Royals Advance to ALCS

The Kansas City Royals did the unthinkable and finished off a 3 game sweep in the ALDS against the Angels, who entered the game having had the best record in baseball during the regular season.

Timely hitting, base running, pitching, and awe inspiring defense trumped the offensive juggernaut that the Angels had with a lineup consisting of players like Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton. The Royals pitchers found a way to silence the bats of the Angels who led the league in runs scored and offensive WAR for the season, having held them to 6 runs total for the 3 games combined.

The Royals even found a way to conjure up some of the lost power that has been missing throughout the season, rendering them last place in baseball in that department. Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer both put on a display in the ALDS with both going the distance in game 3.

It would have been easy for the Royals to just fade off into the night after their thrilling Wild Card win against the A's. That game alone was enough to make the fans proud, and the simple fact they had made the ALDS in the first place was enough to solidify the fact they were in the playoffs. They were facing the best team in baseball, with the best home record in baseball. There would have been no shame in a let down or losing to the Angels.

There was a let down, but it was on the other side. After losing 2 extra inning ball games in Los Angels, the Angels came in seeming deflated and defeated. The offense never able to heat up for the entirety of the series, it almost wouldn't have even mattered for this game in which the Royals responded to a Mike Trout solo home run with a bases clearing double in their half of the frame. They took a 3-1 lead, and never looked back, answering Angels runs with their own until there wasn't enough time or hope left. According to STATS, it is only the second time the team with the best regular season record has been swept out of the playoffs.

This Royals team is a good team. They may have failed to win 90 games, but a strong stretch in August was a precursor to showing what this team is capable of doing when they decide to play with their heads screwed on straight.

Next up is the Baltimore Orioles, who also find themselves on the easy road to the ALCS after having dispatched the Tigers in 3 straight games. Play for both teams will continue on Friday in Baltimore. Once again the Royals will find themselves underdogs, and will look to pick up a game on the road to bring a home field advantage back to the K.

The Royals are similar to the Orioles in that both teams struggle to get on base, but Baltimore has scored more runs because of some slug in their lineup. Both teams rely on pitching and defense with Baltimore finishing a tic better than the Royals in team ERA with a 3.43 against the Royals 3.51 for the 2014 regular season. Both rate near or at the top in most advanced fielding statistics, with the Royals typically carrying a slight advantage. Bottom line, the Orioles are a lot like the Royals, they just hit the ball harder (2nd in the AL in SLG %, 11th for the Royals) and score more runs (6th in the AL, 9th for the Royals).

If this 2014 season has taught Royals fans anything at all, it is that often times it is the hotter team that wins, not necessarily the best. In this case, both teams find themselves on fire and are looking to punch tickets to the World Series. With any luck, the Royals will continue to stay hot behind the bat of Eric Hosmer and magnificent defense we have seen thus far in the playoffs.

If this team can continue to be solid in all facets as they have shown so far, they will be a very hard team to beat indeed. The only problem now is that fans have to wait until Friday to find out.

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