MLB Playoffs 2014: Updated Postseason Schedule and Full Bracket Predictions
One 2014 MLB playoff game is in the books. The Oakland Athletics were eliminated from World Series contention after falling to the Kansas City Royals by a score of 8-7 in the American League Wild Card Game. October begins with only nine teams remaining, and one more will be sent packing Wednesday night.
When the dust settles in the wake of the National League Wild Card Game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants, only eight teams will be awarded the opportunity to navigate the treacherous road through the postseason.
We'll know which team will earn baseball's highest honor in short order; however, there's still plenty of time to dish out predictions. Let's take a look at the remaining playoff schedule and a final prediction for each postseason series.
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| National | SF at PIT | Wed., Oct. 1 | 8:07 p.m. | ESPN |
| 1 | KC at LAA | Thurs., Oct. 2 | TBD | TBS |
| 2 | KA 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 full MLB playoff schedule can be viewed at MLB.com.
National League Wild Card
San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
This game should be interesting considering both teams' aces won't be taking the mound. While Madison Bumgarner will pitch for the Giants, the Pirates are betting on Edinson Volquez. Pittsburgh may not match up in the pitching department, but the team's offense will more than make up for any defensive deficiencies.
The difference-maker in this matchup will be Pittsburgh's offense. One of the hottest teams late in the regular season, the Pirates can really light up the scoreboard. If Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison can pummel Bumgarner they way they did earlier in the season, it won't matter who's on the mound for Pittsburgh.
Prediction: Pirates 6, Giants 4
American League Division Series
Los Angeles Angels vs. Kansas City Royals
The Angels may have some worries on the mound after losing starter Garrett Richards for the season; however, this team still owns the league's most prolific offense. Ranked first in runs during the regular season, Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and a bevy of weapons brought 773 of them across the plate.
No stranger to the highlight reel, Trout is just as good on defense:
Expect these runs to continue to pour in early and often in the ALDS, as the Royals were forced to send James Shields—and several relievers—into action during the Wild Card Round.
Prediction Angels in four
Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Tigers have a star-studded rotation on the mound; however, questions surrounding the team's bullpen could prove to be its undoing in the postseason. Baltimore may not have its full lineup at this point in the postseason, but the team's offense has soared thanks to the efforts of Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz and others.
Cruz shared his 2014 home runs on Twitter:
While the Orioles don't really have a superstar pitcher, their rotation is good enough to limit their opponent's runs enough to defeat a Tigers team that didn't quite live up to expectations during the regular season.
Prediction: Orioles in four
National League Division Series
Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Nationals could be one of the most dangerous teams this postseason. They are extremely well-rounded with a solid rotation—including Stephen Strasburg's postseason debut—and some nice power at the plate. Washington may not be quite as well off as Pittsburgh on offense, though.
Here's the question for this series: Can the Nationals' deep rotation limit Pittsburgh's offense enough to reflect the team's 3.03 ERA? Probably not, but they'll get close enough to win a tight series.
Prediction: Nationals in five
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Adam Wainwright and the Cardinals have a tall order ahead of them as they prepare to take on Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. Los Angeles is solid all over the place, earning the league's sixth-lowest ERA and the sixth-most runs over the regular season. That equates to plenty of wins.
The Cardinals have a fine pitching staff, but their offense has struggled this season, ranking 23rd in runs scored. St. Louis is known to heat up in the postseason, but that won't happen against Kershaw and Co.
Prediction: Dodgers in four
American League Championship Series
Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles
Without Richards in the fold, the Angels and the Orioles feature similar rotations—with a possible slight advantage to Baltimore. The Orioles will be able to keep pace with the Angels for the most part here thanks to a nice middle of their order, but Los Angeles just has too much firepower.
This series could feature a frenzy of offense, and if that's the case, the advantage goes to the team that scored the most runs in the majors during the regular season.
Prediction: Angels in six
National League Championship Series
Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Now, this series has all the makings of a pitchers' duel. Los Angeles and Washington finished the regular season with team ERAs of 3.40 and 3.03, respectively. Both also had at least 100 quality starts. With talented rotations like these, it all comes down to offensive efficiency.
The Dodgers have plenty of experience in their lineup after last year's trip to the playoffs. Expect that to be the difference-maker as Los Angeles' sluggers—who scored more runs than any team in September—get the job done.
Prediction: Dodgers in five
World Series
Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
It's the return of the Freeway Series, and, according to Sports Illustrated, this conclusion may have been expected by oddsmakers:
This series will absolutely be a battle of strengths, as the Dodgers' pitching rotation will be taking on the Angels' bats. Trout and Co. went on a tear in 2014, and this team has fared well against Kershaw in the past, but will the Angels hold up on the mound?
The Dodgers offense lit it up during the regular season, racking up 718 runs, and this is where the absence of Richards will really hurt the Angels. With the team's ace out of commission and C.J. Wilson looking like a potential liability, the smart bet is on the offensive depth of the Dodgers.
Prediction: Dodgers in six
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