Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles Predictions and Betting Preview – American League Championship Series Game 1– October 10, 2014

The Kansas City Royals are on a mission to take the crown. But so are the Baltimore Orioles. These two teams haven’t been to the American League Championship Series in 46 total years and they are set to collide starting on Friday, with the Royals and the Orioles making their first LCS appearances since 1985 and 1997, respectively. Which team will draw first blood? Read on for a detailed breakdown of Game 1 below.

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Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles Betting Preview

Series Schedule & Results

Game 1 – Friday, October 10, Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles – view all MLB lines

Game 2 – Saturday, October 11, Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles

Game 3 – Sunday, October 13, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals

Game 4 – Monday, October 14, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals

Game 5* – Wednesday, October 15, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals

Game 6*— Friday, October 17, Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles

Game 7* — Saturday, October 18, Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles

*If necessary

Betting on the Kansas City Royals

[sc:MLB240banner ]Kansas City’s sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in the LDS afforded the Royals two things: a long rest and an easy decision to start ace James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA) in Game 1 of their showdown against the hard-hitting Orioles. The Royals arguably couldn’t have it any better, as Shields is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in two starts against Baltimore during the regular season.

In his last start, Shields looked sharp overall in Game 3 of the LDS, allowing two earned runs on six hits over six innings of duty in the Royals’ 8-3 series-clinching victory over LA. It sure helped him that the team’s offense was clicking in that game, as the Royals scored all eight of their runs before he was replaced on the mound by Kelvin Herrera.

The hitting of Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Alcides Escobar combined with the speed and athleticism of Alex Gordon and Terrance Gore has worked wonders for the Royals this postseason. Since the Playoffs began, Hosmer is 5-for-15 (.333) with two homers and five RBIs; Moustakas is 4-for-14 (.286) with a pair of home runs; and Escobar is 5-for-18 (.278). Gordon and Gore, meanwhile, have accounted for six of the Royals’ 12 stolen bases, the most among all teams that made the postseason this year.

Herrera and the rest of the Royals’ bullpen have also been terrific this postseason, just as they were back in the regular season when the team ranked 10th with a 3.30 ERA and second best with a 5.9 WAR.

The Royals LDS matchup with LA highlighted how imposing their relievers were, as the Angels managed to score just one run in six games off Wade Davis and crew. Together with the starters, the Royals allowed LA – the team with the most runs in the regular season with 773 – to score just six total runs in the series. Pitching will be at the forefront once again for the Royals as they face another offensively potent team in the Orioles.

Betting on the Baltimore Orioles

Buck Showalter has yet to name his starter for Game 1 of the LCS, but chances are he will give the ball to Chris Tillman, who had a 5-5 record with a 2.54 ERA in 18 starts at home during the regular season. Tillman picked up another win at home when the Orioles hammered the Detroit Tigers, 12-3, back in Game 1 of their LDS.

Although Tillman likely won’t have to deal with power against Kansas City – finished last in the majors with only 95 homers during the regular season and 19th with .376 SLG –, he will nonetheless be put on a tough spot whenever a Royal reaches a base. That’s because Kansas City’s aggressive baserunning has given the Royals runs this postseason.

However, the Orioles have competent fielders who can cripple teams with such a strategy, as evidenced by their .986 fielding percentage in the regular season. Furthermore, the Orioles have three outfielders that ranked inside the top 20 of outfield assists in Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Alejandro De Aza. With those three roaming the outfield, expect Kansas City’s speedsters to think twice before venturing into base-stealing expeditions.

On offense, the Orioles have the artillery of heavy-hitters to give James Shields a serious challenge. Baltimore was the polar opposite of the Royals in the regular season, having finished with a majors-best 211 homers, led by the hulking Nelson Cruz, who had 40.

Excluding Chris Davis, who may not play in the LCS, the Orioles have four players with at least 15 home runs in the regular season, namely Jones (29), Steve Pearce (21), and Jonathan Schoop (16). Shields has allowed the most homers among all pitchers in this postseason with three, so watch out for the Orioles to chase Shields in this game.

Writer’s Prediction

Baltimore takes Game 1 with a 5-3 victory. Create a betting account now, while odds are still available.
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