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Clips

(September 30, 2014)

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Today’s Clips Contents FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES (Page 3)

Angels, Dodgers, A's, Giants could make for a California World Series Angels playoff game times announced; Josh Hamilton practices

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER (Page 5)

Angels' Trout ready to try on playoff pressure for first time Full workout goes well for Angels' Hamilton Tustin City Council meeting tonight on updated plan to lure Angels to

town Times announced for first 3 games of Angels series

FROM ANGELS.COM (Page 10)

Shoemaker, Hamilton progressing Voting underway to decide Hank Aaron Awards What a difference a year makes for Angels' Dipoto Much of Angels' playoff history written this century Constructing a winner: Angels Angels wrap up regular season, focus on ALDS Shoemaker confident about ALDS; Hamilton less so Scioscia not ready to reveal ALDS rotation Kendrick cleaning up at cleanup

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (Page 20)

Shoemaker, Hamilton hope for Angels playoff return FROM ESPN.COM (Page 21)

Playoff starting pitcher, rotation rankings Ranking the playoff bullpens

FROM SI.COM (Page 27)

2014 playoff team preview: Los Angeles Angels FROM FOX SPORTS (Page 28)

Week ahead for Angels: Playoffs begin Thursday #getoctobered FROM USA TODAY (Page 29)

For MLB playoff teams, which flaws will prove fatal? FROM THE SPORTS XCHANGE (Page 32)

Team Report – LOS ANGELES ANGELS Team Report – KANSAS CITY ROYALS Team Report – OAKLAND ATHLETICS

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FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

Angels, Dodgers, A's, Giants could make for a California World Series By Kevin Baxter They're still going to call baseball's championship the World Series, but there's a good chance next month's final will have something less than a global reach.

In fact, with this week's playoff field featuring four teams from California, two from Missouri and two from the neighboring cities of Baltimore and Washington, the title showdown may be more about local bragging rights than world domination.

For example, if the league pennants go to the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals, teams separated by less than 250 miles of flat asphalt, they would meet in an I-70 series. The Show-Me State would like to see that but people in the other 49 states might not be as interested.

If the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles win out, they would meet in a Beltway Series — never mind that Baltimore, 40 miles north of the White House, is actually outside the Capital Beltway.

Even C-Span would get better TV ratings than a Nationals-Orioles series.

So it's out West where the most intriguing possibilities lie. Among California teams only the San Diego Padres failed to RSVP for the playoffs, giving the state four teams in the postseason for the first time.

That means there could be a Freeway Series between the Angels and Dodgers. With Mike Trout and Albert Pujols versus Clayton Kershaw and Yasiel Puig, it would feature more drama and star power than the red carpet at the Academy Awards.

Or we could see a repeat of the 1989 Bay Bridge Series between the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics, a matchup so compelling the earth actually shook before Game 3.

We've seen World Series featuring the A's versus the Dodgers twice and the Angels against the Giants once, and all three were epic in their way. In the last Oakland-L.A. series, Kirk Gibson limped off the bench and into baseball lore with a game-winning pinch-hit home run. The Angels won their only championship with a seven-game victory over the Giants.

The TV promos almost write themselves.

But there's a lot still to be done before any of those California Classics become reality. The A's and Giants have one-game wild-card playoffs to win on the road first, Oakland in Kansas City on Tuesday and San Francisco in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

If Oakland wins, it would guarantee a California team a spot in the American League Championship Series since the winner of the Royals-A's game will meet the Angels next. The best-of-five division playoff will begin Thursday in Anaheim, where the Angels own the best home record in the majors and where the forecast calls for temperatures in the mid-90s.

The Dodgers open their postseason a day later against the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. And although the Dodgers were the best road team in the majors this season, they'll have a extra home-field

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advantage on their side as well with temperatures again expected to rise into the mid-90s, about 20 degrees warmer than the forecast for St. Louis.

If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the playoffs. Especially in Southern California.

"When you come to L.A. don't bring your sweater," taunted City Councilmember Tom LaBonge, a lifelong Dodgers fan who lives in the shadow of Chavez Ravine.

If the Dodgers beat the Cardinals, the team that knocked them out of the postseason in two of their last five visits, they could relive more history with a California Aqueduct series to decide the National League title.

Twice the Giants have beaten the Dodgers in a playoff one step short of the World Series, in 1962 at Dodger Stadium and in 1951 on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World." The Giants face the more difficult path to the rematch, though, needing to beat the Pirates and then the Washington Nationals, who finished the season with the league's best record.

Yet, should either league series, or the World Series, come down to a battle of North and South, the momentum is on the South. Not only did the Dodgers and Angels win their regular-season series with the Giants and A's, but the South is on the rise in other ways too. Los Angeles has won its last three playoff series with the North, the Clippers eliminating the Golden State Warriors in the 2014 NBA postseason and the Kings beating the San Jose Sharks in the NHL the last two seasons. In college football, USC opened its season with victories over Fresno State and Stanford, and even Lancaster was beating Visalia to win the California League title in minor league baseball.

In any case, a World Series involving the Dodgers or Angels certainly makes for a better script than a Detroit Tigers-Nationals showdown. And as everyone in Southern California knows, when it comes to selling a TV drama the story is everything.

Angels playoff game times announced; Josh Hamilton practices By Mike DiGiovanna The Angels will open the best-of-five American League division series at home Thursday at 6 p.m. if the Kansas City Royals win Tuesday night’s wild-card game, or at 6:30 p.m. if the Oakland Athletics win the wild card.

The start time for Game 2 on Friday night will also depend on the Angels’ opponent. If it’s the Royals, the game will start at 6:30 p.m.; if it’s the A’s, it will start at 7 p.m. Game 3 on Sunday will start at 4:30 p.m. Pacific time in Oakland or Kansas City.

Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton, who has missed all but one game since Sept. 5 because of right-shoulder, rib-cage and chest injuries, did a full workout of baseball activities in Angel Stadium on Monday, including hitting on the field, long-toss and running the bases.

According to Tim Mead, the team’s vice president of communications: “Everything went well.” Hamilton will repeat the program on Tuesday and Wednesday, though he is also expected to hit off live pitching.

The Angels must determine by Thursday morning whether Hamilton will be added to the division series roster.

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Pitcher Matt Shoemaker, who is recovering from a mild left rib-cage strain, played light catch Monday after completing a bullpen workout in Seattle on Sunday. The right-hander is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Tuesday and appears on track to start Game 3 of the division series.

FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels' Trout ready to try on playoff pressure for first time By Jeff Fletcher ANAHEIM – As Mike Trout prepares for his first foray into the charged environment of the postseason, he can look across the clubhouse to find someone who knows how to make the first time a success. All David Freese did in his first postseason was win the MVP awards in both the League Championship Series and the World Series, one of the best October debuts in history. Freese’s advice for Trout? “There’s not a single thing I need to say to Mike Trout,” Freese said. “The night we won (the division), I told him ‘I’m pumped that you’re here. You belong in the postseason.’ He’s going to live up to it. It’s going to be fun to watch.” Trout, the Angels’ 23-year-old superstar, has been taking a firmer foothold atop the game’s hierarchy for a couple of years now. This season, though, he has taken another huge step, by helping get his team into the postseason. “The whole country knows who he is now, but in the playoffs everyone is watching more closely,” Albert Pujols said. “It’s going to be fun. I hope he enjoys it. Hopefully it will be a great experience for him, and for everyone else.” Trout, who often deflects questions about his personal performance with references to the team, said he’s eager for the opportunity. “It’s one of your dreams, to get to the playoffs and try to win a ring,” he said. “We’re definitely excited.” However, Trout is certainly aware that the thrill of the playoffs does not come cheaply. It brings more pressure, more scrutiny and – oh, by the way – a daily dose of good pitching. That’s why baseball history is littered with superstars whose playoff numbers bear little resemblance to their regular-season numbers. Flip through some of the biggest names in the sport and it’s easy to find playoff failure, especially early in their postseason careers. Barry Bonds is the poster boy for October disappointment. Although he was firmly established as one of the best players in the game, he hit .196 in his first five trips to the postseasonand his teams never won a series. Pujols started slowly, going just 2 for 18 in his first postseason series, which the Cardinals lost.

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Both players got better, though, and would have outstanding postseasons later in their careers. Of course, there are also plenty of stars who hit the ground running in their first foray into October. Ken Griffey Jr. hit .364 with six homers in 11 games in his first postseason. Cal Ripken Jr., who was also 23, was 6 for 15 in his first postseason series, and he led the Orioles to the World Series title in 1983. And then there is Freese, who didn’t meet anyone’s definition of a star before October 2011. All he did was hit .397 with a record 21 RBI that postseason, leading the Cardinals to the title. “It is different,” Freese said of the postseason. “It’s the loudest environment you’ve ever been in. ... You have to drown it out and focus. It kind of makes it easier to focus because every pitch is that important, and you feel it.” When Trout steps to the plate for the first time at Angel Stadium in Game 1 of the division series Thursday, the ballpark is likely to be rocking. “The atmosphere is definitely going to be a lot louder and a lot different,” Trout said. “If you feel like the game is speeding up, you just step out and take some deep breaths and slow down as much as you can.” Angels hitting coach Don Baylor, a former MVP, is a veteran of seven Octobers. “It’s not easy,” Baylor said. “You know all eyes are on you. All your friends are watching. When you do it for the first time, it’s pretty awesome. You’re running 900 mph.” Baylor said the All-Star Game has provided a glimpse at how Trout will handle playing a baseball game amid a media circus. Trout is 4 for 7 in three All-Star Games, including winning the MVP this summer. “He’s handled the All-Star Game great, but this is not the All-Star Game,” Baylor said. “This is a little bit different. There is pressure.” That pressure, Baylor said, grows quickly after a poor start. An 0 for 8 over a couple of games in the regular season barely registers, but a player who is hitless in his first two playoff games is certain – fair or not – to face questions. “You get that first hit, and everything is fine,” Baylor said. “If you don’t, there’s pressure the next day. You always put pressure on yourself, especially if the team doesn’t win. Guys like Mike and Albert, who are run producers, they put it on themselves.” Pujols said he planned to talk to Trout to help him avoid falling into that trap. “My hope for him is just to have fun like he’s done the last three years and don’t try to put too much pressure on yourself,” Pujols said. “I hope he doesn’t feel like he has to carry this ballclub. What I expect from him is to just go out and play and do the things he needs to do.”

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Full workout goes well for Angels' Hamilton By Jeff Fletcher

Josh Hamilton went through a full workout of baseball activities, taking batting practice, running and playing long toss Monday morning at Angel Stadium.

“Everything went well,” Angels spokesman Tim Mead said.

With most of the Angels players taking Monday off, the workout was not open to the media.

Matt Shoemaker also played light catch a day after his first bullpen session since he's been dealing with a strained left oblique, Mead said. If Shoemaker feels well enough Tuesday, he will have a second bullpen session.

