All four home teams progress from the Wild Card series with only the Royals opponents the Mariners needing a Game 3 to settle the series. The Yankees will take on the Rangers in the second AL Division Series while in the NL, the Diamondback take on the Dodgers in an all-NL West match up and the Braves will take on the Cardinals.
The Royals-Mariners match up will be a third post-season series between the teams, and the first since 2037 when Seattle swept the Royals in the Division Series. The Royals had taken the first post-season series, also in the Division Series, 3-2 back in 2030. The Royals took the regular season series 5-2 in 2049.
The Mariners are a pitching team, with second fewest runs conceded in the AL but only ranking 12th for runs scored. The rotation is led by LHP Braden Montalbano, who had a 3.10 ERA and 17 W, with 258 Ks in 220.1 IP, a true ace. Behind Montalbano will be interesting as LHP Jonathan Tucker is suffering from an abdominal strain and Jim French is waiting for an injury diagnosis. Both recorded ERAs under 4.00 in 2049. Jonathan Davies is a third LHP in the rotation, and is the #16th ranked prospect in baseball. Two-time Reliever of the Year Chris Sisk is the Seattle closer, and has 43 SV with a 3.00 ERA this season. Seattle have four relievers with an ERA under 3.00, however, including SU Rens Broekman with a 1.38 ERA in 52.1 IP. This is a formidable pitching line up.
While their batting is not as strong there is plenty of danger for the Royals. LF Jorge Felix had a .302 average to lead the team, as well as 26 SBs while C David Mota hit 27 HRs and had 69 RBIs. The Mariners will miss 1B Laurente Savoldelli, who misses out through injury, as does SS Ken Flores.
Game 1 in Kansas City: T.J. Nooks vs Joe Werley (2043 3rd Round)
• Kansas City wins 6-3
• Nooks: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R
• Werley: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R
• Luis Danys Rhode (W): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• Chris Sisk (BS)(L): 0.2 IP, 6 H, 5 R
• Seattle HRs: Jorge Moreno (3rd)
• POTG: Jorge Corujo (KC) 3-5, 2 RBI
• 1-0 Kansas City
Game 2 in Kansas City: Cason Willard vs Braden Montalbano (2042 2nd Round)
• Kansas City wins 3-0
• Willard (W): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R
• Montalbano (L): 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R
• Rhodes (SV): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• 2-0 Kansas City
Game 3 in Seattle: Rob Cope vs Jonathan Davis (2044 3rd Round)
• Kansas City wins 4-3
• Cope (W): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R
• Davis: 5.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R
• Sisk (L): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R
• Rhodes (SV): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R
• Seattle HRs: Jorge Felix (7th)
• 3-0 Kansas City wins
Series MVP: Luis Danys Rhodes (KC) 6 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 SV