Tim Kurkjian, ESPN Senior Writer 8y

Five ALDS questions: Astros are a legitimate threat to Royals

Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals

One of the best things about baseball in recent years is the arrival of new, small-market teams in the postseason. Last year, one such breakthrough was the Kansas City Royals. This year, one of them is the Houston Astros. And now the Royals and Astros each play in an American League Division Series. The teams have similarities and marked differences, but it's not a complete reach to suggest that the upstart Astros could become the Royals of 2015.

Here are five questions about this series:

1. What is the status of the Royals' rotation?

VenturaYordano Ventura, who will start Game 1, has been really good lately. He has won six of his last seven decisions, and in his last two starts, he threw 14 innings and allowed six hits, one run and four walks while striking out 17. Remember, he pitched some big games in the postseason last year, and Royals players would tell you that the bigger the game, the better Ventura pitched.

Johnny Cueto was acquired by the Royals from Cincinnati to start Game 1, but he simply has not been the same pitcher since he arrived. After a horrendous stretch, however, Cueto pitched better in his final four starts, allowing nine runs over 25 innings. He can be a free agent after the season, so he's pitching for a huge contract. If he and Ventura are at their best, they will give the Royals better starting pitching than they had during their October 2014 run.

2. Is there any chance the Astros will be overwhelmed by a stage this big?

CorreaNo. The Astros were in trouble during the final week of the regular season, having to finish with six games on the road, where they had struggled all year. But after a terrible loss at Seattle -- the Astros looked tight -- in the first of those six games, they rallied to win four of their final five to make the playoffs. And then they rolled into Yankee Stadium and beat the Bombers in the AL wild-card game.

Before the game, they were incredibly loose; center fielder Carlos Gomez was doing the moonwalk on the infield dirt minutes before batting practice. Twenty-one-year-oldĀ Carlos Correa, the second-youngest shortstop to start a postseason game in history (Travis Jackson was 20 in 1924), acted as if it was his 20th playoff game. The Astros had the worst road record of any team to ever make the playoffs other than the 1987 Twins, but down the stretch, and at Yankee Stadium, they were looking more comfortable by the day.

3. How good is the Royals' bullpen?

DavisIt's not as good, or as rested, as the bullpen they had in 2014, the one that (along with a great defense) carried them to within one win of a World Series title. But it's still really good.

The Royals led the American League in bullpen ERA (2.72). Closer Greg Holland needs to have Tommy John surgery, and he will be missed, but Wade Davis is a tremendous replacement. Over the last two years, Davis has a 0.97 ERA. He has pitched 139 1/3 innings, allowed only 71 hits and struck out 187. Kelvin Herrera will take over the eighth inning, and Ryan Madson and others will handle the seventh. It's still the best bullpen among the remaining playoff teams.

Meanwhile, the Astros had the worst bullpen ERA (5.63) in the major leagues from Sept. 1 on.

4. How much will having used ace Dallas Keuchel in the AL wild-card game affect the Astros?

KeuchelHe is a stud. He's going to win the AL Cy Young Award, and he proved against the Yankees that he is up to the pressure of the postseason. They will miss him in Game 1, but Collin McHugh is a 19-game winner, and he is poised and shouldn't be rattled by that wild crowd in Kansas City.

If the Astros were to win a game in K.C., Keuchel would be on full rest for Game 3 at home, where he is 15-0 this season. And he also proved against the Yankees that he is capable of pitching on three days' rest, which he might have to do if the Astros are to become the Royals of 2015.

5. How good is the Royals' offense?

ZobristIt's better than it was last year. The Royals scored 71 more runs than they did in 2014, and they didn't have the versatile and dangerous Ben Zobrist for the first four months. With the addition of Zobrist and Kendrys MoralesĀ this year, the offense will be more potent than it was last year.

They still put the ball in play more often than most teams, they still take tough at-bats, and they have a core of hitters, led by Lorenzo Cain, who know what it's like to play, and produce, in the postseason.

Royals in five.

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