ALCS 2014, Royals vs Orioles preview and predictions
By Hayden Kane
The Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles are set to face off in the American League Championship Series. It should be an intriguing series, with a lot of moving parts for the ALCS Royals vs Orioles preview and predictions.
If you had been picking the two teams for the ALCS at the beginning of the season, the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles would not have been at the top of your list. For that matter, many people did not pick these two teams for the ALCS when the postseason started earlier this month.
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The Orioles won the American League East and earned the right to hold home field advantage against the Detroit Tigers in the divisional round. They then swept that series over the Tigers on the strength of their bullpen. Twice the games were close into the late innings, and twice the Tigers’ bullpen melted down. In the meantime, the Orioles held things down and came through with the clutch hits to earn the sweep.
As for the Royals, they have had quite the journey to the ALCS. Starting with the AL Wild Card game, the Royals won three extra-inning games in a row. They keep winning close games, whether it be with clutch home runs or through stolen bases. They swept the Angels thanks to a pair of extra-inning wins in Los Angeles and then a decisive win at home in Game 3.