Shoemaker said Sunday he is “very confident” he will be able to pitch in the postseason. The soonest he is likely to start is Game 3, which would be Sunday.

Hamilton, who has been dealing with tightness in his rib cage, had not taken batting practice on the field since Sept. 16, the day he came back from a shoulder injury. Since then he’s been fighting the rib cage issue, including at least seven cortisone injections, he said.

Hamilton is expected to have a similar workout Tuesday. Manager Mike Scioscia said over the weekend that Hamilton will need to see live pitching in some type of simulated game before his status for the division series can be determined.

The division series roster is due Thursday morning, the day of Game 1.

The Angels will face the winner of Tuesday’s wild-card game between the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals.

GOLDEN INFIELDERS?

Erick Aybar and Albert Pujols have both bounced back from down seasons defensively to be as good as ever, Scioscia said.

Aybar, who won the Gold Glove in 2011, has been making impressive plays all season. Aybar made a nice backhand stop to snuff a rally Saturday night.

FanGraphs’ all-encompassing defensive rating, which is based on Ultimate Zone Rating, has Aybar as the second-best shortstop in the American League this season, behind Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy. Last year, when Aybar was bothered by leg issues, he ranked ninth.

“He’s been as steady as any shortstop I’ve been around,” Scioscia said. “He was banged up last year. You saw plays he didn’t make quite as easily. This year, he’s made the routine and the sensational plays. Very similar to his Gold Glove year.”

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Pujols, who won a Gold Glove with the Cardinals in 2006 and 2010, had knee and foot problems in his first two years with the Angels. This year he’s been healthy, and the results have shown themselves at the plate and around first base.

“He’s like a cat down there, reminds me of (Andres) Galarraga, everything from his hands to way he moves around the bag, his experience,” Scioscia said. “No doubt he’s a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman.”

Gold Gloves are awarded based on the voting of coaches and managers, with a statistical formula using defensive metrics factoring into the results.

TROUT FOR AARON

Mike Trout was the Angels nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes the best hitter in each league. One player from each team was nominated. Fans can participate in the selection process by voting on mlb.com. The winners will be announced during the World Series.

Tustin City Council meeting tonight on updated plan to lure Angels to town By Raymond Mendoza TUSTIN – City leaders are expected to meet behind closed doors today to discuss ongoing talks between the city and Pacific Coast Investors about the possibility of becoming the new home to the Angels baseball team. The special meeting comes after the Angels halted negotiations on Friday with Anaheim over a new stadium lease. Following the announcement, team officials said that they are “exploring all options” in finding a new city to host the team. City Council members will meet with City Manager Jeff Parker and Deputy Director of Economic Development John Buchanan at 4:45 p.m. today at City Hall. Residents may give input on the possibility of the Angels moving to Tustin before the closed session portion of the meeting begins. Parker said City Council members will receive an update concerning the city’s talks with Pacific Coast Investors – team owner Arte Moreno’s development company – about land value prices for the amount of acres needed for a new stadium. Parker said city representatives have met five or six times with team officials since March to discuss how much land is available for development at the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility, also known as Tustin Legacy. Land at the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Station, which is near the I-5, I-405 and the 55, has been the focus of talks, with sites near the intersections of Warner and Armstrong avenues, and Red Hill Avenue and Barranca Parkway being mentioned. “From their perspective is the possibility of accessibility,” Parker said. “That area has freeway access to the 5, 55 and the 405 – that’s a really important part of ongoing dialogue.”

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Parker said the Angels are looking at 120 to 150 acres for a stadium and possible ancillary development, and that parking structures are being considered in addition to ground level parking. The structures would open up more land for non-stadium development. Parker said the city owns more than 600 acres at the former base. So far, it has approved 550 multifamily units and 325 single-family homes for the land and expects to develop the rest with a mix of residential, retail, commercial and recreational uses, with about 100 acres remaining as open space. Mayor Al Murray said the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Facility, because of its size and accessibility, has become a major interest to developers and that working on becoming home to the Angels would be a great opportunity for the city. “The Angels are a world class organization, and I look forward to discussing the opportunity for them to become a possible community partner in the future,” Murray said. If negotiations progress into development discussions and more concrete plans, Parker said public hearings would be held to ensure that hosting a major league team in Tustin is in the best interest of residents. “The perspective that we look at it, and have looked at it, is trying to determine what exactly that means for our community,” Parker said. “We’re trying to define how that would work and how that would benefit our community.”

Times announced for first 3 games of Angels series By Jeff Fletcher

Major League Baseball has released the game times for the first three games of the division series, with the Angels playing at least the first two games at night.

In Game 1 on Thursday at Angel Stadium, first pitch will be 6:07 p.m. if the Angels are playing the Kansas City Royals, and 6:37 p.m. if they are playing the Oakland Athletics.

Game 2 on Friday will start at 6:37 p.m. against the Royals or 7:07 p.m. against the A's.

Game 3, which will be on the road on Sunday, will start at 4:37 p.m., regardless of the opponent.

The first 3 games of the Angels series will be aired on TBS.

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FROM ANGELS.COM

Shoemaker, Hamilton progressing By Alden Gonzalez ANAHEIM -- Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton (right chest/rib cage) and right-handed pitcher Matt Shoemaker (left oblique) continued to progress during optional workouts at Angel Stadium on Monday, according to the club's public-relations department. Hamilton, who took soft-toss swings in the batting cage after four days off from hitting on Sunday, hit on the field, threw long toss and ran the bases. "Everything went well," vice president of communications Tim Mead relayed, adding that Hamilton will repeat the program on Tuesday and Wednesday. Shoemaker, who threw between 30 and 40 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday, played light catch, as expected. If he feels good on Tuesday, the 28-year-old rookie will throw off the mound once again. Shoemaker said Sunday that he's "very" confident he can start for the Angels in the American League Division Series, which begins Thursday at Angel Stadium against the winner of the AL Wild Card Game between the A's and Royals on Tuesday. Hamilton, however, has to see some velocity and swing without pain before being deemed ready.

Voting underway to decide Hank Aaron Awards By Mark Newman Voting is underway through Sunday exclusively at MLB.com to help decide the 16th annual winners of the Hank Aaron Award, given by "The Hammer" himself during the upcoming 110th World Series to the outstanding offensive performer in each league. American League nominees include Nelson Cruz of Baltimore, David Ortiz of Boston, Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox, Michael Brantley of Cleveland, Victor Martinez of Detroit, Jose Altuve of Houston, Alex Gordon of Kansas City, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Trevor Plouffe of Minnesota, Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees, Josh Donaldson of Oakland, Robinson Cano of Seattle, Evan Longoria of Tampa Bay, Adrian Beltre of Texas and Jose Bautista of Toronto. National League candidates include Paul Goldschmidt of Arizona, Justin Upton of Atlanta, Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, Devin Mesoraco of Cincinnati, Justin Morneau of Colorado, Adrian Gonzalez of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Giancarlo Stanton of Miami, Jonathan Lucroy of Milwaukee, Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets, Andrew McCutchen of Pittsburgh, Matt Carpenter of St. Louis, Seth Smith of San Diego, Hunter Pence of San Francisco and Anthony Rendon of Washington. Goldschmidt is going after his second straight Hank Aaron Award, having been the NL choice last year for the first time. Miguel Cabrera was the AL recipient each of the past two years, but V-Mart's nomination by Detroit means an end to that streak.

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"As one of the game's most talented and respected players ever, it is appropriate that Major League Baseball recognizes the top offensive performers in each league with an award named in honor of Hank Aaron," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "Each of the nominees should be applauded for their outstanding seasons, which will make selecting just one winner in each league a difficult task for Hank, our Hall of Fame panel and our participating fans." "I am honored to have my name on the award given by Major League Baseball to the top offensive performers in the game," Aaron said. "Each of the nominees is talented and deserving, which makes me grateful to have the assistance of my fellow Hall of Famers and the fans to help select the winners." For the fifth consecutive year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which is officially sanctioned by MLB and has recognized the top offensive threat in each league since it was established in 1999. The panel includes some of the greatest offensive players of all-time -- Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray, Frank Thomas and Robin Yount. These Hall of Famers -- who combined for 16,956 hits, 8,844 RBIs and 2,109 home runs -- have been personally selected by Aaron to lend their expertise to select the best offensive performer in each league. Do you go with a masher, like Stanton or Cruz? Or do you recognize a guy like Altuve, who led the Majors in batting average and led the AL in stolen bases? Home run kings often fare well in this process, but Chris Davis (53 homers) was trumped last year by Cabrera. And what about Trout, often referred to as the game's best player? Past winners of the Hank Aaron Award include Cabrera and Goldschmidt (2013); Cabrera and Buster Posey (2012); Bautista and Matt Kemp (2011); Bautista and Joey Votto (2010); Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols (2009); Aramis Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis (2008); Rodriguez and Prince Fielder(2007); Jeter and Ryan Howard (2006); Ortiz and Andruw Jones (2005); Manny Ramirez and Barry Bonds (2004); Alex Rodriguez and Pujols (2003); Rodriguez and Bonds (2001-02); Carlos Delgado and Todd Helton (2000) and Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa (1999). The award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record. At that time, it was the first major award introduced by MLB in more than 25 years.

What a difference a year makes for Angels' Dipoto By Alden Gonzalez At this time last year, Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto didn't even know if he'd still have a job. The Angels were winding down an 84-loss season, extending their string of playoff absences to four years despite a bevy of high-priced commitments by their competitive owner, Arte Moreno. Meanwhile, reports swirled about a fracture in Dipoto's relationship with longtime manager Mike Scioscia, and the prevailing sentiment was that one of them had to go. Now, Dipoto presides over an Angels team that finished with baseball's best record and locked up home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The GM's 2015 option was picked up nearly three months ago, and he and Scioscia are doing just fine, thank you very much. Winning, as they say, cures all.

