Ranking the Baltimore Orioles' 5 Biggest Stars of the ALDS

After sweeping the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, the Baltimore Orioles will now face the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 American League Championship Series.

This will be the Orioles' first trip to the ALCS since 1997, when they lost to the Cleveland Indians. And being that the Orioles won the AL East division title and the Royals are the AL Wild Card representative, the Orioles will have home-field advantage in the ALCS.

In their sweep of the Tigers, a good number of Orioles played particularly well in the series. Here are the top five biggest stars from the Orioles in the ALDS.

5. SP Bud Norris

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

2014 ALDS Stats: 1-0, 1 GS, 6.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Bud Norris had the best start of any Orioles pitcher in the ALDS. He pitched over six innings of two-hit ball in Game 3, which had a big effect on the game, as the Orioles won 2-1.

Norris will most likely be the Orioles' starting pitcher in Game 3 of the ALCS.

4. LF Alejandro De Aza

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

2014 ALDS Stats: 3-for-8, 2 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1.069 OPS

Alejandro De Aza certainly isn't the biggest name on the Orioles, but he contributed quite a bit in the ALDS.

In Game 1, De Aza hit two doubles in four at-bats and had two RBI and one run scored. In Game 2, he had one hit in four at-bats, and he did not appear at all in Game 3.

De Aza was one of the main contributors in the Orioles' 12-3 win in Game 1 and hit .375 for the series.

3. LF Delmon Young

Nick Wass/Associated Press

2014 ALDS Stats: 1-for-4, 1 2B, 3 RBI, .750 OPS

Delmon Young only started in Game 3 of the ALDS, but it was his performance in Game 2 that got him on this list.

Young came off the bench in the eighth inning, and with the bases loaded, he hit a three-run double that would prove to be the difference in the Orioles' win.

Young was then hitless in three at-bats in Game 3, but his heroics in Game 2 were very critical toward the Orioles' sweep of the Tigers.

2. SS J.J. Hardy

Nick Wass/Associated Press

2014 ALDS Stats: 3-for-10, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 R, 1.017 OPS

Another Orioles hitter who was instrumental toward the team's success in the ALDS is J.J. Hardy.

In Game 1, Hardy had two hits in three at-bats. He hit a solo home run off Max Scherzer and later scored a second run after drawing an intentional walk.

In Game 2, Hardy had one hit in three at-bats plus another walk. He had one RBI and scored a run as well. Hardy had one hit in four at-bats in Game 3.

Hardy was one of the most notable offensive contributors for the Orioles in the ALDS and got on base at least once in each game.

1. DH Nelson Cruz

Nick Wass/Associated Press

2014 ALDS Stats: 6-for-12, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1.500 OPS

All of the aforementioned players had notable roles in the Orioles' ALDS success, but it was Nelson Cruz who ultimately carried his team to the ALCS.

In Game 1, Cruz had two hits in four at-bats, including a home run in his first at-bat off of Max Scherzer. He had three RBI for the day and scored two runs in the Orioles' blowout win.

In Game 2, Cruz had another two hits in four at-bats and scored a run. But he saved his most clutch moment of the series for Game 3. In the sixth inning, following an Adam Jones single, Cruz hit a two-run home run that would end up being all the offense the Orioles would need, as they won 2-1 to clinch the series sweep. Cruz had two hits in four at-bats altogether with two RBI.

Cruz's bat was arguably the biggest reason why the Orioles won the ALDS over the Tigers, and if he continues to hit like this, the Royals' pitching staff will be in for a rude awakening in the ALCS.

All 2014 ALDS stats and box scores are courtesy of MLB.com.