MLB Playoff Schedule 2014: Updated ALCS, NLCS Bracket, Day 9 Predictions

The 2014 MLB playoffs have been full of intriguing matchups and wild outcomes, but the schedule indicates the madness surrounding October baseball is far from over. The American and National League Championship Series are beginning to heat up.

On the National League side, the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals, both perennial World Series contenders, have begun a fierce battle. In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Chiefs are looking to continue their dream seasons with a run to the championship.

Here is all the vital viewing information, a full preview for Sunday’s game and a link to the official MLB playoff brackets.

Teams	Series	Time (ET)	Watch	Predicted Winner
San Francisco at St. Louis	SF, 1-0	8:07 p.m.	Fox Sports 1	Giants

*Updated bracket for both championship series at MLB.com.

Previewing NLCS Game 2

The San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals have been two of the strongest teams in the National League over the last several years, and the two franchises once again battle to be the NL representatives in the World Series.

San Francisco took the first game of the NLCS on Saturday when the Giants lineup chased St. Louis starting pitcher Adam Wainwright out of the game after he allowed three runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings of work.

The Cardinals lineup came up small as well, totaling just four hits during the team’s shutout loss. If St. Louis wants to take down the experienced San Francisco roster, the team must find its offensive punch in order to pull out the victory Sunday.

Baseball columnist Bill Arnold shared a great stat talking about the tenacity of both franchises:

In the pivotal Game 2, the Cardinals will send 27-year-old starter Lance Lynn to the mound to square off against veteran Jake Peavy. Lynn was a dominant force for St. Louis this season, racking up 15 wins, 181 strikeouts and a 2.74 ERA in 203.2 innings pitched. In his one postseason start in 2014, Lynn allowed two earned runs in six innings of work.

As well as Lynn played during the regular season, Peavy is a big-game pitcher and proved his dominance during his 5.2 innings of scoreless action against Washington in his first start of the postseason. He is also coming off eight days of rest.

Peavy spoke to The Associated Press, via ESPN.com, about his previous postseason experience and the impact it will have on his play Sunday night:

"

The more you do something the more comfortable you get in that situation. Up until last year, I had never really gotten an opportunity to pitch with the knowledge that I think I have now. I try to take all that knowledge in with me, be under control. I'll be fiery. I will be emotional, but I will be under control.

"

Success in Game 2 will be determined by which lineup finds a rhythm against the opposing elite pitcher first. The Cardinals were utterly shut down in the opening game for the series, but the Giants were not overly dominant either.

While it was great to see third basemen Pablo Sandoval contribute in the postseason, and the story of first baseman-turned-outfielder Travis Ishikawa has been what the postseason is about, San Francisco needs top names like Buster Posey and Hunter Pence to come through in the most important moments.

The same can be said for St. Louis. Offensive stars like Matt Holliday, Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams all must contribute Sunday if the team doesn’t want to fall to 0-2. Coming back from that deficit against a stingy San Francisco pitching staff wouldn’t be an easy feat.

Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, the Giants proved in Game 1 they were not afraid of playing inside Busch Stadium and will have no trepidation Sunday either. St. Louis won’t go down without a fight, but if Peavy pitches well, San Francisco has the firepower to rack up several runs and steal Game 2 before the series heads back to the West Coast.

Baseball fans are hoping the Cardinals put up more of a fight Sunday, though.

Predicted Final Score: San Francisco 5, St. Louis 4

*Stats via MLB.com.

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