2014 MLB Playoff NLCS and ALCS Odds and Free Picks: San Francisco Giants vs St Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals vs Baltimore Orioles – Free NLCS and ALCS Picks

2014 MLB Playoff NLCS and ALCS Odds and Free Picks: San Francisco Giants versus St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals versus Baltimore Orioles – Free NLCS and ALCS Picks: There has been no shortage of exciting moments in the 2014 MLB playoffs so far, and the intensity should only ramp up from here. The American League Championship Series begins Friday between the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals in a series that would have seemed impossible a few seasons ago when both franchises were among the worst in the league. Meanwhile, the National League Championship Series features a pair of teams that a very familiar with October success. After all, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants have combined to win the last four NL pennants. It will be a battle of underdogs in the AL and a battle of heavyweights in the NL, and here is a closer look at both league championship series.

NLCS: San Francisco Giants versus St. Louis Cardinals

Arguably the two best teams in the National League the past several seasons will battle it out for the right to go to the World Series. Since 2010, the two clubs have combined to win three of the last four World Series crowns, and while the Giants have captured a pair of championships during the stretch, the Cardinals have reached the NLCS in four straight seasons. Of course, it hasn’t exactly been easy for either side this year with San Francisco losing starter Matt Cain to injury and St. Louis losing catcher Yadier Molina for a chunk of the year. In fact, the teams don’t stand out on paper in any particular area, and the Cardinals actually finished last in the NL in home runs. However, there is something about October that seems to bring out the best in both sides, and clutch hitting and pitching has both teams in position to capture another title.

The Cardinals dispatched the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games to reach the NLCS, beating up the normally unhittable Clayton Kershaw twice in the process. The Giants on the other hand, got a huge performance from Madison Bumgarner in the NL wild-card game before knocking off a Washington Nationals team that led the NL in wins in four games. This series is essentially a battle of mirror images, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see it decided in extra innings in a Game 7. San Francisco will have the luxury of lefty ace Madison Bumgarner starting a couple of games against St. Louis’ lefty-heavy lineup, and catcher Buster Posey and third baseman Pablo Sandoval have both been dialed in at the plate. On the flip side, Matt Carpenter and Matt Holliday are leading a suddenly formidable St. Louis lineup, and Cardinals’ bullpen appears to be hitting its stride at the right time. St. Louis’ ability to shorten games with its arsenal of flamethrowers could ultimately be the difference in what should be a lengthy, tight series.

Prediction: St. Louis Cardinals Win in 7 Games

ALCS: Kansas City Royals versus Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles and Royals are about as different as two teams can be, but they will be meeting in the ALCS with a spot in the World Series up for grabs. Baltimore led the majors with 211 home runs during the regular season while the Royals finished dead last with 95 home runs. On the flip slide, the Orioles relied heavily on their bullpen to compensate for a rotation that ranked 25th in quality starts while the Royals ranked eighth in quality starts. The two sides also took different paths to reach the ALCS. Baltimore won the AL East and promptly swept the Detroit Tigers out of the playoffs behind the big bat of Nelson Cruz. Meanwhile, the Royal survived an extra-inning marathon to get past the Oakland Athletics in the wild-card game and won two more extra-innings game in their ALDS sweep of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

After sweeping their respective series, both teams have their aces lined up to start in Game 1. Meanwhile, both sides have more than proven themselves as Baltimore’s lineup got the better of a Detroit rotation that featured three former Cy Young winners and Kansas City’s pitching shut down a Los Angeles lineup that led the majors in runs scored. However, it is hard to believe the Kansas City’s pitching can silence the hot-hitting Orioles after the same lineup just pounded Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and David Price. Plus, it could be a little more difficult for the Royals to continue to manufacture runs against Baltimore’s deep, reliable bullpen that is consistently able to produce favorable matchups during the late innings. Kansas City has proven to be a scrappy bunch, but in the end, Baltimore should slug its way into the World Series.

Prediction: Baltimore Orioles Win in 6 Games

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