This sounds like a broken record but I just can’t seem to hit on the playoff games thus far. You can see my previous picks here. Tonight is game 3 of the American League Championship series between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. The line has been updated after originally scheduled game 3 was rained out on Monday night.
2014 ALCS Game 3: Baltimore Orioles @ Kansas City Royals – Royals lead 2-0
The Kansas City Royals arrive home for game 3 of their best of 7 American League Championship series up 2-0 on the Baltimore Orioles. In game 1 the Royals were victorious 8-6 in 10 innings. The result came as they put together 3 runs in the top half of the 10th inning. Left-fielder Alex Gordon started out the 10th inning with a solo shot and then 3rd baseman Mike Moustakas nailed a 2 run homer. Gordon was 3 of 4 with 4 rbi’s. Pitcher Wade Davis picked up the win as he pitched 2 innings while not allowing an earned run nor a hit. Closer Greg Holland nailed down his 3rd save of the postseason as he pitched 1 inning while giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits. Orioles reliever Darren O’Day was saddled with the loss as he pitched 1 inning while giving up 2 earned runs on 1 hit. Lead-off hitter Nick Markakis was 3 of 6 with 1 run scored. 3rd baseman Ryan Flaherty was 3 of 5 with 2 rbi’s and 1 run scored. In game 2 the Royals scored 2 runs in the top of the 9th inning to win the game 6-4 in Baltimore. Once again reliever Wade Davis notched the win (his 2nd of the postseason) as he pitched 1 inning while not allowing an earned run on 1 hit. Closer Greg Holland picked up his 4th save of the postseason as he pitched 1 inning while not allowing an earned run on 1 hit. 3rd baseman Mike Moustakas hit his 4th home run of the postseason as he went 2 for 3 with 1 run batted in and 1 run scored. Outfielder Lorenzo Cain was 4 of 5 with 1 rbi and 2 runs scored. For the 2nd game in a row Baltimore reliever Darren O’Day was saddled with the loss as he pitched just 0.1 of an inning while giving up an earned run on 1 hit. Center-fielder Adam Jones was 2 for 5 with 2 rbi’s and 1 run scored. Tonight the starting pitchers are lefty Wei-Yin Chen for the Orioles and Jeremy Guthrie for the Royals. Chen has one decision in one start this postseason. In the one start, October 3rd in the ALDS vs Detroit, he pitched just 3.2 innings as he allowed 5 earned runs on 7 hits. Guthrie is making his first start of this postseason. During the regular season he had a 13-11 record with a 4.13 era and 124 strikeouts in 202.2 innings pitched. He is 3-0 in his last 3 starts (during the regular season). During those 3 starts combined he only allowed 1 earned run.
Orioles vs Royals Prediction
The Royals are 6-0 in the postseason this year and their mojo (or whatever you want to call it) just can’t seem to be stopped. I would expect a raucous home crowd as their team is 2 wins away from a World Series appearance. The Orioles are going to have to get to Guthrie early as the downfall for him might be the long layoff between starts (his last start was on September 26th). Maybe the Orioles will surprise me tonight but right now the Royals seem like a team of destiny.
Take the Royals +104 (Bovada.lv)
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