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Before the American League Division Series kicks off from Angel Stadium on Thursday, Dipoto sat down with MLB.com for some questions. MLB.com: What would you identify as the biggest reason your Angels went from spending only two days above .500 in 2013 to finishing 2014 in first place? Dipoto: It's probably two-fold, makeup being first and foremost. To me, for winning teams, it always comes back to makeup. We have really good makeup. It's a resilient bunch. They believe in one another, they work hard, they play hard. The group we had last year -- very solid makeup, not nearly as resilient as this group here. No. 2 is that until we got into August [when both Tyler Skaggs and Garrett Richards suffered season-ending injuries], we didn't have to deal with any debilitating injuries. We were without Kole [Calhoun] for about six weeks, we were without Josh [Hamilton] for close to two months, and in the time those guys were out, others stepped up. MLB.com: You're going into the postseason with home-field advantage throughout October, but you'll also enter the ALDS without knowing what you'll get out of Matt Shoemaker (left oblique) and Hamilton (right chest/ribcage). What do you think of your chances? Dipoto: With Josh having missed these last three weeks, we understand how he can help us, and we also understand that he might not be there, so we're prepared either way. In Shoe's case -- he's done a lot better. Right now, he's in a pretty good place. ... We're very confident right now that he's going to be able to do the things that he does and has done, and we'll take it day by day. But I think as important as anything, we're a team. It's a 25-man team. No matter what has happened, whether it be when Kole and Josh were hurt earlier in the season, or when Garrett and Tyler went down late, this team just finds a way to pick it up. Sometimes it comes from areas you wouldn't expect, and sometimes the guys that lead the charge are the guys that have been around. One through 25, they've just done a great job. MLB.com: What was key to you and Scioscia finally getting on the same page this offseason, and how did that help set the foundation for this season? Dipoto: It took time. Mike and I have always gotten along very well. There have been times when we like each other more than others, like any other two people who work together. He's had 15 years of success here, been outstanding for this organization, and he had a template of things that he believed in, and I came in with my own ideas. And it takes time to work those things out. Here we are in our third year together, and I think we've done a nice job in covering up the gaps that existed previously. Some of that was just in our belief, some of that was with what we were trying to get to, some of it was simply better communication. MLB.com: We've seen several franchises -- most recently the Phillies -- eventually crumble under the weight of large contracts. How do you keep that from happening with the Angels, while also competing for championships each season? Dipoto: One of the tricks is to make sure you achieve good balance. The revenue streams from Arte allow us to do some things with our payroll that many teams just don't have the ability to do. It's one of our strengths; we might as well use it. But we also have to be aware that we need other guys to develop

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on the other side of the roster -- the young player, the 0-3 [years of service time] who's still in that $0.5 million earnings range -- because they offset the cost of the guys on the top side. We understand what our model is and we have to stay with that model. We can't be pushed in the direction to do something north, where we have to go above and beyond. I've heard the comment, 'We're all in.' We're all in every year, but we have to do it with good balance. And that means we have to be a little bit more aware of how our roster ages. I think one of the great misconceptions is that we have an old and aging roster. We really don't. ... We have a nice balance on our team. MLB.com: In tune with that, how important was it to stay away from the big free-agent contract in the offseason? Dipoto: Critically important. We needed to stay flexible; we needed to create flexibility on our roster. It was really hard for us to trade Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos. They're quality guys, they're quality Angels, born and bred through the system, and good players. But we needed to turn them into functional and flexible pieces -- guys that fit our roster better. And in the case of Fernando Salas and Tyler Skaggs and Hector Santiago, that can give us that affordable, controllable, optionable pitching that we just didn't have. MLB.com: Looking ahead, you're not going to have Skaggs next season because of Tommy John surgery, and Richards is going to be coming off major knee surgery. How much urgency will you put on acquiring starting pitching via free agency this offseason? Dipoto: The well isn't dry. We have Jered Weaver, we have C.J. Wilson, we do have Garrett Richards -- who we anticipate coming back -- we have Hector Santiago, we have Matt Shoemaker. We do still control the rights to Wade LeBlanc once this season is done. We do have Cory Rasmus next year, we have Drew Rucinski. Right there, we're eight deep. So right now, we don't view it as critical, or some game of Russian Roulette we're getting ready to play in the free-agent market.

Much of Angels' playoff history written this century By Matthew DeFranks The Angels' history can be traced back to the club's origins in 1961, but their postseason past -- and success -- can largely be attributed to one man: Mike Scioscia. The franchise missed the playoffs in its first 18 seasons of existence and appeared in just 16 playoff games in the 39 years before Scioscia became the Angels' manager prior to the 2000 season. But in Scioscia's 15 seasons (counting this one), he has led the Angels to the postseason seven times, including six American League West crowns.

Scioscia guided the Angels to their only World Series title in 2002, and he captured three straight division championships from 2007-09. When the Angels open the AL Division Series on Thursday, it will be their first postseason appearance since that run.

Here is how the Angels have fared in the postseason:

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Last time they made the playoffs: 2009. Riding, a high-powered offense and talented rotation to 97 regular-season wins, the Angels ran away with the AL West, topping the Rangers by 10 games. Their division championship capped an eight-year span when they made the playoffs six times. Last time they won a playoff series: 2009. The Angels had never beaten the Red Sox in a playoff series -- and had been eliminated by them in both 2007 and '08 -- before sweeping Boston in the ALDS. The starting rotation allowed just 11 hits in 20 2/3 innings in the ALDS, but the Angels stumbled in the AL Championship Series, losing to the eventual World Series champion Yankees in six games. Last time they won the AL: 2002. Facing the Twins in the ALCS, the Angels dropped a one-run decision in Game 1, but rebounded to win four straight games by outscoring Minnesota 28-10 to win the pennant. Adam Kennedy earned ALCS MVP honors by hitting .357 and blasting three home runs. Last time they won the World Series: 2002. San Francisco and Anaheim staged a World Series for the ages -- complete with pitcher's duels, offensive explosions, late-game comebacks and even a Game 7 -- before the Angels broke through for the franchise's only World Series championship. Due to their lockdown bullpen and dynamic offense, this season's Angels have drawn comparisons to the '02 club. Overall DS record: 3-3 in six series, 10-12 in 22 games, .455 Overall LCS record: 1-5 in six series, 13-19 in 32 games, .406 Overall WS record: 1-0 in one series, 4-3 in seven games, .571 Overall postseason record: 5-8 in 13 series, 27-34 in 61 games, .443

Constructing a winner: Angels How Anaheim used the Draft, trades, free agency and international signings to build its playoff team By Teddy Cahill At the 2011 Winter Meetings, little more than a month after becoming the Angels' general manager, Jerry Dipoto shocked the baseball world, closing out the Meetings by signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson in one day. At the time, the Angels had missed the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, leading to Dipoto's hiring. Suddenly, they seemed ready to take the American League by storm.

The Angels' rise atop the standings this season didn't quite happen that way, however. Even with Mike Trout's historic rookie season in 2012, the Angels came up short of the playoffs again. That winter, they made another big splash in free agency, signing Josh Hamilton. But, again, the Angels missed the playoffs in 2013.

Following that disappointment, the Angels had a much quieter offseason. There were no big-ticket free-agent signings. Dipoto executed a few trades, acquiring third baseman David Freeseand pitchers Fernando Salas,Hector Santiago and Tyler Skaggs.

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Instead of a new acquisition, the Angels' most significant move of the offseason may have been signing Trout to a contract extension in March that would keep him in Los Angeles through at least 2020. Dipoto said that while he doesn't view himself as a high-stress person, having Trout locked into the lineup for several more years has put him at ease. "He's a great player, and justifiably the front-runner for the MVP this year," Dipoto said. "I think it's a contract that rewards him for what he's done and what we anticipate him doing moving forward. And it rewards us with control that we feel is a cornerstone building block for this organization. After those minor tweaks, the Angels have played like the team many expected after their shocking Winter Meetings haul in 2011. They captured the AL West title, posted the best record in the Majors and have returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Even with Trout and several other All-Stars on the roster already, Dipoto still had a lot of work to do to build the 2014 Angels. Here's a closer look at how the roster was built. HOMEGROWN Player, how acquired, year: Erick Aybar, Int'l sign, 2002 Kole Calhoun, Draft, 2010 (8th) Hank Conger, Draft, 2006 (1st) C.J. Cron, Draft, 2011 (1st) Kevin Jepsen, Draft, 2002 (2nd) Howie Kendrick, Draft, 2002 (10th) Mike Morin, Draft, 2012 (13th) Matt Shoemaker, Undrafted free agent, 2008 Mike Trout, Draft, 2009 (1st) Jered Weaver, Draft, 2004 (1st) Due in part to the fact that the club surrendered three high Draft picks after signing Pujols, Wilson and Hamilton, the Angels' farm system is perceived as relatively weak in the industry. No Angels prospect was ranked on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list this spring, and left-hander Hunter Green, their top pick in the 2013 Draft, spent his first full professional season on the disabled list.

But the Angels were still able to tap into their farm system for a few players critical to their success this season. First baseman Cron, the 17th overall pick in the 2011 Draft, showed off his prodigious power in the big leagues and right-hander Morin, the Angels' 13th-round pick in 2012, became a steady presence in the bullpen.

The Angels' most impactful rookie, however, wasn't even drafted. Right-hander Matt Shoemaker signed with Los Angeles as an undrafted free agent in 2008 after finishing his career at Eastern Michigan. This year, he has developed into one of the team's best pitchers. He went 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 136 innings, helping to make up for some of the injuries sustained by the team's other starting pitchers.

Dipoto said that while the Angels' prospects haven't gotten as much outside recognition in recent years as other teams, he is still pleased by what the farm system has been able to contribute.

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"I just ran through a variety of names -- Shoemaker, Mike Trout, Kole Calhoun, Hank Conger -- that have come through our system," Dipoto said. "One of the things that we're proud of is that we have presently developed a really balanced group of Major League role players, Major League relievers."

TRADES/WAIVERS Player, year, acquired from: Gordon Beckham, 2014, White Sox Collin Cowgill, 2013, Mets David Freese, 2013, Cardinals Jason Grilli, 2014, Pirates Chris Iannetta, 2011, Rockies Cory Rasmus, 2013, Braves Fernando Salas, 2013, Cardinals Hector Santiago, 2013, White Sox Huston Street, 2014, Padres Joe Thatcher, 2014, D-backs One of Dipoto's biggest challenges this year was to essentially rebuild the Angels' pitching staff on the fly. Starters Garrett Richards and Skaggs both suffered season-ending injuries and the bullpen saw significant turnover, most notably when Ernesto Frieri lost his job as closer due to ineffectiveness. While some of Dipoto's solutions came from within the organization, several were acquired in a series of trades. Frieri was dealt to the Pirates in June in exchange for Grilli, who had also struggled as a closer this season, but rebounded with the Angels. A week after the Frieri-Grilli swap, Dipoto acquired another reliever, sending Minor Leaguers Zach Borenstein and Joey Krehbiel to the D-backs in exchange for left-hander Thatcher and outfielder Tony Campana. And Dipoto still wasn't done. Two weeks later, he found a new closer, acquiring All-Star Street from the Padres in a six-player deal. That trade cost the Angels four of their top prospects, including shortstop Jose Rondon, who had represented the club in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game just seven days before the deal. The moves worked. Street kept pitching like an All-Star for the Angels, giving manager Mike Scioscia a reliable closer. The rest of the bullpen followed suit, become one of the club's strengths in the second half of the season. When he was identifying potential trade targets, Dipoto said he prioritized relievers with good control who would attack hitters. "This year, we just got a point where strike throwing became a critical thing for us," Dipoto said. "If you're not going to come out here and command the strike zone and give us a chance to win games, then we needed to make a change. And that was the biggest change." An added benefit of the deals was to bring more veterans to the bullpen. Grilli and Street have both pitched high-leverage innings in the playoffs, which they will be asked to do again this season. "They were good, veteran players who understood how to play the game, how to go about their jobs," Dipoto said. "And I think they really helped take the culture in our clubhouse to another level, most notably Jason Grilli and Huston Street, what they bring." FREE AGENTS Player, year:

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Josh Hamilton, 2012 Wade LeBlanc, 2014 Albert Pujols, 2011 Joe Smith, 2013 C.J. Wilson, 2011 Dipoto's first two offseasons as GM were characterized by the big splashes on the free-agent market. In contrast, there were no blockbuster deals this year. Instead, the two free agents from last year's class that have had the biggest impact on the Angels have been pitchers Smith and LeBlanc. They lost LeBlanc on waivers to the Yankees in June, but he was back with the Angels two weeks later after being released. Smith has been one of the constants in the back end of the team's bullpen, even successfully serving as the Angels' closer for a while. LeBlanc, like Shoemaker, has provided critical depth to a pitching staff that has been beset by injuries.

