Will Granger
As we enter the next round of the 2014 MLB playoffs, we find striking resemblances between the to LCS match-ups. On one side of the circuit we see teams with outstanding bullpens, underrated starters, and excellent defense. On the other side we see teams led by experienced catchers, outstanding starters, bullpens that seem to change colors every four months, and perhaps the two scrappiest ballplayers in the league. Pitching match-ups are going to look identical, and the bullpen may average up three or even four innings a game. This is going to be a fun couple of weeks, and let's see what we're going to be looking for on the field.
Match-up 1: Orioles bullpen vs Royals bullpen
Had the ALDS shaped out differently, we would be asking an entirely different question: How long can we keep our starters in? Instead, with both offensive juggernauts and the hapless bullpens of Los Angeles and Detroit swept out of the playoffs, we are asking an entirely different question: How fast can we get our starters OUT of the game? These two teams have taken a page out of the Braves' Venters-O'Flaherty-Kimbrel bullpen ideas with the new one-two-threes of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis, Greg Holland and then Darren O'Day, Tommy Hunter, and then Zach Britton. These late innings are going to be full of strikeouts and excitement.
Match-up 2: Orioles outfield vs Royals outfield
Both of these teams rely heavily on their angels in the outfield. Alex Gordon and Adam Jones are both all-stars and perhaps perennial MVP candidates. Lorenzo Cain is budding star and Nick Markakis has been a rock in the past few years. Here's a question. One of the following stats are either Nick Markakis' or 2008 MVP and two time world champion Dustin Pedroia's stats since 2006 per 162 games:
Player one: .290 AVG, 17 HR, 38 Doubles, .358/.435/.793, 113 OPS+
Player two: .299 AVG, 15 HR, 45 Doubles, .366/.444/.810, 115 OPS+
Close, right? Player one is Nick Markakis, who is one of the best players left in the postseason slotting in the leadoff spot for Baltimore. But really, this matchup is all going to come down to the play of Norichika Aoki vs Delmon Young/Alejandro De Aza. Young and De Aza are perhaps polar opposites, De Aza with offensive struggles and Young with severe defensive handicaps. Watch out for maybe Steve Pearce in left field if Chris Davis comes back for the latter games.
Prediction: Orioles in 7
Match-up 1: Cardinals righties vs Giants' lefty heavy lineup
Looking at San Francisco's line-up you can see at most six lefties. SIX LEFTIES! Gregor Blanco, Joe Panik, Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt, Brandon Craword, and Travis Ishikawa all hit from the left side. Save for Marco Gonzales, all three top Cardinals starters are righties. Out of the bullpen, Sam Freeman is the only shutdown lefty for the Cards. The Nats were able to shut down the lineup with a surplus of lefties out of the pen, but this is looking like a real match-up problem for St. Louis.
Match-up 2: Cardinals offense vs Giants pitching
The Cardinals offense was in the bottom third of total runs scored in the entire MLB. The Giants pitching staff was in the upper third. The Cardinals showed some life in the NLDS including beating up Clayton Kershaw for 11 runs in two games. With Matt Carpenter, Matt Holliday and Matt Adams in the line up, or the Matt Crew, they can't be counted out. But, unfortunately, they are facing the Giants who held one of the most potent offenses in the game, the Nationals, to six runs in the NLDS. Also, they are one of the most experienced postseason rotations in the game. Look at this:
Madison Bumgarner (postseason stats): 4-3, 2.96 ERA, 1.804 WHIP, 48 K's in 8 GS
Tim Hudson: 1-3, 3.19 ERA, 1.306 WHIP, 45 K's in 10 GS
Ryan Vogelsong: 3-0, 1.19 ERA, .989 WHIP, 25 K's in 5 GS
Jake Peavy, Yusmiero Petit and Tim Lincecum are all candidates for the 4th spot in rotation. Peavy will probably win, but his dominance wasn't shown in the playoff's until last year's World Series start vs this Cardinals team.
Prediction: San Francisco in 6
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