MLB Playoffs 2014: Day 2 Schedule, Updated AL and NL Series Predictions

Anything can happen in October, especially when 10 of Major League Baseball's best teams get together in a dogfight for the World Series title.

Two teams have already been eliminated from the 2014 MLB playoffs, as the Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates just couldn't hang with their opponents in the wild card play-in games. With the divisional rounds now in full swing, it will be interesting to see which clubs can stay hot and advance.

The Kansas City Royals have been the talk of baseball over the past several days. They took down the A's in the aforementioned play-in game to advance to the American League Division Series, and then proceeded to defeat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 11 innings Thursday night to take Game 1.

Kansas City has been a source of highlights this past week, but will it be able to keep it up and advance? Below you'll find predictions for the division series', as well as a schedule for Day 2's action.

Day 2 Schedule

Time (ET)	Game	Matchup	Pitchers	TV
Noon	ALDS Game 2	Tigers @ Orioles	Verlander vs. Chen	TBS
3 p.m.	NLDS Game 1	Giants @ Nationals	Peavy vs. Strasburg	FS1
6:30 p.m.	NLDS Game 1	Cardinals @ Dodgers	Wainwright vs. Kershaw	FS1
9:30 p.m.	ALDS Game 2	Royals @ Angels	Ventura vs. Shoemaker	TBS

Updated Predictions

Date	Matchup	Predicted Winner
ALDS
ALDS
NLDS
NLDS
10/2	Royals @ Angels	Royals won, 3-2
10/3	Royals @ Angels	Angels
10/5	Angels @ Royals	Royals
10/6	Angels @ Royals	Angels
10/8	Royals @ Angels	Angels
10/2	Tigers @ Orioles	Orioles won, 12-3
10/3	Tigers @ Orioles	Orioles
10/5	Orioles @ Tigers	Tigers
10/6	Orioles @ Tigers	Tigers
10/8	Tigers @ Orioles	Orioles
10/3	Giants @ Nationals	Nationals
10/4	Giants @ Nationals	Nationals
10/6	Nationals @ Giants	Giants
10/7	Nationals @ Giants	Nationals
10/9	Giants @ Nationals	-
10/3	Cardinals @ Dodgers	Dodgers
10/4	Cardinals @ Dodgers	Cardinals
10/6	Dodgers @ Cardinals	Cardinals
10/7	Dodgers @ Cardinals	Cardinals
10/9	Cardinals @ Dodgers	-

Outlook

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

There are some incredible pitching matchups on tap for Day 2. The most notable, of course, is Clayton Kershaw vs. Adam Wainwright.

These two hurlers dominated the National League this year. Kershaw took home the ERA title yet again, and Wainwright recorded his second career 20-win season. Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals should be prepared for a low-scoring affair on Friday.

That said, Kershaw hasn't enjoyed much success in the playoffs, tweets Nicholas Pistor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Couple that with his 0-2 record against the Cardinals in the 2013 National League Championship Series, and the Dodgers are at a disadvantage.

But Kershaw was beyond dominant in 2014. He won 21 games, and the Dodgers were 23-4 when he was on the mound this year. Will his playoff trends or his 2014 successes reign supreme Friday? It's hard to go against his current domination of hitters, but don't be surprised if a professional lineup like St. Louis' does a number on him.

The other intriguing series to note takes place in Anaheim on Friday. The Royals took a game from the Angels on Thursday, and Angels skipper Mike Scioscia noted that it was Kansas City's defense that sealed the win, via Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today: "This game was not won and lost in that 11th inning. This game was won by Kansas City with four incredible defensive plays.''

Scioscia was talking about the outfield defense, as Ortiz wrote:

"

Right fielder Nori Aoki, who looked shaky in catching two routine flies early in the game, twice kept the Angels from taking the lead with remarkable catches in the sixth and seventh innings. Before that, center fielder Lorenzo Cain robbed Kole Calhoun of extra bases with a perfectly timed leap against the fence in the first, then made a sliding grab in the next inning.

"

The Royals do all the little things right. They bunt, steal bases, go first to third and play great defense. This will help them in October.

Despite the fact that they were last in baseball in home runs (95) and walks (380), they've been able to overcome their offensive ineptitude and win 89 games.

The Angels are arguably the top team in the American League, but the Royals have a strong chance to put a stranglehold on this series behind Yordano Ventura on Friday.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR