2014 MLB Playoffs Preview & Predictions: San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals Face Off in NLCS [Poll]
The 2014 Major League Baseball season is coming to a close and there are just four teams remaining in the postseason, with the St Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants facing off in the National League Championship series.
These two franchises have been two of the most successful in recent years. Since 2002, the Cardinals and Giants have appeared in a combined seven World Series'. After this NLCS, it will be eight. Both of these teams have great fan bases, a deep history and bright future.
Latin Post previews this series and predicts a winner as the 2014 MLB Playoffs roll on:
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants finished the season 88-74, second place in the National League West. Although their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, finished ahead of them by six games, they were recently eliminated by the Cardinals. The Giants began their postseason run with a dominating 8-0 wild card win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The magic continued for the Giants, as they defeated the Washington Nationals three games to one.
The Giants have won two of the last four World Series titles, so you can never sleep on this team regardless of what their record was during the regular season. In the 2002 and 2012 postseasons, the Giants eliminated the Cardinals in the NLCS. Giants fans are hoping history can repeat itself.
Hunter Pence and Buster Posey have been the two most effective hitters all season long for the Giants. Venezuelan slugger Pablo Sandoval has a history of showing up the postseason, most notably in the 2012 World Series. That World Series, he won the MVP for his efforts.
The Giants were 4-3 against the Cardinals this season.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals recently ended the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series hopes after a 3-2 victory Tuesday. The Giants eliminated the Dodgers in just four games and dominated the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw. The Cardinals were able to score 11 runs off the soon to be Cy Young Award Winner in his 12.2 inning pitched.
The Cardinals won the National League Central with a 90-72 record. This is the Cardinals' fourth consecutive season making the postseason, and they're trying to make amends on last year's World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox. Because the Cardinals are the No. 3 seed in the National League, they will have home-field advantage in this best of seven series.
Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta have been the best hitters for the Cardinals this year, and the pitching staff has done a terrific job. Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller and Pat Neshek having been the driving forces of the Cardinals starters pitchers. Trevor Rosenthal is the best relief pitcher on the Cardinals.
Schedule
Game 1 of this seven-game series begins on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. EST. Coverage will be on FOX. Game 2 will be played the very next day at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri as well. Game 3 will be played in San Francisco on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Prediction
Both teams are extremely well-balanced and very experienced. It's unlikely we will get a blowout, with two great teams competing for a World Series opportunity. The Cardinals know the Giants have beaten and eliminated them twice from the postseason in recent memory, and they want revenge. Home-field advantage and pitching will make the difference.
Cardinals win series 4-3
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