Its the Orioles who come through the Wildcard Series in three games. The Angels win the second Wildcard Series in the AL to earn a shot at the Astros while in the National League the Brewers will take on the Dodgers and the Nationals face off against the Reds.
The Orioles were a middle of the road team, ranking 6th in the AL in both runs scored and runs against. Their batting line up is even more right-heavy than the Royals, with only one left hander, DH Mike Kotwica. He is an effective left hander, though, leading the team with a .312 average, and contributing 28 HRs (2nd) and 94 RBIs (2nd). Leading both those categories, as well as steals with 17, is 1B Juan Lozoya, who had 38 HRs to go with 103 RBIs and a .299 batting average. Two former Royals are in their batting line up, Royals favourite Bob Crimi. Playing RF and putting up 4.3 WAR with a 125 OPS+ and Rule 5 acquisition, former 1st round draft pick (2038) Steve Bakke, who has been less successful with a 91 OPS+, and worth negative WAR for the season.
Their pitching is led by ace Mike Geel with a 3.31 ERA, 17 Ws, and over 200 Ks (219) and IP (209.1). Their playoff rotation has one LHP, Jadon Everette, but they have a 5-3 LHP split in the bullpen. That bullpen features Closer Jorge Zambrano, who put up a 2.89 ERA with 43 saves, while MR Ernesto Soriano also had an ERA under 3 (2.64) across 85.1 IP.
The Orioles dominated the Royals in the regular season with a 5-1 record so enter the series as favourites, despite the Royals monstrous regular season performance and most recent playoff success (2040 League Championship Series 4-0).
Game 1 in Kansas City: Greg Moehring vs Chris Manoli (2036 12th Round)
Kansas City wins 10-1
Moehring 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R INJ 6 WEEKS
Manoli (L): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R
Joe Manley (W): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Kansas City HRs: Chris Albright (2nd), Estanislau Covete (5th, GS; 6th, 3R)
POTG: Covete (KC) 3-5, 2 HRs, 7 RBI
1-0 Kansas City
Game 2 in Kansas City: Joe Davis vs Mike Geel (2041 Trade DET)
Baltimore wins 6-2
Geel (W): 6.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R
Davis (L): 1.1 IP, 1 H, 2 R INJ 1 WEEK
1-1 Series Tied
Game 3 in Baltimore: Mike Herzner vs Sean LeVan (2041 Trade TOR)
Baltimore wins 14-1
LeVan (W): 7.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R
Herzner (L): 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R
Baltimore HRs: Juan Lozoya (7th, GS)
POTG: Lozoya (BAL) 3-4, HR, 7 RBI
2-1 Baltimore
Game 4 in Baltimore: Curt Bogans vs Jadon Everette (2038 Trade MIN)
Kansas City wins 6-1
Bogans (W): 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R
Everette 4.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Chris Manoli (L): 1.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R
Juan Anaya (SV): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R
Kansas City HRs: Edgar Mir (1st; 5th, 2R), Covete (8th), Jamie Edwards (8th)
POTG: Mir (KC) 2-3, 2 HR, 2 BB, 3 RBI
2-2 Series Tied
Game 5 in Kansas City: Dan Carrig vs Geel
Kansas City wins 3-2
Carrig (W): 6.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R
Geel (L): 5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R
Anaya (SV): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
3-2 KANSAS CITY WINS
Series MVP: Estanislau Covete (KC) .286 | 9 RBI | 3 R