Angels wrap up regular season, focus on ALDS By Alden Gonzalez

SEATTLE -- The Angels' 2014 season ended the same way it began, with a three-game sweep at the hands of the division-rival Mariners, but the significance was drastically different.

When the Angels opened with three straight losses at home, it was deemed by naysayers throughout the country as the beginning of yet another underachieving season that would yield a fifth straight playoff absence. But when they lost, 4-1, at Safeco Field on Sunday, it was merely the conclusion of a regular season that finished with the game's best record, the end of an afternoon that paved the way for postseason baseball.

"We're excited to get started," said center fielder Mike Trout, who finished what is expected to be an American League MVP season with a .287 batting average, 36 homers, 111 RBIs and 16 stolen bases.

"I think everybody's pretty excited for the postseason," right fielder Kole Calhoun said. "These last few days, leading into the last weekend and trying to get healthy, games have been a little different. It's going to be nice to get that intensity and get into some games that are going to be big for us."

The Angels finished with 98 wins, third-most in club history and two shy of the franchise record, set in 2008.

On Thursday they'll either host the Royals or the A's in the AL Division Series.

"It's going to be a fun game to watch," Trout said of an AL Wild Card Game that will kick off from Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City at 5:07 p.m. PT on Tuesday. "Both teams are great."

The Mariners began the day with hopes of forcing a tiebreaker, needing a victory and an A's loss, andFelix Hernandez did his part, giving up just one hit in the first five innings and striking out seven of his first 10 batters. But the A's pulled away in the ninth in Arlington, ultimately beating the Rangers, 4-0, and eliminating the Mariners from postseason contention while their game with the Angels was in the bottom of the fifth.

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A crowd of 40,823 groaned, then paid its respects to Hernandez, who was taken out after retiring his first batter in the sixth, and second baseman Robinson Cano, removed for defense two batters later.

"It was disappointing, because our guys really poured their hearts into this season," Mariners skipper Lloyd McClendon said. "But the A's deserved what they got. We just came up a little short."

Reliever Cory Rasmus gave up one run in the first three innings and the Mariners pulled away with a three-run fourth, when Joe Thatcher gave up an RBI double to Michael Saunders and Yoslan Herreraserved up a two-run single to Mike Zunino. Hector Santiago, who could start Game 4 of the ALDS, and Wade LeBlanc, who is on the postseason bubble, each finished with two scoreless innings.

The Angels' only run came off the bat of John McDonald in what could end up being his final at-bat. With two outs in the top of the ninth, McDonald lined a double to left field off Danny Farquhar, ensuring that the Angels would go an entire season without being shut out on the road.

McDonald is one of 73 position players since 1901 to get an at-bat at age 40, and though he's open to playing next season, he kept the ball, just in case teams don't call this winter.

"You never know," McDonald said, fighting back tears at his locker postgame. "You have to be prepared. That's what my career has been about more than anything."

The Angels finished their season with a club record for the fewest errors by their defense (83) and the most strikeouts by their pitching staff (1,342). They led the Majors in runs (773), ranked second in run differential (plus-143) and locked up home-field advantage throughout the postseason for only the second time in team history.

Their season finished with seven losses in a span of 10 games, but they had already locked up the division by then. And, as manager Mike Scioscia said, "It all starts again on Thursday."

Shoemaker confident about ALDS; Hamilton less so By Alden Gonzalez SEATTLE -- Matt Shoemaker threw a 30- to 40-pitch bullpen session at Safeco Field on Sunday morning and feels "very" confident he can start in the American League Division Series, barring an unforeseen setback. Josh Hamilton spent time before the regular-season finale taking soft-toss swings in the cage, throwing long toss, doing some running exercises and tracking pitches during Shoemaker's session, but he will need to push it harder on Monday and Tuesday before knowing if he can play in the first round, which kicks off on Thursday. Hamilton, who will finish the season having played in just one of the Angels' final 22 games, didn't feel the spasm around his right chest/ribcage he did when he hit off a tee earlier in the week, a sensation that made it difficult for him to even breathe. But he finished his swing with two hands on the bat, which he never does in games. "I'm going to have to just swing," Hamilton said. "So tomorrow will be another big day."

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Hamilton is slated to take batting practice on the field at Angel Stadium on Monday and Tuesday, and see some live pitching at some point before ALDS rosters are due on Thursday morning. Throwing is no longer an issue, his back no longer bothers him when he runs and the pain he felt while swinging on Sunday was tolerable. "The pain isn't the issue; it's the spasm part of it," said Hamilton, who took four days off from striking a baseball because of those spasms. "As long as I can play and not spasm, I'll be fine. That means I have to get after it the next couple of days, push it a little bit, because I can't baby it, then get in the game Thursday and it happens." Shoemaker, rehabbing from a mild strain in his left oblique since Sept. 15, played catch for six straight days leading up to his first bullpen session, gradually ramping up the intensity and the distance until taking part in an unrestricted long-toss session on Saturday. The 27-year-old rookie threw all of his pitches on Sunday, finished throwing at full intensity and felt only "a touch" of tightness, which diminishes with each passing day. "Hopefully, in a couple of days, I won't even feel it all," Shoemaker said. "I think that's a big possibility." The next step for Shoemaker is to face hitters at Angel Stadium on Tuesday or Wednesday, then start either Game 2 or 3 of the ALDS. Asked if he's confident he'll start in the ALDS, he said, "Very much." "Each day has felt better," he added. "This is the first time we got full intensity off the mound. We'll find out more tomorrow."

Scioscia not ready to reveal ALDS rotation By Alden Gonzalez SEATTLE -- Mike Scioscia's pitching order for the American League Division Series is still up in the air following Jered Weaver, who will take the ball for Game 1 at Angel Stadium on Thursday. C.J. Wilson is lined up to pitch Game 2 on five days' rest, and Matt Shoemaker could benefit from being backed up to Game 3 so that his strained left oblique has extra time to heal, but Scioscia wasn't ready to reveal anything prior to Sunday's regular-season finale. "With the year Shoe had, we have every bit of confidence he's going to pitch well," Scioscia said. "C.J.'s outing yesterday, combined with [seven shutout innings against the Mariners on Sept. 17], shows us he's very capable and comfortable to go out there and pitch. We'll eventually settle on a rotation that can get us to our goal. How it lines up, we don't really know." Hector Santiago is the likely fourth starter, but Scioscia has left open the possibility of Weaver going on short rest to pitch Game 4, as well as startingCory Rasmus in what would amount to a bullpen game. Head-to-head matchups won't necessarily play a factor in the order, though it could affect some key bullpen decisions, Scioscia said. His potential rosters include an 11-man pitching staff, a 12-man pitching staff and a rare 13-man pitching staff. And since he doesn't have to turn in the official list to Major League Baseball until Thursday morning, he isn't tipping his hand.

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"There are lots of things to consider," he said. "It depends on the health of guys and where they are. We're not going to have as much versatility in the rotation as we'd like. Right now we're trying to get a cohesive group of three guys ready to go."

Kendrick cleaning up at cleanup By Alden Gonzalez SEATTLE -- The Angels still can't be sure if they'll have Josh Hamilton for the postseason, but if the last three weeks are any indication, they'll be just fine at the cleanup spot. Veteran second baseman Howie Kendrick has taken off since taking over for Hamilton in the vaunted No. 4 spot behind Mike Trout and Albert Pujols on Sept. 5. Though he went 0-for-2 in the regular-season finale, he'd entered the contest batting .413 with 18 RBIs and six doubles in 20 games in that spot, giving the Angels more production out of the cleanup spot than they've had all season. Said Kendrick, who is all but guaranteed to bat fourth in the American League Division Series: "[I'm] hitting the same way I would if I was batting fifth or sixth. I haven't tried to do anything different." Maturity has kept him from changing his approach. "A couple of years ago, yeah, it might have been different, and I probably would have treated it differently," he said. "Now I'm just looking at it as, 'They're not asking me to hit for power or anything.' I'm just going out and playing my game."

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shoemaker, Hamilton hope for Angels playoff return By Greg Beacham ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Rookie right-hander Matt Shoemaker and outfielder Josh Hamilton are both making progress toward a return from injuries for the Los Angeles Angels' playoff run.

Shoemaker played light catch at Angel Stadium on Monday, while Hamilton went through a full session of baseball activities, including hitting on the field, long toss and baserunning.

''Everything went well'' for both players, according to Angels spokesman Tim Mead.

Shoemaker is expected to throw off a mound Tuesday, while Hamilton will repeat his rehab program Tuesday and Wednesday. If both players still feel good, they'll likely be available for selection to manager Mike Scioscia's postseason roster on Thursday morning.

Shoemaker (16-4, 3.04 ERA) mildly strained his left oblique in his last start Sept. 15, ending his dynamic regular season a bit prematurely. Last weekend in Seattle, the 28-year-old rookie said he was confident he could start for the Angels in the division series.

Shoemaker set a franchise rookie record for victories after joining the rotation in May. He was the Angels' best starter down the stretch, posting a 1.49 ERA in his last 11 appearances.

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The Angels desperately hope Shoemaker can return to their rotation, which has already lost Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs to season-ending injuries. Jered Weaver (18-9) and C.J. Wilson (13-10) are expected to start the first two playoff games, but the Angels finished the regular season with Hector Santiago (6-9), Wade LeBlanc (1-1) and reliever Cory Rasmusrounding out their rotation.

Hamilton missed 21 of the Angels' last 22 games with upper-body injuries, but the top offense in the majors wasn't slowed by his persistent absence. Los Angeles' cleanup hitter and regular left fielder batted .263 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 89 games this season, the second in his five-year, $125 million contract.

