10 Rapid Reactions to All the Early 2014 ALCS, NLCS Action

We are now two games into both the American League Championship Series and the National League Championship Series in what continues to be a thrilling postseason.

The Kansas City Royals have stormed to a quick 2-0 lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the ALCS, and momentum is certainly on their side as the series moves to Kansas City.

On the NL side, the St. Louis Cardinals were at it again Sunday night, coming through with some late-game heroics to even the series at 1-1, with things now moving to San Francisco.

As the four remaining teams battle it out for their respective league pennants and a trip to the World Series, a number of storylines have emerged—from individual player performances (both good and bad) to key injuries to overall team performance.

Here are 10 major storylines to watch for heading into Game 3 of both the ALCS and NLCS, along with my reactions.

Lorenzo Cain Has Emerged as a Bona Fide Star

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Overview

The postseason is a time for the game's elite to step up and prove why they are among the best in the business, but it's also an opportunity for budding stars to introduce themselves on a national stage.

Lorenzo Cain falls into that second category, as the 28-year-old enjoyed a breakout performance during the regular season but went largely unnoticed in what was generally regarded as an average-at-best Royals offensive attack.

He hit .301/.339/.412 and stole 28 bases while seeing 400 at-bats for the first time in his career. Those numbers coupled with his phenomenal defense in center field made him a 5.0 WAR player in 2014.

His defense was on full display in the American League Division Series, as he made one highlight-reel catch after another, but he was just 2-for-13 at the plate with one RBI hitting out of the No. 3 spot in the lineup.

Now, the offense has been the story in the ALCS. He was 2-for-3 with a double and two walks in Game 1, before tying a franchise postseason record with four hits in Game 2, and he looks dialed in as the series shifts to Kansas City.

Reaction

Cain has finally turned his tools and raw athleticism into production this season, and the postseason stage has not looked too big for him at any point. There is no reason to think the breakout won't continue, and he is my early pick for ALCS MVP after his four-hit performance and continued elite glove work.

Zach Britton Has Been Anything but Lights-Out in the ALCS

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Overview

When the Baltimore Orioles shipped Jim Johnson to the Oakland A's in a trade last offseason, they opted to go with an in-house option to fill the closer role, handing the job to right-hander Tommy Hunter. However, when Hunter was sidelined with a groin strain in late May, the job fell to converted starter Zach Britton, and he ended up turning in a breakout season.

The 26-year-old converted 37 of 41 save chances with a 1.65 ERA and 0.904 WHIP, posting a career-best 2.7 BB/9 mark after dealing with some control issue during his time as a starter.

He's been anything but untouchable so far this postseason, though.

He threw a perfect ninth to pick up the save in Game 2 of the ALDS but allowed two hits, one walk and a run in Game 3 to make things interesting, before nailing down the save to clinch the series.

That aforementioned wildness then reared its head in Game 1 of the ALCS when he recorded just one out and walked three hitters after entering a tied game in the ninth, with setup man Darren O'Day coming on to bail him out.

The tables were turned in Game 2 when he replaced O'Day in the ninth inning after O'Day walked the lead-off hitter in another tied game. Britton allowed an RBI double from Alcides Escobar and an RBI single from Lorenzo Cain to break the tie, and while O'Day was credited with the loss, it was Britton who gave up the decisive blows.

Reaction

Britton has been a stud all season, and the stuff is still there, but he has to keep the ball down to be effective, and the walks are on him.

The first-time dad has plenty of reason to be distracted, but he showed the dominant stuff he has in striking out the final two hitters of his Game 2 outing and is still a weapon in that ninth-inning role.

We Have Yet to See 'Big Game James' This October

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Overview

The decision to ship top prospect Wil Myers and a handful of other promising young players to the Tampa Bay Rays in return for James Shields was made specifically with an eye on the postseason.

The Royals have a talented rotation, but with a pair of youngsters in Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy and a pair of midlevel veterans in James Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie, there is little question Shields is the ace of the staff.

