Royals meet the Orioles for first time

* The Kansas City Royals, managed by Ned Yost, left, meet the Baltimore Orioles for the first time in the postseason, which is a tad odd since the Royals were in the postseason every year but three from 1965-1976 and the Baltimore Orioles made it seven times between 1969 and 1983. ....  2014 Canadians in the Minors … Canadians in College 2015 Canadian draft list Letters of Intent

American League Championship Series (Royals won four of seven meetings this year)

Kansas City Royals Team payroll: $92,185,521 (19th)

Octobers: 1 World Series, 2 pennants, 8 post-season appearances.

Post-season record: 22-24.

Last post season: Beat Cardinals in 1985 World Series.

How they got here: Swept the Angels in the best-of-five division series ... after beating the Oakland A’s 9-8 in 12 in the AL wild card despite trailing 7-3 against Jon Lester.

Manager: Ned Yost.

Record: 89-73.

Run differential: Plus 27.

Stud Hosses: Starters James Shields, Jason Vargas and Yordano Ventura, who all worked six or more innings and the KC bullpen combined to limit Howie Kendrick (2-for-13), Albert Pujols (2-for-12), David Freese (1-for-8), Chris Iannetta (1-for-10), Mike Trout (1-for-11) and Josh Hamilton (0-for-13) to a combined ,104 (7-for-67) mark.

Theme: “Watch the Missouri Track Club run -- 12 steals in four post-season bases.”

Looking up: Eric Hosmer hit .400 (4-for-10 with double, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs) against the Angels with 1.638 OPS, Mike Moustakas batted .273 (3-for-11, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs) .818 OPS and Alex Gordon was .300 (3-for-10, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs) with .962 OPS. Both Moustakas and Hosmer hit extra-inning, game-winning homers.

Looking down: Billy Butler was hitless in nine at-bats, while Omar Infante was 0-for-11 against the Angels.

Best five all-time Royals (by the numbers): George Brett, Kevin Appier, Amos Otis, Willie Wilson and Bret Saberhagen.

J factor this season: RPs Jason Frasor (647 regular season appearances and he gets the win in his first post-season appearance), C Erik Kratz and RP Tim Collins on the roster and coach Don Wakamatsu, plus INF Jayson Nix, RP Scott Downs, RHP Liam Hendriks, .

Canadian content: Cambridge`s Scott Thorman coach at class-A Burlington and will manage rookie-ball next season

Canada’s team (ranked by Canadian involvement and fan interest of the 10 post-season clubs): No. 8 ,,, underdogs for a third time and people love underdogs.

Bodog odds total HRs over/under: 3 1/2

Bodog odds to win World Series: 13-4.

Baltimore Orioles Team payroll: $107,466,653 (15th).

Octobers: 3 World Series, 6 pennants, 12 post-season appearances

Post-season record: 44-38.

Last post season: Lost 2012 AL division series to New York Yankees.

Manager: Buck Showalter.

Record: 99-66.

Run differential: 112.

Stud Hosses: DH Nelson Cruz went off against the Tigers Cy Young award-winning staff hitting .500 (6-for-12, two HRs, 5 RBIs) with a 1.500 OPS, Alejandro De Aza hit .375 (3-for-8, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs) and a 1.069 OPS and J.J. Hardy batted .300 (3-for-10, HR, 2 RBIs) and 1.017 OPS.

Theme: “If we win do we play the Yankees, the Red Sox or face Marcus Stroman?”

Looking up: RHP Bud Norris pitched six scoreless in his Game 3 start against Detroit, RHP Chris Tillman allowed two runs in five innings to win Game 1, RP Kevin Gausman stopped the Tigers attack (one run in 3 2/3 innings) so the O’s could rally in Game 2 and RP Andrew Miller worked 3 1/3 hitless innings.

Looking down: Nick Hundley threw out five of 36 base runners (14%) less than the league average of 27%, but Caleb Joseph is threw out 23 of 57 (40%).

Best all-time five Orioles (by the numbers): Cal Ripken, Brooks Robinson, Jim Palmer, Eddie Murray and George Sisler.

J factor: Former Jays pro scout Gary Rajsich is the scouting director, scout David Blume is West Coast scouting supervisor (he signed Jeff Kent).

Canadian content: Oakville’s Tyler Moe, Canadian scout.

Canada’s team (ranked by Canadian involvement and interest of the 10 post-season clubs): No. 5 ... AL East, people respect the way they played and were managed this season.

Bodog odds total HRs over/under: 6 1/2

Bodog odds to win World Series: the favorite at 11-5.

And the winner is .... Orioles in six.