MLB Playoff Schedule 2014: Updated Bracket and Preview for NL Wild Card Game

With the Kansas City Royals getting the better of the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night, the focus now shifts to the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The two face off to determine who will meet the top-seeded Washington Nationals in the National League Division Series.

The Giants have made the postseason twice in the last five years, but they made the most of those appearances, winning the World Series in 2010 and 2012.

The Pirates broke a decades-long playoff dry spell last year, making it to the NLDS, where they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. Getting over that hump was a big moment for the franchise, and having that experience will be invaluable this time around.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Watch: ESPN

Live Stream: Watch ESPN and MLB.tv

Updated Bracket

You can view an updated MLB playoff bracket on MLB.com.

National League Wild Card Preview

The Pirates and the Giants met six times during the regular season, with Pittsburgh owning a 4-2 advantage. Pittsburgh finished 51-30 at home in 2014, and San Francisco finished 43-38 on the road. In terms of records, neither team has a distinct edge.

The Giants will trot out Madison Bumgarner for the playoff, with Edinson Volquez getting the nod for the Pirates.

San Francisco isn't taking anything for granted, throwing its best pitcher on the mound for the one-game playoff.

Bumgarner made one start against Pittsburgh this year, going four innings and giving up five earned runs in a 5-0 loss for the Giants. His 2014 season has been otherwise impressive. The veteran lefty finished 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA, which was second among Giants starters to Jake Peavy.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

According to FanGraphs, Bumgarner has a home run-to-fly ball rate of 10.0 percent, which is toeing the line between average and below average. Pirates batters have the sixth-most home runs (156) and the ninth-best ISO (.145) in baseball, so the long ball could play a big role in the game.

At first glance, Volquez's numbers don't look too impressive. He boasts a 13-7 record and a 3.04 ERA, which is somewhat flattering considering his 4.15 FIP and his 4.20 xFIP, according to FanGraphs.

Once August rolled around, though, the 31-year-old heated up. In six August starts, he went 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA, according to Baseball Reference. He was even better in September, going 2-0 in five starts and allowing four earned runs in 33.1 innings.

Paul Zeise of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the discussion of whether Gerrit Cole should start the Wild Card Game is moot after Volquez's strong finish to the regular season:

"

The more I've examined Volquez's numbers, the more silly the "controversy" about saving Gerrit Cole for the WIld Card game becomes

— Paul Zeise (@PaulZeise) September 29, 2014"

However, FanGraphs' Mike Petriello looked at the numbers from Volquez's first and second halves and found that batters are posting similar, if not higher, stats in some categories. He also tracked a .229 BABIP, which "seems more than a little unsustainable."

You won't be too surprised if things come to a head for Volquez and he gets shelled early. He's bound to regress at some point, whether it's in the one-game playoff, later in the postseason or in the 2015 season.

The Giants aren't a great power-hitting team, but between Buster Posey, Hunter Pence, Pablo Sandoval Gregor Blanco and Brandon Crawford, San Francisco can slowly wear down Volquez.

One of the bigger storylines going into this game is the PNC Park crowd. Last year, Pittsburgh fans famously chanted "Cue-to" in order to rattle Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto. He promptly dropped the ball and surrendered a home run to Russell Martin.

ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian thinks the atmosphere will be raucous but that Bumgarner will remain unaffected:

"

No chance. During the Giants' run to a world championship in 2010, Bumgarner, then 21 years old, was asked by teammate Matt Cain before a playoff start, "Aren't you nervous?" To which Bumgarner said without hesitation, "I don't get nervous." He is even more composed now, at age 25, after posting 18 wins this season.

"

If anything, Bumgarner might relish playing away from home. In 18 starts on the road, he's gone 11-4 with a 2.22 ERA, compared to 7-6 and a 4.03 ERA at AT&T Park.

Not too much separates these two teams, but after last night's ridiculous Royals-Athletics game, you shouldn't discount any possibilities.

Crazy stuff happens in the playoffs.