draft, notes.....

According to an MLB Network stat, the team with the home-field advantage has won six of the last seven American League Championship Series matchups. So the Orioles have that going for them with the ALCS set to start tonight at Camden Yards when Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA) pitches against James Shields (14-8, 3.21 ERA). A lot has been made of the speed versus power matchup in this series, but it also should be a series featuring some solid defense. These teams combined to win six Gold Gloves in 2013 with Kansas City winning at catcher with Salvador Perez, in left field with Alex Gordon and at first base with Eric Hosmer. The Orioles had winners with J.J. Hardy at shortstop, Manny Machado at third and Adam Jones in center field. "Defense is a big plus for both teams," the Royals Hosmer said. "It is tough to get momentum when teams have good defense. We did it to the Angels and A's. A guy gets on base and someone makes a great play to stop their momentum. These games might come down to the wire, to the bullpens. Both teams have great bullpens so it makes for a great matchup." In this postseason, the Kansas City bullpen has pitched to a 2.37 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and .185 opponent average. The O's 'pen has an ERA of 2.25 with a 1.08 WHIP and .220 opponent average. The Orioles Andrew Miller was asked about the battle of the bullpens in this series. "We've heard about them," Miller said of the Royals pitchers. "They've gotten a lot of notoriety, well deserved. I'm a little biased but I think bullpens are a key part to having a good team. They've shown that on their end and we have on our end. "Honestly most of us are focused on the hitters most of the time and not too concerned with who they are pitching out of the pen. Our focus is on how we're going to get these guys out." Tonight's game will match the best base-stealing team in the majors against a pitcher that almost never allows a stolen base. Tillman has yielded just two stolen bases in 13 attempts the last two seasons. That was over 67 starts. Opponents went just 1-for-4 when he was on the mound this season. Catcher Nick Hundley said the Orioles rely heavily on a coach in their dugout in controlling a running game. "Some of it comes from the bench. John Russell (bench coach) does an unbelievable job knowing tendencies. When to throw over or to pitch out. He doesn't get enough credit. He helps out me and Caleb (Joseph) a bunch. And it takes some pressure off the pitchers. They know he'll put them in a very successful position." Brady Anderson knows something about stealing bases. He is the Orioles' all-time stolen bases leader. How can the O's slow the Royals running game? "As far as base stealing speed, the easiest way is quick times to the plate, no question," Anderson said. "As a base stealer you steal bases off the pitcher. It doesn't matter to me if Ivan Rodriguez was behind the plate, if the pitcher was slow I'm going. "And outs are even more precious now in this day and age where statistically the out is so valued, but even now in the playoffs. So number one, no question, quick times at the plate." The Orioles have played in nine ALCS, going 5-4. Their last ALCS win was by three games to one over the Chicago White Sox in 1983.