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AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS (90-72) VS. ORIOLES (96-66)

 
Published Oct. 2, 2014

Season series: Orioles won 4-2

Tonight's starters: Tigers - RH Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15); Orioles - RH Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34)

Of note: Detroit's vaunted starting rotation was actually somewhat disappointing this season; its 3.89 ERA was 10th in the American League, while Baltimore's was fifth at 3.61. But Justin Verlander finished with back-to-back strong starts, and former Ray David Price was stellar in the division-clinching season finale. The Orioles' significant edge is in the bullpen - it posted a 3.10 ERA to the Tigers' 4.29, and the deadline acquisition of hard-throwing LHP Andrew Miller has given manager Buck Showalter another matchup nightmare.

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AL Division Series:Royals (89-73) vs. Angels (98-64)

Season series: Tied 3-3

Tonight's starters: Royals - LH Jason Vargas (11-10, 3.71); Angels - RH Jered Weaver (18-9, 3.59)

Of note: This will be a series of stark contrasts. The Angels' strength is their offense, which led the majors with 773 runs. CF Mike Trout had arguably the weakest of his three seasons - his Wins Above Replacement came in at 7.8 after totals of 10.1 and 10.5 - and he still was baseball's best player. The Royals were last in the AL in homers and walks, but they allowed the fourth fewest runs in the league thanks to a solid rotation, a stellar bullpen keyed by closer Greg Holland and former Ray Wade Davis and one of the best defenses in baseball.