The Kansas City Royals continue their run as the feel-good story of 2014 as the team with the smallest names on the roster continue to make the biggest plays on the field. The Royals might have finished last in the league in home runs this season, but they are proving they are not always necessary as small-ball is beating the Los Angeles Angels in the ALDS. Now Kansas City is preparing to sweep the Angels as the series heads to California for Game 3.
The Royals are playing small and winning with bunts, infield hits and stolen bases. The team led the league with 153 stolen bases in the regular season and continued that trend in the postseason. The Royals managed seven in the wild card game against the Oakland Athletics. The Angels on the other hand are showing that power hitting does not always equal success. The team ranked seventh in the league with 155 homers on the year, but Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton are a combined 1 for 25 in this series.
The Angles are hoping to get one win and shift momentum in their favor. CJ Wilson takes the mound after finishing the regular season 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA. However, he has struggled in recent postseason matchups. He is 0-5 with a 5.97 ERA in his last seven postseason games. That was all with the Texas Rangers. He is needed to get the Angles out of their current five-game losing streak, dating back to the regular season. According to ESPN, only eight teams have rallied to win a playoff series after losing the first two games.
Looking for the sweep, the Royals will put James Shields back on the mound. after his success outing in the wild card matchup. He is pitching on regular rest after giving up four runs in five innings to the Athletics. The Royals are hoping to not have to go into extra innings after capping off two wins with late-game home runs. Eric Hosmer got the win on Friday after hitting a two-run homer in the 11th. Right now, the Royals are the first team in major league history to win three straight extra-inning playoff games. They are hoping not to make it four and get this game done in nine.
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