ALDS Schedule 2014: Viewing Info and Previews for Both Series
Favorites and underdogs seem suspiciously well-defined as the American League Division Series portion of the MLB playoffs approaches.
There are the seemingly just-happy-to-be-here Kansas City Royals in a matchup with an absolute buzz saw of a team in the Los Angeles Angels. If momentum turns out to play a large factor, though, it is hard to count out the Royals after an epic come-from-behind triumph in the Wild Card Game.
Then there are the reeling Baltimore Orioles, a team that just two months ago had the look of a serious contender but have since been hobbled with adversity. The opponents there are the well-rounded Detroit Tigers, who have a balance befit of a World Series champion.
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Alas, the postseason surely has a number of surprises in store. Here is a look at the ALDS slate.
ALDS Schedule 2014
| 1 | KC at LAA | Thurs., Oct. 2 | 9 p.m. | TBS |
| 2 | KC at LAA | Fri., Oct. 3 | 9:30 p.m. | TBS |
| 3 | LAA at KC | Sun., Oct. 5 | 7:30 p.m. | 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 | 5:30 p.m. | TBS |
| 2 | DET at BAL | Fri., Oct. 3 | TBD | TBS |
| 3 | BAL at DET | Sun., Oct. 5 | 3:30 p.m. | TBS |
| 4* | BAL at DET | Mon., Oct. 6 | TBD | TBS |
| 5* | DET at BAL | Wed., Oct. 8 | TBD | TBS |
Note: Live stream for all games can be watched at TBS.com.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Kansas City Royals
After 29 long years, the Royals are back in the postseason with a flair most will recognize.
Well, if most people happen to be fans of great sports movies.
The Royals were able to overcome the Oakland Athletics in the Wild Card Game thanks to a brand of small ball only so dramatically matched by the efforts of the Hollywood classic Moneyball, stealing seven bases in the process.
What fans get now is an intriguing tale of David vs. Goliath, as the Royals have played well above their level and encounter a Los Angeles squad that has met the hype head-on and prospered.
The storylines start right at the top with a feud between the managers, as explained by HardballTalk:
It certainly does not stop there, though. Kansas City does not trot household names to the mound by any means nor does it smash a ton of home runs. This is best personified by Game 1 starter Jason Vargas, who drummed up a 3.71 ERA and an 11-10 record this past season.
The 31-year-old star will encounter an old friend there, as illustrated by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times:
Really, though, this one may turn out to be as lopsided as it appears on paper. Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, David Freese, Howie Kendrick, Kole Calhoun and Chris Iannetta—heck, and perhaps Josh Hamilton—make for an unstoppable lineup that allowed the Angels to run up the best record in baseball (98-64) and the most runs (773).
Then again, they play the games for a reason. Plus, the small-ball strategy works in the movies. Why can't it in the postseason?
Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers
On paper (there's that phrase again), this one also looks rather lopsided.
Want elite pitching? Detroit certainly has that. 2013 AL Cy Young Award recipient Max Scherzer trots to the mound for the Tigers and will be followed in no particular order by the strong arms of David Price, Rick Porcello and Justin Verlander.
Want production at the plate? The Tigers have that, too, after finishing the season in second in slugging percentage thanks to powerful sluggers such as Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera.
Want a streak of bad luck to hurt what would have been an underdog anyway? Baltimore's lineup has been mostly neutered thanks to an injury to Manny Machado back in August and the suspension of Chris Davis.
Yet there is still some glimmer of hope for Baltimore although it comes in the form of one man, as illustrated by Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun:
Former teammate Ian Kinsler is well aware of the challenge Nelson Cruz presents on a nightly basis.
"He's definitely someone you have to be careful with, especially in the postseason, where he has a knack for big hits," Kinsler said, per Tom Gage of The Detroit News. "He hits for a ton of power and always is a threat at the plate."
Does Cruz have enough in his bat to relatively lift the team on his own? Well, that happens to be the fun of it. Either way, the forecast seems to call for some offensive barrages, so go into the games expecting entertaining duels.
Stats and info via baseball-reference.com unless otherwise specified.
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