues., Oct. 21 | TBA | Fox |
| 2 | NL Champion vs. AL Champion | Wed., Oct. 22 | TBA | Fox |
| 3 | AL Champion vs. NL Champion | Fri., Oct. 24 | TBA | Fox |
| 4 | AL Champion vs. NL Champion | Sat., Oct. 25 | TBA | Fox |
| 5* | AL Champion vs. NL Champion | Sun., Oct. 26 | TBA | Fox |
| 6* | NL Champion vs. AL Champion | Tues., Oct. 28 | TBA | Fox |
| 7* | NL Champion vs. AL Champion | Wed., Oct. 29 | TBA | Fox |
*Denotes "if necessary" games.
The complete postseason schedule can be viewed on MLB.com.
National League Wild Card Prediction
San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are no strangers to this situation. Last season, they hosted the Cincinnati Reds in the NL's Wild Card Game and took care of business. This year, they'll attempt to do the same against the Giants.
Right-hander Edinson Volquez will take the mound for the Pirates on Wednesday. While he may not be the team's first choice to get the start, he's looked good of late. Over his last six starts of the season, he recorded a 3-3 record, but he pitched no fewer than six innings and didn't allow more than six hits in any contest.
The pitcher is ready for his upcoming opportunity, according to Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Volquez hasn't faced the Giants this season, but he has plenty of experience against their rotation after spending time with the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Volquez should also receive plenty of help from Pittsburgh's prolific offense.
The Pirates finished the 2014 season ranked 10th in runs, fifth in batting average, third in on-base percentage and seventh in slugging percentage. Led by Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh has a great mix of consistency, power and speed on offense. The Pirates didn't finish the season in a flourish, but they fared nicely against Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner in late July.
Bumgarner is set to take the mound for San Francisco, and he was peppered by Pirates hitters the last time around. He pitched just four innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs. Josh Harrison took full advantage with a home run in the second inning.
Ken Laird of TribLive Radio tweeted about how Pittsburgh's offense has fared against the pitcher:
If the Pirates hitters can duplicate that performance, the Giants will need plenty of offense from Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Co. According to ESPN.com, Giants hitters have had mixed results against the right-hander. Pence has the most experience against Volquez, and although he's homered three times, he's batting just .194 in 36 at bats.
A hot hand on the mound, consistency at the plate and home-field advantage all favor the Pirates in this one. Expect Volquez to pitch well enough for McCutchen and Co. to generate enough runs for the win.
Prediction: Pirates 6, Giants 4
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