We have come down to the nitty gritty of the Major League Baseball season. The divisional round of the playoffs set to get underway with the American League getting the series going. It's worth noting that this is the first postseason played under the current divisional alignment, going back to 1995, in which neither the Boston Red Sox nor the New York Yankees will compete in an ALDS. Out of the four teams left standing, each have won at least one championship: Kansas City has one (1985), Los Angeles has one (2002), Detroit has four (last coming in 1984) and Baltimore has three (last coming in 1983). So all of these franchise know the taste of the World Series crown.
So lets get down to it, here's the breakdown of the two American League Divisional Series.
First up we have the Kansas City Royals taking on the AL West champions the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. These two teams met six times during the regular season, each team winning three. Los Angeles comes in as the AL West champions, going 98-64 during the regular season. As for the Royals they come in as the wild card team with a record of 89-73, and come off a thrilling wild card win over the Oakland Athletics just to make it to the divisional round. The two franchises have never faced eachother before in the playoffs. This is a mtachup of the best team in baseball taking on the most exciting team in baseball. Lets see how they stack up.
Starting Lineup
The Angles scored 773 runs during the season, the highest total in the American League, while the Royals finished 9th in the AL in scoring, pushing 651 runs across the plate. Los Angeles has a balanced lineup, with leadoff man Kole Calhoun, who's very adept at messing with a pitcher's timing and setting the table for the two who need no introductions: Mike Trout in the two-hole and Albert Pujols batting third. Josh Hamilton is healthy and all parties have said he has hit the ball well in recent workouts and the five and six spots are formidable with Howie Kendrick (.293 average, 85 runs) and Erick Aybar (.278 average). Los Angeles has a tendency to strike out a bit and don't really steal bases, but with the sluggers they have in their lineup, it more than makes up for it.
Kansas City is a team that's at the other end of the spectrum. The Royals are a team that may get on base, but when they do, they can run you right out of the ballpark. What has helped keep the Royals in this thing in the playoffs is their ability to play small ball, case and point it worked against Oakland in the Wild Card. They finished 3rd in the Al in total hist during the season, trailing only the Angeles and Tigers in that category. There are times, though, the Royals offense has been somewhat pedestrian. No one has hit 20 home runs and no one drove in more than 74 RBI in the regular season. Alex Gordon (19 homers, 74 RBI) is the biggest threat, but the real threat is the way they move runners over.
Both teams can hit, one uses the long ball while the other goes with small ball. When it comes right down to it, Anaheim has the stronger offense than that of Kansas City.
Edge: Angels
S
tarting Pitching
This is an interesting point on interest. Both teams have four guys in their rotation to hit double digits in wins. Jared Weaver has the most out of any starter in this series with 18. Matt Shoemaker has been alright in the Angels rotation, but outside of those two guys, there is a little bit of inconsistency. Garrett Richards, was lost to a torn patellar in August. Right now, C.J. Wilson and Hector Santiago have been inconsistent at best.
Kansas City isn't a slouch, having James Shields, Jeremy Guthrie, Yordano Ventura and Jason Vargas all hitting double digits in wins. Shields is the only one of the four to have fewer than ten losses on the season, but he won't start until game three of the series, with Vargas and Ventura starting off the series.
On paper, the Angels starting rotation is better, but they are banged up right now.
Edge: Royals
Bullpen
This is where the debate gets harder to argue. If you look at the Angels from a year ago to now, its a totally different pen. Joe Smith, Fernando Salas, All-Star closers Jason Grilli and Huston Street were acquired to bolster what was a weak pen. Then throw in the likes of Kelly Jepsen (19-straight scoreless appearances from June-August) and Mike Morin (2.90 ERA) round out a unit that has pitched more innings than any other team's bullpen.
The bullpen has been the foundation of the Royals pitching staff this season. Greg Holland and his 46 saves have been a big reason why the Royals stand where they do. Plus throw in the fact that Wade Davis has 33 holds, Aaron Crow has 11 and Kelvin Herrera has 20. Those three guys have been critical in bridging the gap from the starters to Greg Holland.
Edge: Even
Bench
Expect guys like outfielder Collin Cowgill and catcher Hank Conger to be utilized in defensive roles for the Angels, but both can swing the bats as well. There's a battle between outfielders Brennan Boesch and Efren Navarro. Navarro is versatile and can spell Pujols at first, utilized as another lefty bat as a DH or pinch hitter or play a corner outfield position. But Boesch, also a lefty, made good use out of his September call-up. He's arguably the better outfielder and has a .263 postseason average.
The Royals bench boasts speed and skill. Christian Colon, a Cal State Fullerton product, came through with a single, a stolen base and finally the game-winning run in the Wild Card Game. Jarrod Dyson hit .269 with 36 stolen bases off the bench; and Raul Ibanez, a shell of his former self, always seems to have some sort of postseason magic.