He took the ball in the Wild Card Game, after going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA during the regular season, but got a quick hook when he allowed the first two runners to reach base in the top of the sixth.

• Final line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

The next time he took the ball was Game 3 of the ALDS, with a chance to clinch the series, and he turned in a quality start to pick up the win.

• Final line: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

A solid outing, but he still lasted just six innings before departing with his pitch count at 105. During the regular season, he pitched seven innings or more in 18 of 34 starts.

The 32-year-old was back on the mound in Game 1 of the ALCS, and he was again far from on top of his game, as he lasted just five innings and departed with the Royals clinging to a 5-4 lead.

• Final line: 5.0 IP, 10 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

So far, the Royals have been able to overcome a so-so postseason from their ace, but at some point he will need to crank it up and turn in the dominant outing that he is capable of.

Reaction

A terrific bullpen and the team's ability to come through in the late innings have masked what has been a very average postseason from the Royals starting pitching to this point, as KC has a 4.41 ERA.

Shields needs to pitch up to his "Big Game James" moniker if this team is going to go all the way. As the free-agent-to-be looks to boost his stock, I think it is something he will do next time he takes the ball.

Adam Jones Finally Made an Impact at the Plate in Game 2

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Overview

The postseason has not been kind to Adam Jones so far in his career, but a two-run home run in Game 2 of the ALCS may finally be the breakthrough he has been waiting for.

Jones was essentially a no-show during the team's 2012 postseason run, going 2-for-26 with just one RBI as the Orioles were eliminated by the New York Yankees in the ALDS.

Those struggles continued into this year's ALDS, where he was 2-for-11 with no extra-base hits and no RBI.

He tallied his first RBI of the 2014 postseason in Game 1 of the ALCS, lacing an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning to open the scoring for the Orioles. That would be his only hit in the game, though, as he finished 1-for-5 with four runners left on base.

Finally, the big blow came in Game 2, as he hit a Yordano Ventura pitch for a line-drive two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning to tie things up at 3-3.

He picked up his second hit of the game with a single to right field his next time up, but he closed out the game with a strikeout and a groundout, and the Orioles wound up losing the game.

So, was the home run the first step in Jones finally turning things around or simply a power hitter finally running into a fastball?

Reaction

With pitchers really dialed in on every pitch in October, the overaggressive approach Jones brings to the plate definitely works against him.

He walked just 19 times in 682 plate appearances during the regular season, and as long as he keeps going up there looking to hack at the first pitch, my guess is he will continue to struggle in October.

Momentum Might Be the Royals' Biggest Weapon Right Now

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Overview

The Royals are now 6-0 to open their first postseason appearance in 29 years. While momentum can shift quickly in October, it would appear the Royals have it all on their side heading into Game 3.

With a roster devoid of superstar talent and the egos that often come along with it, there has seemingly been a different hero every game. There is nothing more dangerous than a team capable of receiving significant contributions from all 25 guys.

Regardless of whether or not the team's recent power surge continues, the Royals have three things they can count on night in and night out: a stellar defense, terrific team speed and a shutdown bullpen.

Those three things can carry a team awfully far in October, and if the clutch hits keep coming, this may very well be a runaway freight train destined to hoist the trophy at the end of October.

Reaction

It's hard to bet against the Royals at this point, and until they come up short, you almost expect them to deliver the big blow in the late innings. Their fans are going to be insane these next few games, and unless the Orioles jump on them early in Game 3, momentum will continue to be a major point in their favor.

Yadier Molina Could Be Lost for an Extended Period of Time

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Overview

"It's not ideal."

That was how Matt Carpenter summed up the Cardinals losing Yadier Molina to an oblique injury Sunday night, and that may very well be the understatement of the year.

"You can't say enough about what he does for our team," Carpenter told reporters, via ESPN. "The way he handles our pitching staff and the leader that he is. ... It's disappointing not having him out there."

