We're down to four teams in MLB: Cardinals, Giants, Orioles and Royals. Let's take a look at the just completed series as we prepare to crown the champions of the American and National Leagues.
GIANTS VS. CARDINALS
Matt Cain is on the DL.
Tim Lincecum is MIA.
Angel Pagan is on the DL.
Michael Morse hasn't done anything.
And the Giants are in the League Championship Series.
That's no SP1, no SP4, no leadoff hitting center fielder and no power hitting 5th hitter.
And the Giants are in the League Championship Series.
As Kyle Elfrink's father pointed out, Kyle is my co-host every day on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports radio (7 PM EDT), in the five years Kyle have been on the channel either the Giants or Cardinals will have made the World Series.
RT @mlb The @SFGiants have won SEVEN consecutive #postseason series: http://atmlb.com/1uZC8Oo @USArmy #CLINCHTOBER
RT @AlexPavlovic Ryan Vogelsong is only starting pitcher in MLB history to allow one run or fewer in each of his first five postseason starts.
*** His run of 5-straight such outings is behind only the 6-straight of Curt Schilling.
RT @MLB_PR This marks the Cardinals' record 13th NLCS appearance. Also 1st team to reach 4 straight LCS since 1998-2001 Yankees.
RT @MLBStatoftheDay: John Lackey has made 17 career #postseason starts, and owns a 2.92 ERA in those outings.
RT @MLB_PR Record 9 of 14 Division Series games decided by one run (64.3%), topping 8 in 2011/12. Previous best percentage was 46.2% in 2009.
RT @ESPNStatsInfo Most Postseason Wins Last 5 Seasons: Cardinals 30 Giants 26
ORIOLES VS. ROYALS
Phil Backert, SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio producer extraordinare. Here he is breaking down the Orioles.
RT @ESPNStatsInfo Since 1986 (year after KC won WS), Royals & Orioles have combined to win just 19 playoff games, 102 fewer than the Giants & Cardinals
Nelson Cruz has hit .500 with two homers and five RBIs in 12 at-bats.
Eric Hosmer is batting .500 with two homers and five RBIs in 14 at-bats.
Billy Butler has a .466 OPS in 16 plate appearances.
LOSERS NOTES
RT @jay_jaffe: Aside from Bryce Harper, Nationals players hit .148/.204/.183 in NLDS, worse than avg NL pitcher this year (.166/.215/.229)
RT @BillShaikin: Kershaw's ERA in NLDS: 7.82. Career postseason ERA: 5.12. #Dodgers #StLCards
RT @MLBStatoftheDay The @Cardinals defeated Clayton Kershaw twice across five days after the lefty took only three losses all season (May 17, May 28, Aug. 16).
RT @MLBStatoftheDay: Clayton Kershaw lost 1 decision from June through September. The @Cardinals beat him twice in 5 days.
RT @ESPNStatsInfo David Price is 1st pitcher in MLB history to lose his first 5 postseason starts (He's gotten 2.0 runs of support per game) via @EliasSports
RT @ESPNStatsInfo This postseason - Kershaw, Strasburg, Lester, Scherzer, Verlander & Price combined to start 7 games. Their respective teams went 0-7