Los Angeles opens the playoffs at home Thursday against the winner of Oakland's wild-card playoff at Kansas City. The Angels finished with the majors' best record at 98-64, earning home-field advantage throughout the postseason.

FROM ESPN.COM

Playoff starting pitcher, rotation rankings By Jim Bowden The most important element of every major league team in the playoffs is its starting rotation; it's the closest equivalent to a quarterback on an NFL team or the top three players on an NBA team. History has shown us that elite starting pitching has played a greater role in winning championships than any other aspect of a team's infrastructure. Evaluating starting rotations for the postseason is much different than doing so for the regular season. During the regular season, you concentrate on the team's depth, even the Nos. 6 and 7 spots on the depth chart. In the postseason, you emphasize the top three starters on each team, with little weight given to the fourth starter and no weight to the fifth starter, who's normally in the bullpen. You especially focus on the team's No. 1 starter, who often pitches twice in a five-game series and as many as three times in a seven-game series. You also must factor in how much workload a pitcher has had in the regular season, how they've pitched at the end of the season and any signs of fatigue, something that's not controllable outside of a cortisone shot to lessen the inflammation in a shoulder or elbow. History shows that pitchers who can miss bats and post higher strikeout rates often perform better in the postseason than contact pitchers. Why is this? Well, these hurlers are facing the game's best lineups, and they need to have the stuff and command to win those battles. Having impeccable command of all pitches in and out of the strike zone is a necessity, because many hitters on playoff teams don't have many weaknesses to exploit. With that as a preface, here are my rankings of this year's postseason rotations based on scouting, statistical and sabermetric analysis, with specific matchups, workloads, trends and intangibles all factored in:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw will soon win the National League Cy Young Award and, I think, the Most Valuable Player Award, as he has not only been the best pitcher on the planet, but the most valuable player in the game as well. He puts the Dodgers on the top of this list despite the fact

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that the team has a lot of questions in the third and fourth spots in its rotation. Kershaw will probably be available to pitch Games 1 and 4 or 1 and 5 in the NLDS, and if the Dodgers advance, he could pitch Games 1, 4 and 7 in the NLCS. Zack Greinke, another former Cy Young winner, is one of the most dominant No. 2 starters in baseball, and he's 33-13 with a 2.67 ERA for the Dodgers over the past two seasons, including the playoffs. The biggest question for the Dodgers will be Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is expected to be at approximately 90 percent health when he makes his postseason start on Oct. 6. Dan Haren is underrated as the fourth starter, and he enters the playoffs having posted a respectable 3.11 ERA since Aug. 6. 2. Washington Nationals The Nationals led the majors in starting pitcher ERA (3.04) and WHIP (1.14). They have the deepest five-man rotation in baseball and have had to make the difficult decision to send fifth starter Tanner Roark to the bullpen for the postseason after the right-hander posted a 15-10 record, 2.85 ERA and 1.09 WHIP during the regular season. The rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Fister and Gio Gonzalez are capable of running the table this October all by themselves. Strasburg has been locked in, posting a 3-1 record and 1.13 ERA with 32 K's and three walks in 32 innings in September. Zimmermann, who fired a no-hitter Sunday, is arguably the most underrated pitcher in the game, and he hasn't lost in the second half of the season (8-0, 2.18 ERA, 0.89 WHIP). Fister has one of the best sinkers in baseball, and Gonzalez has one of the best curveballs among left-handed starters. This is a special rotation with different looks and velocities, and if it weren't for the presence of Kershaw on the Dodgers, the Nats would be No. 1 in these rankings. 3. Detroit Tigers The Tigers have a true ace in Max Scherzer, who has led the American League in wins in each of the past two seasons and leads the majors in strikeouts (492) in the past two seasons combined. David Price has just a 4-4 record since being traded to the Tigers, but he has pitched well in three of his past four starts. Last year's AL ERA title winner, Anibal Sanchez, went down with a right pectoralis strain on Aug. 11 and wasn't activated until recently; he'll likely pitch out of the bullpen for now.Justin Verlander also missed some time with shoulder inflammation and struggled in his first three September starts. However, he did pitch well in his past two starts. And finally, Rick Porcello, who likely will pitch Game 4 of the ALDS, has been solid for the Tigers. This is the American League's best rotation on paper, though it took Verlander's late-season rebound to put them ahead of the Athletics on this list. 4. Oakland Athletics The Athletics had to replace four-fifths of their starting rotation after winning the AL West in each of the past two seasons, including the loss of Jarrod Parker andA.J. Griffin to Tommy John surgeries. But GM Billy Beane diligently rebuilt the rotation, actually making it stronger than it had been the previous two seasons. He signed Scott Kazmir as a free agent and made two blockbuster deals in July that netted top-of-the-rotation starters Jon Lester from the Red Sox and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs, as well as getting Jason Hammel, to complement future ace Sonny Gray. The A's enter this postseason with last year's World Series ace, Lester, pitching the wild-card game, and if they advance to play the Angels in an ALDS matchup, they'll be well-armed with Samardzija, Gray and Kazmir, along with Lester. This is the team's best starting rotation since Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson were in their prime.

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5. St. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals' rotation is led by their ace, Adam Wainwright, who likely will finish in the top three in NL Cy Young Award voting for the fourth time (he has yet to win the award). He'll be followed in the rotation by Lance Lynn, the only National League pitcher to win 15-plus games in each of the past three seasons. He has developed into a solid workhorse starter and has had the best season of his career. Shelby Miller, who likely will pitch Game 3 for the Cardinals, has come on strong of late, posting a 1.48 ERA in September. Veteran John Lackey is expected to pitch Game 4, with the Cardinals hoping he will pitch as well for them as he did for the Red Sox last postseason. Michael Wacha is the wild card. If he's healthy and gets back into a groove, he could be the team's second-best starter behind Wainwright. Fastball command and movement will be the key to his effectiveness. 6. Kansas City Royals The Royals mortgaged their future when they dealt future star Wil Myers and future starter Jake Odorizzi in a blockbuster deal to the Rays two offseasons ago, but the player they got, James Shields, has helped them earn a postseason berth for the first time in 29 years. He is the perfect adversary for Lester in the AL wild-card game. Shields has been a big-game pitcher his whole career, and this will be a tremendous matchup of two of the best competitors in baseball. If the Royals make it to the ALDS, it will be Yordano Ventura getting the nod in Game 1 for K.C. Ventura is one of the best rookie pitchers in baseball, possessing overpowering stuff. It's also worth noting he pitched well against the Angels, Orioles and Tigers this year, posting a combined 2.33 ERA in 27 innings of work. Danny Duffy is the most underrated starter on the staff; he had a losing record (9-12) but finished the regular season with a 2.53 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His stuff is overpowering and nasty. Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie, two veterans who can keep the team in games into the sixth inning, round out the rotation. 7. Los Angeles Angels Jered Weaver will be the team's ALDS Game 1 pitcher after winning 18 games and posting a 1.21 WHIP this season. Weaver is throwing his secondary pitches more and his fastball less these days, but still has good deception and can match up with any AL starter in the postseason. Matt Shoemaker was one of the biggest rookie surprises this year, finishing with a 16-4 record and 3.04 ERA thanks to impeccable command and a nasty splitter. However, the big question with Shoemaker will be his health; he has been out with an oblique injury. C.J. Wilson will be another key to the Angels' postseason success. He has had his share of bad games this year and finished with the highest ERA (4.51) since becoming a starter in 2010. Hector Santiago is expected to be the Angels' Game 4 starter. However, expect early hooks by manager Mike Scioscia, who is blessed with one of the deepest and strongest bullpens in the American League. 8. Baltimore Orioles The Orioles don't have a starting pitcher with an ERA under 3.20, nor do they have a starter who struck out more than 150 hitters this season or posted a WHIP below 1.20. What they do have is a strong five-man rotation, with all five starters posting solid ERAs in the 3.23-3.65 range. Chris Tillman will be their Game 1 starter after having a strong second half. Who starts after him is anybody's guess, but Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris and Miguel Gonzalez can all keep the Orioles in games long enough to get them to a strong and deep bullpen. Just don't expect any shutouts from this group.

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9. San Francisco Giants The Giants will have Madison Bumgarner start their wild-card game in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Bumgarner finished the year with an 18-10 record and 2.98 ERA and already has an extensive postseason history (12 starts), including a 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA in two World Series starts. The rest of the rotation will be much different than the one that started the season. Matt Cain is out for the year following elbow surgery, and Tim Lincecum was demoted to the bullpen in August after posting a 7.97 ERA in seven starts after the All-Star break. As such, veteran Jake Peavy will follow Bumgarner. Peavy has been quite a story, posting an impressive 2.17 ERA since being traded to the Giants. Veterans Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong will follow Peavy, and both are steady starters. 10. Pittsburgh Pirates The Pirates' rotation finally started to come together in September, whenFrancisco Liriano regained his velocity and command and Gerrit Cole got healthy and returned to pitching well. Vance Worley and Edinson Volquez became nice comeback stories for the Pirates this year, and Volquez is currently slated to start the wild-card game. The Pirates' rotation might not match up with the elite rotations in the NL, but it's good enough to surprise in October.

Ranking the playoff bullpens By Jim Bowden

1. Kansas City Royals Closer: Greg Holland Setup man: Wade Davis Situational righties: Kelvin Herrera, Aaron Crow Situational lefty: Brandon Finnegan The Royals might not have the deepest bullpen, but they have the best, thanks mostly to a dominant trio of relievers in Herrera, Davis and the league's best closer in Holland, who has converted 46 of 48 save opportunities this year and has the most saves and best conversion rate of any closer in baseball since May 10, 2013. Meanwhile, Davis has been the best eighth-inning reliever in the game, winning nine games this year to go with his fine 1.00 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and Royals-bullpen-record 109 strikeouts (in just 72 innings). Herrera's high-90s fastball has dominated hitters in the seventh inning, while Brandon Finnegan, who was drafted in June yet has the poise of a 10-year vet, is so deceptive from the left side that opposing hitters regularly say they just can't pick up the ball against him. But enough about that stuff; the record speaks for itself: The Royals are 65-5 when leading after six innings and 72-1 when leading after seven innings. 2. Baltimore Orioles Closer: Zach Britton Setup man: Tommy Hunter Situational righties: Darren O'Day, Brad Brach

