World Series 2014: Full Schedule, Predictions for Upcoming Fall Classic

There will be a fresh face in the 2014 World Series.

While the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals have represented the National League in the Fall Classic every year since 2010, the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles have worked for decades to get back to the promised land.

Kansas City last made it to the World Series in 1985, also the last time it made the playoffs. The Orioles made the playoffs in 2012, but they haven't won the Fall Classic since 1983.

Each of the four teams remaining in October has a different identity, making this installment of the MLB postseason worth keeping an eye on. Below you'll find the full schedule for the World Series, as well as some predictions on who to expect to see on baseball's biggest stage.

Schedule

Date	Time (ET)	TV
Tuesday, Oct. 21	TBD	Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 22	TBD	Fox
Friday, Oct. 24	TBD	Fox
Saturday, Oct. 25	TBD	Fox
Sunday, Oct. 26	TBD	Fox
Tuesday, Oct. 28	TBD	Fox
Wednesday, Oct. 29	TBD	Fox

World Series Predictions

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Let's not waste any time here. The Royals will defeat the Orioles in seven games in the American League Championship Series, and the Giants will take care of business against the Cardinals in six games in the National League Championship Series.

The reliability of small ball for the Royals will best the question mark surrounding a lineup built around the long ball. With 211 homers during the regular season, though, the Orioles will keep it interesting.

San Francisco will win the NLCS because they have been virtually unstoppable in the playoffs of late, as MLB's Twitter page noted:

Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer tweeted the team's guide to winning in October:

The Giants are pretty much automatic.

That said, it will be a very competitive World Series. Both teams boast outstanding starting rotations. Just take a look at how the teams match up, assuming each manager decides to go with four starting pitchers:

Royals	Giants
James Shields	Madison Bumgarner
Jason Vargas	Tim Hudson
Yordano Ventura	Ryan Vogelsong
Jeremy Guthrie	Jake Peavy

The edge appears to go slightly to the Giants, but the bullpen is where Kansas City shines. The Royals' pen was worth 5.9 WAR during the year, per FanGraphs. The relievers had an ERA of 3.30 and averaged 8.5 K/9.

On the other hand, the Giants were worth just 0.5 WAR. The Royals possess far more quality, dominant arms in their pen. Wade Davis, Greg Holland and others will look to shut the door and keep games close.

Offensively, the Giants get things done with a balanced attack. Hunter Pence, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval are big hitters in the middle of the order, but Gregor Blanco, Joe Panik and Brandon Belt have gotten it done as well.

The Royals rely on a constant mix of speed and consistent hitting. Everyone on the team can lay down a bunt. Almost everyone on the team can swipe a bag. That makes this team a major headache for Giants manager Bruce Bochy.

One hitter for Bochy to worry about is Eric Hosmer, who has been absolutely on fire, via ESPN's Britt McHenry:

In the end, it will come down to the team that knows how to win in the postseason, as Prospect Insider's Jason Churchill tweeted:

The Royals simply don't have the experience right now to compete with a Giants team that simply knows how to get it done in October. San Francisco hasn't lost in seven playoff series. Look for them to win the NLCS to make it eight, and then the World Series in five games to make it nine.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR