Every year in Major League Baseball, two teams, one from each league, are given a chance at glory. They must battle their way through the 162-game season, and then fight off elimination in the playoffs.

In the American league, the Kansas City Royals defeated the Los Angeles Angels with a sweep in the ALDS, and the Baltimore Orioles in the same manner in the ALCS.

The Royals would not have made it this far without a terrific manager, however.

“He’s an incredible leader and very passionate. He’s the most competitive person I know,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said to USA TODAY about the club’s manager, Ned Yost.

In the National league, the San Francisco Giants have defeated the Washington Nationals 3-1 in the ALDS, and the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 in the ALCS. They won the pennant on Travis Ishikawa’s walk-off blast that ended game 5.

That blast gave San Francisco a boatload of momentum moving forward.

“I think momentum is a beautiful thing,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. He’s led the Giants to two World Series titles in the past four years.

“I think that Royals have had an excellent run so far, and that their bullpen could carry them to a championship. However, I think the Giants’ postseason experience will help them tremendously,” freshman Alex Thornberry said.

This is the Royal’s first trip to the postseason since 1985 (they won the World Series that year), and the Giants are vying for their third title in five years. To continue following MLB’s postseason, visit http://mlb.mlb.com/home.