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Situational lefties: Andrew Miller, Brian Matusz, T.J. McFarland Britton took over the closer's role after Hunter's early-season struggles and ran with it, becoming the best left-handed closer in the A.L. He converted 37 of 41 saves with a 0.90 WHIP, utilizing his nasty sinker and ability to pound the strike zone. The rest of the Orioles' bullpen has a good blend of pitchers, including a power arm in Hunter, a low-arm-angle guy in O'Day and a dominant lefty in Andrew Miller, who was one of the best trade-deadline pickups in baseball this year. Terrific balance and different looks make the Orioles bullpen a tough unit to hit against. 3. San Francisco Giants Closer: Santiago Casilla Setup man: Sergio Romo Situational righties: Jean Machi, Hunter Strickland Situational lefties: Javier Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt The Giants' deep bullpen played a big part in the team reaching the playoffs. Romo struggled and eventually lost the closer's job at midseason, but he settled in as the team's setup man, while Casilla took over at closer and flourished. Romo succeeds with one of the game's best sliders, while Machi and Strickland add depth with their high-90s fastballs. The Giants also have one of the game's best lefty specialists in Javier Lopez, who limited left-handed hitters to a .538 OPS this season, and fellow lefty Jeremy Affeldt actually posted better numbers against righties this season. 4. Los Angeles Angels Closer: Huston Street Setup man: Joe Smith Situational righties: Jason Grilli, Kevin Jepsen, Mike Morin, Fernando Salas Angels GM Jerry Dipoto became an Executive of the Year candidate when he completely rebuilt his team's bullpen this year, helping the Angels finish with the best record in baseball. He started the rebuild in the offseason when he signed Joe Smith (and his low arm angle), who rewarded Dipoto with career-best marks in ERA (1.81), WHIP (0.80) and even saves (15). Dipoto then made two trades for relievers in July that put the Angels' bullpen over the top, acquiring Huston Street from the Padres and Jason Grilli from the Pirates. Street converted 17 of 19 save opportunities after being acquired, with a 1.71 ERA, while Grilli posted a 1.16 WHIP for the Angels. The Angels' bullpen is overpowering and deep, with the only glaring weakness being the lack of a quality situational lefty for late-game matchups against tough lefties. 5. Washington Nationals Closer: Drew Storen Setup man: Tyler Clippard Situational righties: Rafael Soriano, Craig Stammen Situational lefties: Matt Thornton, Jerry Blevins The Nationals started the season with Rafael Soriano as their closer, and he delivered 32 saves. But a late-season collapse led to Drew Storen taking over the lead role, and Storen has converted all 10 of his save opportunities since doing so. (He also hasn't allowed an earned run

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since Aug. 5.) Tyler Clippard dominated the eighth inning once again, and the August acquisition of Matt Thornton gave the Nationals the last piece of the bullpen puzzle they needed. Successful starter Tanner Roark will also be a part of their postseason bullpen, and he immediately becomes one of the game's best long relievers. 6. Pittsburgh Pirates Closer: Mark Melancon Setup man: Tony Watson Situational righties: Jared Hughes, John Holdzkom Situational lefty: Justin Wilson The Pirates' bullpen is led by Mark Melancon, who converted 33 of 37 save opportunities after taking over the closer role in early May. Meanwhile, Tony Watson is the best eighth-inning reliever in the National League, and he managed to win 10 games. John Holdzkom has been a rookie difference-maker down the stretch, while Jared Hughes possesses late life on his fastball, which helped him post a 1.96 ERA this year. 7. St. Louis Cardinals Closer: Trevor Rosenthal Setup man: Pat Neshek Situational righties: Seth Maness, Carlos Martinez Situational lefties: Sam Freeman, Randy Choate The Cardinals' bullpen has been overused this season, and as a collective group, they appeared to be wearing down in recent weeks. When rested and sharp, the Cardinals' bullpen is talented and diverse enough to rank much higher here. However, their three most important relievers all have appeared in more than 70 games, and their optimal effectiveness remains a question going forward. When they are pitching to their potential, they are devastating. Rosenthal has a 98-99 mph fastball with a deadly changeup, Neshek comes from a low three-quarters delivery and has nasty movement, while Maness has one of the best sinkers of any reliever in baseball. Martinez can be overpowering, Choate can still get lefties out and Freeman was impressive down the stretch. 8. Oakland Athletics Closer: Sean Doolittle Setup man: Luke Gregerson Situational righties: Dan Otero, Ryan Cook Situational lefties: Fernando Abad, Eric O'Flaherty The A's bullpen struggled in the second half and converted just 59.6 percent (31 of 52) of their save chances for the season, the third-lowest percentage in baseball. However, they do have a well-balanced, deep bullpen consisting of different arm angles/slots and two quality left-handers in Abad and O'Flaherty setting up another lefty in Doolittle. Gregerson has been effective in the eighth inning but is still questionable in high-leverage situations. Their bullpen still has the second-best overall ERA in the American League, but the inconsistency in the final month of the season dropped them down in these rankings.

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9. Los Angeles Dodgers Closer: Kenley Jansen Setup man: Brian Wilson Situational righties: Brandon League, Chris Perez, Pedro Baez Situational lefties: J.P. Howell, Paco Rodriguez The Dodgers have one of the top closers among the playoff teams in the overpowering Kenley Jansen, who punched out 101 batters in 65 1/3 innings this season, while saving 44 games. Getting the ball to him has not gone as planned, however, as Wilson, League and Perez have all been inconsistent. Baez has emerged, however, and the team is strong from the left side with Howell and Rodriguez. 10. Detroit Tigers Closer: Joe Nathan Setup man: Joba Chamberlain Situational righty: Al Alburquerque Situational lefties: Phil Coke, Blaine Hardy The Tigers enter the postseason with one of the best starting rotations and lineups in baseball, but their bullpen is a huge question mark. Joe Nathan somehow has kept the closer's job all season despite having a 4.81 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. The Tigers' entire bullpen finished the regular season 27th in the majors in ERA and 29th in WHIP. The unit was much better this month, but Tigers fans still might want to keep a defibrillator handy.

FROM SI.COM

2014 playoff team preview: Los Angeles Angels By Ted Keith How They Got Here: Entering play on Aug. 16, the Angels had the second-best record in baseball but had not spent a day even tied for first place in their division. That changed later that day when they beat the Rangers to catch Oakland atop the AL West. Los Angeles was in first place every day for the rest of the season, and had it all to itself every day but three.

The Angels went 27-15 down the stretch, tying with the Orioles for the best record in the AL, and they blew open the race by going 15-2 over one three-week stretch to go from tied for first to 11 games in front. They coasted from there, and while they fell short of matching the team record of 100 victories, they still were two games better than any other team in the majors, and two games better than their Pythagorean record.

Why They’ll Win: In a run-starved environment, the Angels are the closest thing the majors have to an offensive juggernaut. L.A. led the bigs in scoring with 773 runs and topped the AL with 1,464 hits, finishing third in batting average and fourth in home runs. Mike Trout, the best player in baseball, should finally win his first AL MVP award thanks to his .287/.377/.561 slash line plus 36 home runs and 111 RBI. Albert Pujols had his best season yet in Anaheim, hitting 28 home runs and driving in 105 runs.

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Jered Weaver is a legitimate ace and joins C.J. Wilson in giving the Angels a pair of postseason-tested starters atop the rotation. The same is true of closer Huston Street, who stabilized the back of the bullpen after arriving in a midseason trade from San Diego and finished the year with 41 saves and a 1.37 ERA.

Thanks largely to Trout, who was named the game's MVP, the AL's All-Star Game victory ensured that the Angels will have home field advantage throughout the postseason. That's very good news for a team that had the majors' best home record at 52-29.

Why They Won't: The Angels' pitching staff was not as impressive as the team's 98-64 record might suggest. And with Garrett Richards out for the season with a knee injury and Weaver only available twice at most in a best-of-five, someone else will have to step up to ensure Los Angeles makes it out of the first round. Wilson finished 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA and was wildly inconsistent. He pitched seven innings, giving up just one hit and no runs, the night that L.A. clinched the AL West on Sept. 17, then followed it up in his next outing by allowing six runs and not surviving the first inning. His final regular-season start was a six-inning, four-hit gem in Seattle.

Perhaps more importantly, Matt Shoemaker has not pitched since Sept. 15 because of a rib cage injury. He seems to have passed a bullpen session test and should be available for the Division Series, but whether he'll be the same pitcher who went 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA remains to be seen.

Similarly, Josh Hamilton played in just one of L.A.'s final 22 games while also battling a rib injury. Hamilton struggled all year, batting .263 with just 10 home runs and a .745 OPS. As productive as the Angels' offense was all year, Trout was the only player to finish with an OPS above .800, meaning they might be more susceptible to the same offensive droughts that have been a hallmark throughout the majors the past few years.

Lastly, there is the fact that Los Angeles went just 10-9 against Oakland and 3-3 against Kansas City, the two potential opponents in the Division Series. In fact, the Angels were an even .500 (19-19) against the other AL postseason entrants, so their road to their first World Series since 2002 will be anything but smooth.

FROM FOX SPORTS

Week ahead for Angels: Playoffs begin Thursday #getoctobered By Rahshaun Haylock The week ahead It's time to #GetOctobeRed. The playoffs are here and, of course, that means win or go home. The Angels, owners of the top seed in the American League, will open the best-of-five American League Division Series Thursday against the winner of the American League Wild Card game between Oakland and Kansas City. Jered Weaver will be the game one starter for the Angels. Game two will be Friday at Angel Stadium. Games three and four, if necessary, will be on the road Sunday, Oct. 5 and Monday, Oct. 6. The week behind

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The Angels wrapped up the regular season Sunday with a 4-0 loss in Seattle. The 2014 regular season ended the way it began -- with the Angels getting swept by the Mariners in a three-game series. It's what took place in between that time, however, that made the 2014 regular season special for the Angels. The American League West champs concluded the regular season with a record of 98-64. The club fell short of the 100-win mark but were still able to clinch the best record in the league giving them home field throughout the playoffs. Record and standings At 98-64, the Angels conclude the regular season having won the division by 10 games over Oakland. They held the best record in the league by two games over the Baltimore Orioles. The Angels home record of 52-29 was the best in baseball in 2014. The road record for the Angels of 46-35 was just one game behind the Royals for the best in the American League. Thumb's up Mike Trout finished the season with a .287 batting average, 36 home runs †“third in the American League, a career-high 111 RBI which also led the American League, 16 stolen bases, and an MLB-leading 115 runs. It's the third straight season he's led the American League in runs. In the last 100 years, the only other players to accomplish that feat are Babe Ruth (twice), Ted Williams, and Mickey Mantle. Trout, of course, is the favorite to win the American League MVP. Stat to watch 2-1. Angels game one starter Jered Weaver in 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA and a WHIP of 0.91 in his career in three American League Division Series appearances †“two of which were starts. Quotable "It all starts again on Thursday." -- € “Angels manager Mike Scioscia on the postseason.

FROM USA TODAY

For MLB playoff teams, which flaws will prove fatal? By Paul White It's a rite of October for fans to fret over the perceived weaknesses of their favorite teams — the ones who actually were good enough to make the playoffs.

But this is a year in which it's not easy to find managers and front office personnel striding confidently into the postseason, a field that provides the best example yet of retiring Commissioner Bud Selig's quest for parity.