It's unclear at this point how long Molina will be sidelined, but he certainly looked to be in a good deal of pain when he doubled over and did not even leave the batter's box after grounding into a double play in the bottom of the sixth.

Few players are as important to the overall success of their team as Molina, and he already missed significant time earlier this season with a thumb injury.

It was no coincidence that his late-August return after being sidelined for 40 games lined up with the Cardinals making a late-season push to claim the NL Central title.

The Cardinals can replace Molina on the NLCS roster if he is sidelined for a significant amount of time, but if they do, he would be ineligible for the World Series roster. That is obviously something they will want to avoid if there is any chance of him returning.

"If we have to go short with an opportunity to have him back, we'd do that," manager Mike Matheny said. "But we will cross that bridge when we get to it."

A.J. Pierzynski was already added to the NLCS roster after being left off the NLDS squad, so the team still has two catchers with him and incumbent backup Tony Cruz.

Reaction

The contributions of Molina stretch far beyond his statistical production, and his most important role may be his calming presence with young relievers Carlos Martinez and Trevor Rosenthal. If he is lost for the rest of the postseason, or even the rest of this series, the Cardinals could be in serious trouble.

Madison Bumgarner Is the Ace of the 2014 Postseason

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Overview

In a ranking of the top starting pitchers heading into October, left-hander Madison Bumgarner likely would have fallen behind Clayton Kershaw, Adam Wainwright, Jon Lester, Max Scherzer, David Price and perhaps even guys like James Shields and Zack Greinke, depending on who you talked to.

Now, midway through the 2014 postseason, there is little question that Bumgarner has been the best of the best.

Somehow still just 25 years old, Bumgarner went 18-10 with a 2.98 ERA during the regular season, setting career highs in strikeouts (219) and innings pitched (217.1) as the unquestioned ace of the Giants staff.

He was an easy choice to take the ball in the team's Wild Card Game matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he delivered with a complete-game four-hit shutout, striking out 10 and walking just one in one of the most dominant pitching performances of the season.

A throwing error as he tried to cut down the lead runner at third base on a sacrifice bunt spoiled what was another terrific start in Game 3 of the NLDS, and he took the loss in that game. But he was able to shake that off with another gem in the NLCS opener.

He held what was a red-hot Cardinals offense to just four hits over seven shutout innings, setting a record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched on the road in the postseason in the process as he ran that streak to an impressive 26.2 innings.

With the field whittled down to just four teams and a number of aces coming up small in October, Bumgarner may be the last true ace remaining in this year's postseason.

Reaction

With Adam Wainwright and James Shields not pitching up to their potential and the Orioles relying more on their pitching depth than any one ace, there is little doubt Bumgarner is the best arm still suiting up. The Cardinals seem to have the momentum in that series after their Game 2 heroics, but it will be hard to bet against the Giants next time Bumgarner takes the ball.

Adam Wainwright May Be Struggling with Mechanics, Not Arm Soreness

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Overview

Adam Wainwright has not looked like himself this postseason, and while the original concern was that it was due to elbow soreness, it now appears as though the issue may be mechanical.

He was 4-0 with a 0.55 ERA over his final four starts of the regular season. However, he has been dealing with "some tendinitis and discomfort around his right elbow" for several months now, according to an article from Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Wainwright was far from on top of his game in the NLDS opener, allowing 11 hits and six earned runs in 4.1 innings of work, as the Dodgers went a combined 11-for-22 against him.

His start in Game 1 of the NLCS was not quite as bad, but it was still a long way from expectations, as he labored through 4.2 innings and allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) to take the loss.

After that start, Wainwright watched some video with backup catcher A.J. Pierzynski and appears to have identified a flaw in his mechanics.

"(I was) dramatically late getting the ball out of my glove," Wainwright told reporters, via Fox Sports. "That doesn't allow your arm to have time to get into the proper position to throw the ball. My stride length is about a foot shorter than it should be, so it's not getting my arm enough time to get where it needs to be."