Edge: Even
Final Analysis
Kansas City is coming in hot, winning 6 of the final 10 during the regular season and winning the wild card game. We have seen in the past teams get hot at the right time and ride it deep into the playoffs, with the 2002 Angels and 2004 Red Sox winning the Championship from the Wild Card position. So it is possible to see teams get hot and ride it all the way. Plus the Angels closed out the regular season with a three game losing streak, which could play a factor. Kansas City may take the opener of the series, but I think the pop in the Angels lineup will be too much for the Royals to handle.
Prediction: Angels in 4
Next up we have the AL Central Champions the Detroit Tigers taking on the AL East Champions the Baltimore Orioles. This will be the first meeting between the two teams in the playoffs. Baltimore comes in with a record of 96-66 while the Tigers have a record of 90-72. Detroit won five of the six meetings between the two clubs, who haven't faced each other in a game since early May. Lets see how these teams stack up.
Starting Lineups
With the Tigers, their offense is a great strength, and at the same time a weakness as well. The first half of the lineup can easily put together big innings for Detroit. They have Ian Kinsler leading off, and while he had a rough second half of the season, he homered four times in September to show some precious signs of life down the stretch. Torii Hunter, now 39, hit .286 with decent power and helped set the table for the three players who make Detroit's offense run: Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez. The trio combined for 115 doubles and 80 homers, while all hitting at least .313 with slugging averages well into the .500s. After that, however, the lineup falls off. Nick Castellanos and Alex Avila both had disappointing seasons, while Andrew Romine is in the lineup for his glove and Rajai Davis is there for his speed.
Baltimore does have pop in their lineup, but they have guys missing from the lineup which might end up hurting them. Sure their big bat is Nelson Cruz, who crushed 40 homers this year. You can also throw in Adam Jones and Steve Pearce, who along with Cruz can match the heart of the Tigers lineup pretty well. Other than that, then only really offensive punch in Baltimore is Nick Markakis and Delmon Young. But Chris Davis is out due to suspension and Matt Wieters and Manny Machado are out for the season with injuries, thus limiting the punch in the Baltimore order.
Edge: Tigers
Starting Pitching
Detroit still has the last three AL Cy Young winners in Scherzer Verlander in Price. Scherzer and Price have lived up to the hype and been pitching well in the Motor City this season. Price struggled a little bit after being brought over from the Rays, but was able to settle in and return to form. Verlander has been a bit of a disappointment, by his standards at least. Verlander can still deliver, but isn't quite the same guy baseball fans have become used to seeing the last few years. Then throw in the fact that Rick Porcello has become a factor this year, finishing the season at 15-13. Numbers aren't that great but he still been a factor, in a good way, for Detroit this year. Those four guys give Tigers fans confidence.
By comparison, Baltimore isn't in quite the same boat. Don't get me wrong, the four big starters in the Orioles rotation in Chris Tillman (13 wins), Wei-Yin Chen (16 wins), Bud Norris (15 wins) and Miguel Gonzalez (10 wins). They are good, but there is one problem with this Baltimore staff, that being the proclivity to give up home runs, something that could be serious trouble against Kinsler and Hunter, much less the middle three in the Tigers order.
Edge: Tigers
Bullpen
This was a problem for the Tigers last year in the post season, something that wasn't really improved upon this year. Joe Nathan has looked every one of his 39 years as the closer, blowing seven saves and posting a 4.81 ERA. Joba Chamberlain has slowed after a blazing start as the eighth-inning guy, and although Joakim Soria has been lights-out since returning from injury, manager Brad Ausmus has made it clear than Nathan and Chamberlain will still handle the last two innings.
Baltimore has had it differently this season. Zach Britton closes with his 1.65 ERA, Darren O'Day sets him up with his 1.70 ERA, and Andrew Miller can pitch the seventh or go after a lefty with his 1.35 ERA. Tommy Hunter is also a solid late-inning presence, while 23-year-old rookie Kevin Gausman will be headed to the 'pen after looking impressive in 20 regular-season starts.
Edge: Orioles
Bench
Both teams have relatively weak benches to speak of. The Orioles reserves are mostly on the field, replacing Davis, Machado and Wieters. Caleb Joseph has a bit of power as the backup catcher for Nick Hundley, and Johnny Paredes has hit well in limited time as an reserve infielder.
If the Tigers had much of a bench, they wouldn't have Andrew Romine in the starting lineup. Don Kelly is one of baseball's good guys, and is the ultimate utilityman, but his only offensive skill is the ability to draw a few walks. Bryan Holaday won't play unless Avila takes another shot to the head, and the rest of the bench is made up of light-hitting rookies who will see action as pinch runners or defensive replacements, if at all.
Edge: Even
Final Analysis
Detroit has the advantage when it comes to playoff experience, but there have been times where Brad Ausmus has looked like a rookie manager. He has had a little trouble managing his pen at times, which could hurt him a bit. Detroit has come in winning 6 of their final 10 games down the stretch and are still feeling confident in their lineup. Baltimore can't say much of the same. Buck Showalter knows what he's doing as a manager, after doing it for 16 years in this game. But not having three key players in his lineup in Machado and Wieters, nor could he stop the suspension to Davis. Those three would make Baltimore the clear favorites in this series.
Prediction: Tigers in 4!