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There's no great roster among the 10 teams in a tourney that begins today, no overwhelming "team to beat." Good teams? Certainly, including some that didn't even reach the postseason.

Great teams? As Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said while his team was still in contention, "We see the warts and pimples."

And all the remaining teams have them to varying degrees.

So, how do those warts and pimples affect the complexion of the playoffs? Here's a team-by-team list — in order of best record — of what to worry about most:

American League

Los Angeles Angels: A few good arms?

Seldom has a team with the best record over the regular season looked so vulnerable. The second half of the season among AL contenders was mostly about collecting enough pitchers to be competitive in October. The Angels addressed significant bullpen issues, and that turned out to be crucial to running away with the AL West, but attrition has chipped away at a rotation that was at least adequate. Postseason success could hinge on the starters behind No.1 Jered Weaver, who's solid but not quite at the level of some of the dominant Nos.1 and 2 in the AL. Garrett Richards was 13-4 when he was lost for the season. Matt Shoemaker was 14-3 as a starter but hasn't pitched since Sept.15 because of a stomach muscle injury. Shoemaker hopes to be ready for Game3 of the Division Series. It's not a question of whether it's more important to have a healthy Shoemaker or a dependable C.J. Wilson — the Angels need both. Wilson has nine starts of five or more runs this year and has gotten into the seventh inning in four of his last 16 starts.

Baltimore Orioles: Swings and misses

They're the major league home run leaders, and neither style nor history is on their side. Once since 1984 has the team that led the majors in home runs won the World Series (the 2009 New York Yankees). And 13 of the last 18 teams that led in homers didn't even make the playoffs. The Orioles are an example of what makes those types of teams more vulnerable to the big-time pitching they're likely to face in October. Baltimore swings at the most pitches outside the strike zone of any AL playoff team and makes the least overall contact of any playoff team in either league. And their hitters' walk-to-strikeout ratio is the worst among the 10 playoff teams. Does all that really translate to trouble against top teams? Well, the Orioles are batting .241 against power pitchers (those ranked among the top third in the league in strikeouts). That's 37 points lower than against finesse pitchers. And this season, Baltimore is batting .219 against the other AL playoff teams with a .341 slugging percentage. Overall, they're hitting .256 and slugging .422. The offense really could disappear.

Detroit Tigers: No relief, no D

The bullpen issues have been a season-long saga — closer Joe Nathan has even felt compelled to make a concerted effort to have a civil relationship with fans. That's what a 4.26 team ERA from the seventh inning on can do, not to mention a 1.49 WHIP (28th in the majors) against the first batters faced by Tigers relievers. But there's more contributing to how things go wrong later in games — the pitchers don't have a lot of margin for error. The Tigers are the worst defensive team in the playoffs, ranking

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28th or 29th in the majors in all the various metrics measuring defensive range and efficiency. Third baseman Nick Castellanos and outfielders Torii Hunter, Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez all have significantly negative Ultimate Zone Ratings. The Tigers can hit and pitch with power but fundamentally solid teams can "out-baseball" Detroit.

Kansas City Royals: Power outage

A short playoff series — even if the franchise's first postseason in 29 years lasts beyond today's wild-card game against the Oakland Athletics — is no time to have an offensive cold streak; this team is vulnerable to exactly that. The Royals were second in the AL in batting average but ninth in runs, led the major leagues in stolen bases but are the only team still looking for its 100th home run. They have four of the AL's top 13 players in infield hits. Their speed can produce pressure, but more important is whether being new to the postseason applies too much pressure on them.

Oakland Athletics: Sinkholes in the lineup

The same problems that turned a dream season into a mad scramble just to make the playoffs remain in play. You can debate whether trading Yoenis Cespedes to get Jon Lester is the actual reason, but the results are plain. A team that was batting .253 and slugging .432 on Aug.1 hit .225 and slugged .331 the rest of the season. Manager Bob Melvin scrambled with little success to solve the issue. Josh Donaldson batted third all of September, but since Aug.31, Oakland has tried seven players in the No.2 spot, five cleanup hitters and six each in the fifth and sixth slots.

National League

Washington Nationals: Those final nine outs

Nobody around this team wants to hear about 2012 anymore. Fairly or not, the Nationals' only playoff appearance defines a team that was on the rise then and looks all that and more this year. If there's one nagging issue, it has been the late-season meltdown of closer Rafael Soriano, which in more ways than one is connected to losing that '12 Division Series to the St.Louis Cardinals. Drew Storen was the closer then, and he's the closer now. In between, Soriano was signed before the 2013 season began — creating more depth was the official line, but lurking below the surface was that Storen lost his job. Statistically, there's no issue now. Storen has a 1.12 ERA this season. He hasn't allowed an earned run or a walk in the 11 games since he became closer again. All that said, does this team have demons from giving up the lead in that Game5? Does Storen? Was that merely part of a young team growing into the powerhouse the franchise remains confident it's building? There's no way to be certain about any of that until the next couple of weeks.

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Big 2, then who?

The 1-2 starting combination of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke and closer Kenley Jansen is solid enough to get them through a five-game series. A longer series can create more questions, especially because No.3 starter Hyun-Jin Ryu is dealing with shoulder soreness. Whenever he's ready to contribute in the postseason, it would be his first start in at least three weeks. The other available options have combined for a 4.46 ERA in starts. The other pitching pressure point could be the mostly veteran group getting the ball to Jansen. Brian Wilson and Chris Perez both have ERAs above 4.00. The team ERA of 3.97 in the eighth inning ranks 24th.

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St. Louis Cardinals: In search of a big hit

The Cardinals got to the World Series last year with a team that thrived on big hits in big moments; they're more ordinary this year, and that has translated into a difficult division race they couldn't seal until the final day. Who would have thought shortstop Jhonny Peralta would enter the playoffs as a crucial offensive player? Yes, the guy St.Louis plucked off the performance-enhancing-drug suspension scrap heap last offseason leads the team with 21 homers and is tops among regulars in late and close situations with a .301 average and 13 homers. The problem? Emerging players who took a step back. Matt Carpenter's batting average dropped 46 points, and his OPS 123 points. Powerful Matt Adams became the regular first baseman, which meant 244 more plate appearances than in 2013. He hit two fewer homers, and his walk-strikeout rate deteriorated by 25%.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Trouble out of blocks

Twenty-four blown saves are a concern, but the real fear is a rotation that ranks 13th in the NL in WAR. Edinson Volquez — who will start the wild-card game — and Francisco Liriano have combined for 17 starts of five or fewer innings this season. Those clunkers are as damaging as bullpens coughing up leads.

San Francisco Giants: Chasing trouble

Only the Colorado Rockies swing at more pitches out of the strike zone, and Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval leads the majors swinging at 48% of the non-strikes he sees. The burden on Hunter Pence and Buster Posey might be too heavy.

FROM SPORTS XCHANGE

Team Report – LOS ANGELES ANGELS SEATTLE Los Angeles Angels right-handed starter Matt Shoemaker could be back sooner than originally expected, and if all goes well, the Angels might get their No. 3 starter back in time for Game 3 of the American League Division Series. Shoemaker told The Los Angeles Times that he made a significant step by throwing long ball and added that he is "very optimistic" that he'll be available for the ALDS. Shoemaker still has to throw off a mound, but he could be back in action sooner than expected. The Angels are scheduled to start right-hander Jered Weaver in Thursday's Game 1 of the ALDS, with left-handed C.J. Wilson scheduled to start Game 2. Shoemaker could be next in line, which would be a big boost to the Angels' rotation. Shoemaker carries a seven-start winning streak into the postseason, but he hasn't pitched since straining his rib cage in a Sept. 15 win over Seattle. Since the beginning of August, Shoemaker has gone 8-1 with a 1.66 ERA. If he's not available, the Angels might be able to depend on right-hander Cory Rasmus. The converted reliever has been solid as a starter since moving into the rotation at the end of August, although his Sunday start in a 4-1 loss to Seattle fell short of impressive. He allowed three earned runs on three hits

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in three innings in that game. Of the Angels' three starters in the Seattle series, only Saturday starter C.J. Wilson was impressive. The rotation isn't exactly rolling into the postseason, and the three-game sweep at the hands of the Mariners could be viewed as a change in momentum for the Angels. But it's more than likely just a blip on the radar, kind of like the four-game series sweep in Seattle was during the Angels' 2002 road to a World Series title. RECORD: 98-64, first place in American League West NEXT: American League Division Series, Game 1, Thursday Royals or A's at Angels (RHP Jered Weaver, 18-9, 3.59 ERA) PLAYER NOTES: RHP Matt Shoemaker told The Los Angeles Times that he's "very optimistic" that he'll be able to pitch in the postseason despite suffering a strained rib cage in a Sept. 15 win over Seattle. Shoemaker is scheduled to throw off a mound early this week, and he has a remote chance of starting Game 3 of the ALDS. LHP Joe Thatcher had a forgettable performance during his short stint Sunday. He faced just three batters after coming on for starter Cory Rasmus in the fourth inning and allowed two of them to get hits. Thatcher's 1/3-inning performance included two hits and two runs allowed to put his season ERA at 8.10. CF Mike Trout had another short outing Sunday, going 0-for-2 in the loss to Seattle, but he still managed to finish as the American League's leader in runs (115), RBIs (111) and extra-base hits (84). The last player to lead the AL in all three categories in a season was Seattle's Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997. RHP Cory Rasmus got one final chance to prove himself as a starter before the postseason on Sunday, when he allowed two earned runs off three hits in three innings. Rasmus wasn't as effective as he had been in previous starts, but he showed enough that the Angels might use him if RHP Matt Shoemaker isn't healthy enough to pitch. RHP Jered Weaver appears to be the Angels' target to start Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Thursday. He went 18-9 with a 3.59 ERA during the regular season but struggled in his final start Friday night in Seattle. Weaver went 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA in four starts against Oakland this season; he did not face the Royals. QUOTE TO NOTE: "It all starts again on Thursday. You're always trying to carry momentum and you want to play every time you're out there. ... I think we'll be ready (for the playoffs). There's no doubt." Angels manager Mike Scioscia, after his team lost its final regular-season game Sunday. MEDICAL WATCH: LF Josh Hamilton (sore right side) last played Sept. 16. He took swings off a batting tee Sept. 22-23. He hopes to be ready for the postseason.

