MLB Playoffs 2014: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Bracket Predictions for Day 5

The Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals made sure there wouldn't be a Game 4 in their respective series. Behind a sparkling pitching performance from Bud Norris and a big home run by Nelson Cruz, the O's beat the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Sunday to complete the sweep and advance to the American League Championship Series.

The Royals jumped on the Los Angeles Angels early and won 8-3 to finish off their three-game sweep.

Alex Gordon's three-run double in the first inning gave the Royals a 3-1 lead, and they never looked back from there.

Because of Baltimore and Kansas City's tidy work, the Senior Circuit is the only league in action on Monday night.

The San Francisco Giants will look to close out the Washington Nationals after a marathon 2-1 extra-inning win on Sunday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals will battle in a pivotal Game 3 to seize control of their National League Division Series.

Here's a look at the schedule.

Monday, Oct. 6, 2014
Teams	Time (ET)	TV	Pitchers	Prediction for Monday
Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis	5 p.m. ET	Fox Sports 1	Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. John Lackey	L.A. Dodgers
Washington at San Francisco	9 p.m. ET	MLB Network	Doug Fister vs. Madison Bumgarner	San Francisco

Live Stream: MLB.TV 

Bet on Bumgarner

Ben Margot/Associated Press

If there's one pitcher in the postseason that any manager would want to have the ball in a closeout game, it would have to be Madison Bumgarner. 

In his last eight starts, Bumgarner is 7-1 with an ERA of 2.05. The 25-year-old lefty has been nasty and confident. Heading into Game 3, the Nationals can't be enthused about seeing him on the mound.

There is some hope. During Bumgarner's only regular-season appearance against the Nats, Doug Fister outdueled him 2-1 back in June. 

Fister will probably need another amazing performance if he is to help keep his team alive. After a heartbreaking loss on Saturday, look for Bumgarner to take away any hope the Nats have left.

Lackey's Postseason Magic Will Propel Cardinals

Because of John Lackey's wealth of experience and success in the playoffs, the St. Louis Cardinals' Game 3 hopes are in good hands. 

The 35-year-old has a career playoff ERA of 3.03. It would be even lower were it not for a rough postseason in 2005 and 2007 with the Angels. Most recently, Lackey hasn't posted an ERA above 2.77 in the last three playoffs he's participated in.

At home, Lackey will keep the Dodgers at bay and help to push the Cards to the brink of a spot in the National League Championship Series.

Stats per Baseball-Reference.com.