Royals starting lineup: SS Alcides Escobar, RF Norichika Aoki, CF Lorenzo Cain, 1B Eric Hosmer, DH Billy Butler, LF Alex Gordon, C Salvador Perez, 2B Omar Infante, 3B Mike Moustakas, Pitching: James Shields
Athletics starting lineup: CF Coco Crisp, LF Sam Fuld, 3B Josh Donaldson, DH Brandon Moss, RF Josh Reddick, SS Jed Lowrie, 1B Stephen Vogt, C Geovany Soto, 2B Eric Sogard, Pitching: Jon Lester
The Kansas City Royals fabricated one of the boldest trades in authorization history two years ago that concluded up aircraft adolescent outfielder Wil Myers to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Oakland Athletics, however, fabricated a actual agnate move a few months ago, obtaining pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the Chicago Cubs.
Pitching for the Kansas City Royals tonight is James Shields, additionally accepted as ''Big Bold James,'' who was the capital allotment of the accord with the Tampa Bay Rays that assuredly pushed the aggregation into the playoffs for the aboriginal time in 29 years. For the Oakland Athletics, it's lefty ballista Jon Lester, a postseason fable and brilliant of the Boston Red Sox aftermost season, who was acquired by the Oakland A's at the July 31st non-waiver barter deadline, all aloof for this moment: the playoffs.
Live MLB Baseball PLayoff 2014
The champ of this one-game playoff Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals for the American Alliance Wild Card will ultimately beforehand to face the Los Angeles Angels in the best-of-five analysis alternation starting on Thursday. The also-ran has a connected offseason advanced of themselves. The teams allotment a deluge of similarities, but to name a few: boilerplate offenses that can accept quick blaze of fame, backed by able starting casting and two of the best ascendant bullpens in all of baseball. Both teams additionally allotment a cogent difference: Oakland Athletics accept affluence of postseason experience, as it has now accomplished the postseason three beeline years, while the Kansas City Royals accept been the apartment aggregation of the American Alliance Central for decades.
A big name in the Kansas City Royals' abode was additionally complex in the accord that beatific Wil Myers to Tampa Bay and Shields to Kansas City. That All-Star's name is Wade Davis, a above starting abode who has begin abundant success out of the bullpen. During the 2014 campaign, Davis has aggregate a 9-2 almanac forth with a amazing 1.00 ERA over 72 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Also, Davis has alone accustomed bristles extra-base hits all season, including no home runs.
2014 MLB AL Wild Card Live
Tonight's starter, James Shields, has delivered big this month, as able-bodied as all season. He currently has a 2.31 ERA during the ages of September, as the Royals accept won four of his starts in some high-pressure games.
While the Royals were adequate in their agents ace afore the barter deadline, the Athletics were still analytic for their own top of the circling starter. Even with several front-line starters, Oakland accepted administrator Billy Beane knew that in adjustment to get over his connected postseason, he had to go attending on the barter bazaar and obtain an ace.
The Boston Red Sox were accommodating to move that affectionate of guy, Jon Lester to be exact. The move Beane fabricated for Lester on July 31st, alien slugger and backstab arresting Home Run Derby best Yoenis Cespedes to Boston. This aloft abounding eyebrows beyond the majors. Even with the abridgement of assembly from the Athletics' offense, Lester has connected to angle like he had before, an ace. He has aggregate a 6-4 almanac with a 2.35 ERA in eleven starts aback he accustomed in Oakland. Tuesday night, also, will mark Lester's 12th alpha and 14th postseason appearance.
Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals Live Score and Result
Tonight looks acceptable for Lester on cardboard aback one sees that he is adverse the Kansas City Royals. Making a Superman reference, adverse a awkward abode for the Royals is like activity up adjoin kryptonite. Lester has gone 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA adjoin them this season, as he has won alert in a amount of a few weeks with the Athletics. He additionally no-hit the Kansas City Royals aback in 2008, aback he was still a affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.
Some abhorrent players to watch tonight for the Kansas City Royals are outfielder Alex Gordon and catcher Salvador Perez. Gordon, a backstab All-Star, has bargain .266/.351/.432 this season, while hitting 19 home runs and 34 doubles, and active in 74 runs and accumulating a 117 OPS+. His arresting WAR is additional amid outfielders in the American League, abaft assistant Lorenzo Cain, as he has a 2.6 WAR in the outfield. Salvador Perez is actual basic to the Royals' success both offensively and defensively. This year, he has hit .260/.289/.403 with 17 home runs, 28 doubles and 70 runs batted in. Also, he has managed a 90 OPS+ over the 2014 campaign. Defensively, he is one of the best catchers in baseball. Aftermost season, he led the alliance in runners befuddled out burglary with 25, as this season, he ranks eighth amid all players in the American League with a 2.1 arresting WAR.
Live Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals Streaming
A key abhorrent amateur for the Oakland Athletics is their brilliant third baseman Josh Donaldson. Donaldson, who came in fourth in aftermost season's AL MVP voting, is slashing .260/.289/.403 on the analysis with 29 home runs and 98 runs batted in. Donaldson gives the A's an added atom aback he is assuming well, because aback he gets going, the blow of the calendar gets going.
The Royals were in a analysis chase until the final day of the 162-game approved season, until the Detroit Tigers clinched the American Alliance Central. But for abundant of the aftermost anniversary of the season, they had already clinched a Wild Card spot. However, that absolutely did not administer to the Oakland Athletics, as they about had to comedy the Seattle Mariners in a one-game tiebreaker to see who can aloof comedy for the appropriate to comedy on Tuesday. All that affairs tonight is what happens at Kauffman Stadium, amid two starting pitchers who were brought to their corresponding teams aloof for this moment: to win a playoff game.