MLB Playoffs 2014: Last-Minute Preview for Royals vs. Angels Game 1

Do the Kansas City Royals have any magic left after a dramatic 12-inning victory over the Oakland Athletics? Or will the top-seeded Los Angeles Angels flex their muscles and set the tone in Game 1 of the American League Division Series?

First, let’s take a look at the basics, then we will dig into a preview.

Kansas City Royals at Los Angeles Angels, Game 1

Date: Thursday, Oct. 2

Time: 9:07 p.m. ET 

TV: TBS

Preview

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Former college teammates Jered Weaver (18-9, 3.59 ERA) and Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71 ERA) get the call on the mound in Game 1 of this series in what serves as a de facto tiebreaker early in the playoffs. The Royals and Angels split their six regular-season contests this year.

While the starting pitching will obviously take center stage, each team has a specific strength.

Los Angeles features one of the best offenses in baseball, thanks largely to the presence of Mike Trout. Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton are recognizable names among baseball fans, but Trout is the one who led the majors in runs and extra-base hits.

Victor Decolongon/Getty Images

Pujols actually gave Trout some advice, according to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com: “He told me to just be myself, and not try to hit that home run when you don’t need it. Just keep that same swing that got you here, and go from there. (But) it’s definitely a bigger game, for sure. All eyes are on you.”

Trout doesn’t have any postseason experience, but Pujols and third baseman David Freese certainly do from their time in St. Louis. The combination of talent and past playoff success should benefit the Angels.

Ed Zurga/Getty Images

The Royals will try to slow that offense down with arguably the top bullpen in baseball. Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland combined for a 1.28 ERA this season and give the Royals a serious advantage if the game is close in the late innings.

After all, Kansas City was 65-4 when leading after six innings this year.

Still, Game 1 will come down to the performance of Weaver, who pitched in three different American League Division Series games earlier in his career. Per Baseball Reference, Weaver has been absolutely dominant with a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched in those contests. He also has a .907 WHIP and 15 strikeouts in his ALDS performances and boasts a 2.61 playoff career ERA.

The Royals haven’t been to the playoffs since 1985, which means experience could come into play here. Weaver has thrived in these types of situations in the past and will get the Angels off on the right foot in this best-of-five showdown. 

The MLB noted that Weaver has been doing a lot of winning this year, and that will continue:

Starting pitching and timely offense from the Angels will prevail over the dominant Kansas City bullpen, at least in Game 1. 

Prediction: Angels 5, Royals 2

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