By Matthew Michaels
After two short but exciting League Championship Series, the World Series matchup is set. To the surprise of practically everyone, the Royals will go head-to-head against the Giants in what will be a classic battle.
The jumpstart Royals have won all eight of their postseason games, including the wild card match, to win the AL pennant. For a franchise that has not reached the playoffs since its 1985 World Series win, sweeping all of its AL opponents in the postseason created a massive morale boost for the young players and fans while establishing the Royals’ credibility in the baseball world.
Since 1985, the Royals have won 11 consecutive postseason games, with their last loss in Game Four against the Cardinals. A win in Game One would tie the record for the longest playoff win streak.
- ALCS MVP Lorenzo Cain’s bat and glove will be crucial to the Royals’ success. Courtesy of Wikimedia
Game One of the ALCS took place in Baltimore, and the Royals proved that they are versatile and can win in many different ways. The Royals had the most stolen bases and the fewest home runs during the regular season. That trend continued early in the playoffs, as they stole a record seven bases in the wild card game and had no round trippers. In the ALCS, they managed five swipes and four long balls. Against Orioles pitching in the first game, they had three home runs, but failed to steal en route to a 8-6 victory.
In Game Two, the Royals managed another two run win in large part because of their shutdown bullpen. Back in Missouri, the Royals slipped past their opponents with a 2-1 victory in both games Three and Four. The relief core of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland pitched in every game of the sweep, with Holland earning four saves. Although the series was short, it may have been the closest sweep in history.
The Giants faced the Cardinals in the NLCS, ensuring that one of the two teams won the senior circuit’s pennant each of the last five seasons. San Francisco’s pattern of making the World Series in even-numbered years continued, as they are National League champions for the third time in five seasons.
In Game One, the Giants scored three runs before the fourth inning, making an early impact on ace Adam Wainwright. That was all that was needed as Madison Bumgarner and company shut down St. Louis’ bats.
Game Two went the other way, as the Cardinals edged the Giants by one run, due in part to rookie Kolten Wong’s walk-off home run. The Giants rebounded and won the next three games by one, two and three runs respectively.
Despite the two pennant winners losing a combined one game in the Championship Series, both games were competitive and riveting. Hopefully the World Series has equally exciting games.
I am predicting the Royals to win in five games. San Francisco has no obvious strengths, but the Giants do not match up on paper with their Midwestern rivals. The Royals, meanwhile, seem to have figured out how to play most effectively at the perfect time.
In order for the Giants to win, they will have to score early and take a lead by the time the bullpens get involved.
If the Royals’ starters can manage six decent innings, the backend of the bullpen will give them a chance to win every game. Neither team seems like a destined champion, but Kansas City matches up well against the mediocre Giants.