Pinpointing the issue is one thing. Ironing it out between now and his next start, which will likely come in Game 5 of the series, is another thing altogether.

Reaction

The fact that the struggles Wainwright has dealt with may not be related to his arm soreness has to be viewed as a plus. He's a smart guy, and if anyone can make an on-the-fly adjustment to his mechanics to get back on track, he would seem like a prime candidate.

The Giants Continue to Strand Runners on Base

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Overview

The Giants have plenty of offensive weapons, led by a red-hot Buster Posey and former postseason hero Pablo Sandoval, but they have had a hard time turning baserunners into runs.

With runners on base, the Giants are hitting just .237/.324/.388 so far this postseason, and those numbers drop to .197/.306/.254 with runners in scoring position. They have also hit just .215/.311/.308 in late/close situations.

Their Game 2 loss was a perfect example of the aforementioned struggles.

With the game tied 2-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Giants had a chance to break things wide open when Brandon Crawford and Michael Morse reached base to start the inning.

A Juan Perez sacrifice set up an RBI single by Gregor Blanco, but that was the only run the team scored, as Joe Panik and Buster Posey ended the inning with back-to-back flyouts.

Fast-forward to the top of the ninth, with the Giants trailing by one run against Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal.

The hard-throwing right-hander allowed back-to-back singles after striking out Brandon Crawford to open the inning. A lineup by Blanco made it two outs, but the Giants pushed across the tying run when pinch runner Matt Duffy scored from second on a wild pitch.

Walks to Panik and Posey loaded the bases with two outs, and the Cardinals brought in Seth Maness in relief of Rosenthal. With a chance to be a hero, Sandoval grounded one right back to the pitcher, and just like that the threat was over.

The Cardinals won the game in the bottom of the ninth on a Kolten Wong home run, and the Giants ended the game with their four hitters combining to strand 13 runners.

Reaction

Were it not for some lucky breaks in the NLDS, the Giants may not even be in the NLCS. They have come through with some clutch hits, but compared to the team they are squaring off against in the Cardinals, they need to do a much better job making the most of their opportunities.

....While the Cardinals Continue to Deliver in the Clutch

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Overview

While the Giants have failed to deliver in clutch situations, the Cardinals have absolutely thrived in them. As a team, they have hit .270/.357/.541 with runners in scoring position and a ridiculous .333/.407/1.000 in late/close situations.

Let's just run through their highlights in list form really quickly for those who may have missed something along the way.

• NLDS Game 1: Matt Carpenter three-run double in the seventh for a 7-6 Cardinals lead.

• NLDS Game 1: Matt Holliday three-run home run in the seventh for a 10-6 Cardinals lead. (STL wins 10-9)

• NLDS Game 2: Matt Carpenter two-run homer in the eighth to tie the game 2-2. (LAD wins 3-2)

• NLDS Game 3: Kolten Wong two-run homer in the seventh for a 3-1 Cardinals lead. (STL wins 3-1)

• NLDS Game 4: Matt Adams three-run home run in the seventh for a 3-2 Cardinals lead. (STL wins 3-2)

• NLCS Game 2: Oscar Taveras pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh to tie the game 3-3.

• NLCS Game 2:  Matt Adams solo home run in the eighth for a 4-3 Cardinals lead.

• NLCS Game 2: Kolten Wong solo home run in the ninth for a 5-4 Cardinals lead. (STL wins 5-4)

There is simply no quit in this team, and it has been a myriad of guys who have stepped up with the big late-game hit.

With a shaky Wainwright and a potentially sidelined Molina, the big hits will need to keep coming.

Reaction

At this point, what more can you really say about this Cardinals team? Remember at midseason when their offense was a liability? Now it looks like it may be able to carry the team to another NL pennant.

Unless otherwise noted, all stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, and accurate through Sunday, Oct. 12.