What Is 2014 National League Division Series

Overview

The 2014 National League Division Series (NLDS) marked the opening round of the National League playoffs, featuring two best-of-five matchups to determine which teams would advance to the NL Championship Series. Held between October 3 and October 12, the series showcased high-stakes baseball with dramatic finishes and standout pitching performances.

Two wild card teams, the San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, had competed in the 2014 NL Wild Card Game, with the Giants emerging victorious to face the top-seeded Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals, who won the NL Central, faced the Los Angeles Dodgers, the NL West champions, in the other NLDS matchup.

• Madison Bumgarner delivered a dominant performance in Game 4, throwing a complete-game shutout to eliminate the Nationals with a 3–0 Giants victory.
• The Giants won the series 3–1, overcoming a 2–1 deficit after losing Game 3 in extra innings on a walk-off single by Ryan Zimmerman.
• The Cardinals defeated the Dodgers in a sweep, winning all three games, including a crucial 3–2 victory in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.
• St. Louis advanced thanks to strong starting pitching, with Adam Wainwright winning Game 1 and Shelby Miller delivering key relief in Game 3.
• The NLDS structure used a 2-3 format, meaning higher-seeded teams hosted Games 1 and 2, while the lower seed hosted Games 3, 4, and 5 if necessary.

How It Works

The National League Division Series is a playoff round that follows the Wild Card Game and determines the two teams advancing to the NL Championship Series. The format consists of two parallel best-of-five series, with seeding based on regular-season records.

• Best-of-Five Series: Teams must win three games to advance, with no tied outcomes allowed. If necessary, Game 5 is played at the site of the lower-seeded team.
• Seeding and Home-Field Advantage: The team with the better record hosts Games 1 and 2, giving them a strategic edge in scheduling and fan support.
• Wild Card Qualification: The two wild card teams play a single-elimination game, with the winner entering the NLDS as the 4th seed regardless of record.
• Starting Pitcher Rotation: Managers typically use their top three starters, with Game 1 going to the ace, such as Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers in 2014.
• Extra Innings Rules: While no rule changes occurred in 2014, games could extend beyond nine innings, as seen in Game 3 between the Giants and Nationals, which ended in the 18th inning.
• Officiating and Replay: MLB implemented expanded instant replay in 2014, allowing managers to challenge one call per game, with additional challenges if successful.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the two 2014 NLDS matchups compared in key categories:

The Giants–Nationals series was the most dramatic of the two, highlighted by the 18-inning marathon in Game 2, the second-longest postseason game in MLB history at the time. In contrast, the Cardinals–Dodgers series was tightly contested but concluded swiftly, with St. Louis capitalizing on timely hitting and bullpen strength. Both series demonstrated the unpredictability of postseason baseball, where even top-seeded teams like Washington and Los Angeles could be eliminated early.

Why It Matters

The 2014 NLDS had lasting implications for MLB postseason structure, team legacies, and fan expectations. It underscored the volatility of short playoff series and the value of depth and resilience.

• The Giants became the first team in MLB history to win a World Series after starting the postseason as a wild card in consecutive years (2012, 2014).
• Madison Bumgarner’s performance solidified his reputation as a postseason legend, culminating in a World Series MVP award.
• The Dodgers’ failure to advance despite a 94-win season intensified scrutiny on their postseason shortcomings.
• St. Louis’s sweep demonstrated the effectiveness of their pitching depth and managerial strategy under Mike Matheny.
• The 18-inning Game 2 led to later discussions about implementing extra-inning rules, eventually leading to the runner-on-second rule in 2020.
• The series highlighted the importance of bullpen management, as both teams used over seven relievers in multiple games.

Ultimately, the 2014 NLDS served as a springboard for the Giants’ improbable championship run and reinforced the unpredictable nature of October baseball, where a single pitch or play can alter a franchise’s trajectory.