2014 ALCS Gambling Online
These teams are definitely constructed differently.
If you dig the long ball then Baltimore is your choice led by Nelson Cruz, who I think has more home runs this season than the entire Royals starting nine have in their careers.
Bet On MLB Playoffs
2014 American League Championship Series
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles
Series Odds: Kansas City +124, Baltimore -144
***2014 MLB Betting BONUSES***
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Starting Lineups
Cruz and Adam Jones form a potent 1-2 punch for Baltimore…If you value being able to manufacture runs than you can not argue that Kansas City’s get on base, move’em over and get’em in philosophy has merit.
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No Royals hit 20 homers or drove in 80 runs. I do think that the Orioles have the stronger, more experienced lineup but I love the fact that nobody struck out less during the regular season than Kansas City.
They put the ball in play and force you to respond.
Advantage: Baltimore (with a philosophical edge to the Royals)
Bench
Baltimore might have gotten the nod here but injuries have already revealed the depth they had behind the likes of Manny Machado, Chris Davis and Matt Wieters – who saw Steve Pearce coming and catcher Caleb Joseph has been a stabilizing force even though this offense is light.
For Kansas City they regularly look to contributions from speedsters Jarrod Dyson and Terrence Gore. Veteran bats Josh Willingham and Raul Ibanez can still put a charge in the ball in the right situation.
How is this for rare, Gore had just one regular season AB with the club but is indispensable now.
Advantage: Kansas City
Starting Pitching
In terms of raw stuff the Royals definitely have the edge. The Royals’ James Shields is the best starter on either team and Yordano Ventura and Danny Duffy are young premium arms who have developed pretty quickly.
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The Orioles are very solid one through four with but nobody has dominating stuff and Chris Tillman and Wei Yin Chen hardly strike fear in opponents. The questions is what are you looking for in a starting staff in the playoffs, consistency or potential dominance – a lot of it has to do with the kinds of offenses you have.
My preference is for shutdown stuff and the Royals are built to win 2-1 while the O are happy to engage in much higher scoring games.
Advantage: Kansas City
Relief Pitching
Baltimore closer Zach Britton seems to have finally found a role for himself in the Majors. He has been dominant since assuming the role this season and he gives the O’s great confidence late in game. He has great support too from the likes of LH Andrew Miller and RH Darren O’Day.
Similar to the starting rotation if you are looking for pure stuff it is hard to get much better than tjhe Royals trio of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera. It is a young pen full of players who probably don’t realize what is going on around them…and that is for the better.
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Did you see Finnegan against Oakland. Dude was pitching for TCU a couple of months back.
Advantage: Tie
Manager
I fully respect Ned Yost and admire what he has done with the team but this is the biggest gap between the two clubs. Orioles manager Buck Showalter has won more and been in more of these kinds of situations over his career. Further.
The way this team took off in the second half and didn’t look back was pretty amazing given their personnel losses. You can’t criticize them now but maybe the Royals shouldn’t have been fighting for their playoff lives to the bitter end.
Advantage: Orioles
Though the question remains just how much a manager really makes a difference.
4* FREE MLB Series prediction: Royals win in 7 games.
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