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RHP Matt Shoemaker (mild oblique strain) left the Sept. 15 game, and he hasn't pitched since. He played soft catch for the first time Sept. 22. He did not pitch in another regular-season game, but the Angels are optimistic he will be ready to pitch in the postseason. RHP Garrett Richards (torn left patellar tendon) went on the 60-day disabled list Aug. 21. He underwent season-ending surgery Aug. 22. He might not be ready for the start of the 2015 season. LHP Tyler Skaggs (strained flexor tendon in left forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list Aug. 1, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 10. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Aug. 13. He will miss the rest of the 2014 season and all of the 2015 season. LHP Sean Burnett (torn left ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May 29, and he was transferred to the 60-day disabled list June 3. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery June 5. RHP Ryan Brasier (right elbow strain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 16. LHP Brian Moran (left elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on April 13. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in mid-April. ROTATION: RHP Jered Weaver RHP Matt Shoemaker LHP C.J. Wilson LHP Hector Santiago RHP Cory Rasmus BULLPEN: RHP Huston Street (closer) RHP Joe Smith RHP Jason Grilli RHP Kevin Jepsen RHP Michael Morin LHP Joe Thatcher RHP Fernando Salas

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RHP Yoslan Herrera LHP Michael Roth RHP Cam Bedrosian LHP Wade LeBlanc RHP Vinnie Pestano RHP Jairo Diaz RHP Drew Rucinski CATCHERS: Chris Iannetta Hank Conger John Buck INFIELDERS: 1B Albert Pujols 2B Howie Kendrick SS Erick Aybar 3B David Freese INF John McDonald INF Gordon Beckham INF Grant Green INF C.J. Cron INF Luis Jimenez INF Efren Navarro INF/OF Shawn O'Malley OUTFIELDERS: LF Josh Hamilton

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CF Mike Trout RF Kole Calhoun OF Collin Cowgill OF Brennan Boesch OF Tony Campana

Team Report – KANSAS CITY ROYALS CHICAGO They won't enter the playoffs as champions of the American League Central, but the Kansas City Royals are happy just to have postseason plans for the first time since 1985. The Detroit Tigers' victory against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon clinched the Central title and ended Kansas City's hopes of forcing a game Monday in Detroit to break a tie atop the division, but the Royals who beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4 on Sunday are still pleased to be hosting the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday in the American League wild-card game at Kauffman Stadium. "It's a new season now," first baseman Eric Hosmer said. "It's obviously playoff baseball. You go up there and the scoreboard is going to say 0-0-0. It's about winning ballgames now. It's about doing whatever you can at all costs to win ballgames. That's when the fun begins." Manager Ned Yost said right-hander James Shields will start against Oakland, which needed to beat the Texas Rangers on Sunday to secure its spot in the postseason. The Athletics will likely start left-handed ace Jon Lester, which the Royals know is a tough matchup. "They're a good team, but we've played them good," Yost said. "They've been tough on us. The two games we lost, we lost to Jon Lester. So, it's going to be an exciting game. But I think we're ready to play." RECORD: 89-73, second place in American League Central NEXT: American League wild-card game, Tuesday Athletics (LHP John Lester, 16-11, 2.46 ERA) at Royals (RHP James Shields, 14-8, 3.21 ERA) PLAYER NOTES: RHP James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA) will start for the Royals on Tuesday against the Oakland Athletics in the American League wild-card game, which will be held in Kansas City. Shields has a 2-4 record with a 4.98 ERA and 1.398 WHIP in six career postseason starts, all with his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays. RHP Yordano Ventura went just four innings Sunday in the Royals' 6-4 win Sunday before manager Ned Yost pulled him from the game to save his arm for the upcoming postseason. The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins when the Royals were batting in the top of the fifth, which prompted wholesale changes in the Royals lineup, including Ventura. He struck out six, but allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk in the final regular-season start of his rookie season.

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CF Lorenzo Cain had his season and career high nine-game hitting streak snapped Sunday afternoon in the Royals' 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Cain went 0-for-3 and struck out looking in the fifth inning, prior to being replaced in the bottom of the fifth as part of wholesale changes made by manager Ned Yost. SS Alcides Escobar extended his hitting streak to nine games with a double to start the Royals' 6-4 win against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field. Escobar, who went 2-for-3, started all 162 games for the Royals. "It's hard for most people, but it's not hard for him," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Escobar's durability. "He just has that body type that allows him to go out and play at a high level every single day. He never gets fatigued. He never gets tired. He gets a beat up a little bit. He'll get a foul ball off his shin or gets kicked on turning a double play or something, but it never affects him. He doesn't ever lose bat speed. He's just a unique player." INF Christian Colon, who has been out of action since Sept. 7 with a fractured right middle finger, was activated from the disabled list on Sunday. He hit a two-run double in his return. QUOTE TO NOTE: "They're a good team, but we've played them good. They've been tough on us. The two games we lost, we lost to Jon Lester. So, it's going to be an exciting game. But I think we're ready to play." Royals manager Ned Yost said of the Athletics, who his team will face in the AL wild-card game on Tuesday. MEDICAL WATCH: RHP Michael Mariot (strained right hamstring) was recalled from the minors and placed on the 60-day disabled list Aug. 28. RHP Luke Hochevar (Tommy John surgery in March 2014) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on June 2. He is out for the year. Hochevar did his first throwing Sept. 10. ROTATION: RHP James Shields RHP Yordano Ventura RHP Jeremy Guthrie LHP Danny Duffy LHP Jason Vargas RHP Liam Hendriks BULLPEN: RHP Greg Holland (closer) RHP Kelvin Herrera

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RHP Wade Davis RHP Aaron Crow LHP Francisley Bueno RHP Jason Frasor RHP Louis Coleman LHP Scott Downs RHP Casey Coleman LHP Brandon Finnegan LHP Tim Collins CATCHERS: Salvador Perez Erik Kratz Francisco Pena INFIELDERS: 1B Eric Hosmer 2B Omar Infante SS Alcides Escobar 3B Mike Moustakas DH Billy Butler INF Jayson Nix INF Johnny Giavotella INF Christian Colon OUTFIELDERS: LF Alex Gordon CF Jarrod Dyson

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RF Nori Aoki OF Josh Willingham OF Lorenzo Cain OF Raul Ibanez OF Lane Adams OF Carlos Peguero OF Terrance Gore

Team Report – OAKLAND ATHLETICS ARLINGTON, Texas Oakland A's right fielder Josh Reddick played the part of super-hero so why not run around the clubhouse in super-hero underwear while celebrating the Athletics' wild-card clinching victory Sunday at Texas. And he had a prediction. "I've been saying it for months," Reddick said. "Two division titles, out in Game 5 (both years). Get in with the wild card, win the whole thing." It is true that the A's won the American League West Division in 2012 and 2013 only to be eliminated from the playoffs in Game 5 of the AL Division Series both years by Detroit. The A's were breezing along, 28 games over .500 on Aug. 9 with a four-game lead in the West and an 11-game lead for the AL's first wild-card spot. Then they hit a canyon-sized pothole, going 15-30 since Aug. 10 and needing to win Game 162 simply to get in the playoffs. Oakland will need to spark an anemic offense and get more of the same from right-hander Sonny Gray, who pitched a six-hit shutout in the A's 4-0 victory Sunday. In Gray's previous 10 starts before Sunday, he was 1-6 with a 4.64 ERA after beginning the season 12-3 with a 2.65 ERA over his first 21 starts." Said manager Bob Melvin: "For a 24-year-old kid who looks like he's 14, pitches like he's 30, we've asked so much of him the last couple of years." RECORD: 88-74, second place in American League West NEXT: American League wild-card game, Tuesday Athletics (LHP John Lester, 16-11, 2.46 ERA) at Royals (RHP James Shields, 14-8, 3.21 ERA)

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PLAYER NOTES: RHP Sonny Gray (14-10) pitched a six-hit shutout in Oakland's playoff-clinching 4-0 victory over Texas on Sunday. He walked no one while throwing 103 pitches in his second career shutout (both in Arlington, Texas). His outing was needed as much for him personally as for the team. In Gray's previous 10 starts before Sunday, he was 1-6 with a 4.64 ERA after beginning the season 12-3 with a 2.65 ERA over his first 21 starts. "We've talked about these last two weeks all we need to do is get in ... find a way to get in," Gray said. "I know we're not playing well right now, but just get in. Nothing else mattered today except us winning. I did my best to make sure that happened." DH Adam Dunn went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Oakland's 4-0 victory over Texas on Sunday, but the veteran will be making his first career postseason appearance after 2,001 games, the most among active players and 14th most in MLB history among players who have not played in the postseason. RF Josh Reddick drove in Oakland's first run with a triple in the second inning of a 4-0 playoff-clinching victory over Texas on Sunday. He promptly followed with the game's second run, scoring on Stephen Vogt's base hit. Reddick closed out the last regular-season series 7-for-17 with a home run, triple, three runs and five RBIs. SS Jed Lowrie had a two-run single in the ninth that provided insurance for Oakland in a 4-0 victory over Texas. Over the course of the four-game series to finish the season, Lowrie went 6-for-16 with four RBIs. QUOTE TO NOTE: "This was just as much pressure if not more." A's pitcher Sonny Gray, comparing Sunday's victory, which clinched a playoff spot, to pitching in two postseason games last year. MEDICAL WATCH: OF Craig Gentry (concussion) left the Sept. 9 game, and he did not play again in the regular season. He participated in baseball activities Sept. 25. C John Jaso (concussion symptoms) went on the seven-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 24. He battled concussion symptoms since Aug. 8, when he took a hard foul ball off his mask. Jaso ran, shagged balls, played catch and hit in the cage Sept. 1. Jaso took batting practice on the field Sept. 2, ran the bases Sept. 5 and began catching bullpen sessions Sept. 6. He visited a concussion specialist Sept. 10 in Pittsburgh and was not cleared to return. He will not return this season. 1B Kyle Blanks (torn left calf, left Achilles tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 23, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on Aug. 24. Initially out due to the calf ailment, Blanks began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Aug. 9. He experienced a setback Aug. 20 when he developed left Achilles tendinitis, and he was shut down. RHP A.J. Griffin (right flexor tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 21, and he was transferred to the 60-day DL on May 4. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery April 30. RHP Jarrod Parker (torn right ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 60-day disabled list March 20. He had a second Tommy John surgery March 24, and he is out for the year. He resumed playing catch Aug. 4.

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ROTATION: LHP Jon Lester RHP Sonny Gray LHP Scott Kazmir RHP Jeff Samardzija RHP Jason Hammel BULLPEN: LHP Sean Doolittle (closer) LHP Eric O'Flaherty RHP Ryan Cook RHP Luke Gregerson RHP Dan Otero LHP Fernando Abad RHP Jesse Chavez RHP Evan Scribner LHP Drew Pomeranz RHP Fernando Rodriguez CATCHERS: Derek Norris Geovany Soto Bryan Anderson INFIELDERS: 1B Stephen Vogt 2B Alberto Callaspo SS Jed Lowrie

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3B Josh Donaldson DH Adam Dunn INF Nick Punto INF Eric Sogard INF Nate Freiman INF Andy Parrino OUTFIELDERS: LF Brandon Moss CF Coco Crisp RF Josh Reddick OF Jonny Gomes OF Sam Fuld OF Craig Gentry OF Billy Burns