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MLB Playoffs 2015: Which Wild Card teams have won the World Series?

By Kyle Franzoni

Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants players celebrate on the field after defeating the Kansas City Royals during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Francisco Giants players celebrate on the field after defeating the Kansas City Royals during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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2014 – San Francisco Giants

With the new system in play and teams having the handicap of having to survive a one and done play-in game, the cards were seemingly stacked against the Wild Card teams to advance to the World Series. After all, these match-ups are designed to take away the team’s top pitcher in the first round, limiting his ability to start down the line.

Then again, it wasn’t created with Madison Bumgarner in mind.

The Giants rode Bumgarner to a 8-2 shut-out of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card game, watching their ace spin a 4-hit, 10 strike-out gem to send them to the NLDS. Bumgarner would take the loss in game three of the NLDS, but watched the Giants win the series 3-1 over the Washington Nationals. Bumgarner would give the Cardinals two more solid starts in the NLCS with the Giants sending the Cardinals home in five games.

The lefty once again got the call to start the World Series and didn’t disappoint, throwing seven innings of one-run ball to give the Giants a one-game lead to start the series. The Royals would take games two and three, going to their bullpen early and often. Game four evened the series for the Giants behind Ryan Vogelsong, setting up another big start for Bumgarner. The ace tossed his second shut-out of the postseason, a four-hit, eight strike-out masterpiece to give San Francisco a three games to two lead in the series.

However, after the Royals forced game seven, the question arose whether the Giants would once again trot out Bumgarner. Bumgarner came in after the third inning and with the Giants up 3-2. San Francisco didn’t need to look back from there. Bumgarner preceded to shut-out the Royals over the last six innings for the save and the World Series MVP award. In 21 innings of work, the lefty allowed just one run on nine hits and a walk, while striking out 17 in one of the most dominant performances in World Series history.

The win provided a road map for those Wild Card teams having to use their ace in the elimination game and how to get by afterward if they want to win a World Series.

Next: The MLB All-Time 25-Man Roster

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