MLB Playoff Bracket 2014: Postseason Schedule, Viewing Information and More
After watching the Kansas City Royals hold off the Oakland Athletics in the first game of the 2014 MLB Playoffs, even casual baseball fans have caught the postseason bug once again.
There’s nothing in sports quite like October baseball.
With the playoff bracket taking form and the schedule finalized, the excitement level surrounding the American and National League divisional series and the potential matchups down the line has fans ready to witness history.
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Here is the playoff bracket, the full postseason schedule with vital viewing information and a preview of the team with the best chance to win it all. Note that the Royals now slip into that slot opposite the Angels.
Playoff Bracket
*Playoff bracket via Kansas City Nightlife’s Twitter account.
| 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 |
*Full postseason schedule via MLB.com.
Team to Watch: Los Angeles Dodgers
The most exciting team to watch this season has been the Los Angeles Dodgers. With the offensive firepower to rack up runs and a pitching staff that can shut down even the best offenses in the league, Los Angeles is a viable threat to be the National League representative in the World Series.
The Dodgers finished the regular season 94-68 and were led by one of the most dominant pitchers of the last 25 years in Clayton Kershaw. In 198.1 innings of work, Kershaw led the NL in wins (21), ERA (1.77), WHIP (0.86), winning percentage (.875) and complete games (six). He also finished third in strikeouts with 239.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn spoke to MLB Network Radio about what LA does well:
With Kershaw taking the mound in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cardinals, Los Angeles is in a great position to start the series with a victory. Add in the fact that the Dodgers carry Zack Greinke as the No. 2 starter, and the franchise has the depth needed to make a deep run in the postseason.
There is also animosity between Los Angeles and St. Louis. After an incident earlier in the year where Cardinals pitcher Joe Kelly hit Hanley Ramirez in the ribs with a fastball, the two teams have been at each other’s throats.
Instead of looking for revenge, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly told Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com about his team’s focus in this series:
"We’ve had all year long if we wanted revenge or anything like that. We’re trying to win games. It’s really not a concern if somebody gets hit. You can’t go to the plate worrying about getting hit. You can’t go to the mound thinking, ‘I’ve got to hit somebody and establish.’ We all come to play.
"
Playing against St. Louis will be a true test. The Cardinals have World Series experience and understand what it takes to win in postseason situations. While Los Angeles doesn’t possess the same experience, there is enough leadership and raw talent to give them the opening-round victory.
Everyone loves talking about the pitching staff for the Dodgers, but the offensive unit has real firepower. With a roster that includes stars like Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Hanley Ramirez, Carl Crawford and more, there are few teams in either league with the ability to go head-to-head with a starting lineup this deep.
As good as Washington, San Francisco and Pittsburgh have played all season, none of the aforementioned teams has the depth and consistency needed to beat the Dodgers in a seven-game series.
If LA keeps its composure and plays each game with the reckless abandon the team played with during the regular season, a World Series victory is a very real possibility.
*Stats via MLB.com.
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