MLB: Wild Card, ALDS & NLDS Preview
AL Wild Card -- Tuesday, Oct. 4:
Baltimore (89-73) vs Toronto (89-73)
Post: The Orioles win win this game mostly due to their outstanding pitching; starting with Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) and eventually getting to Zach Britton (47 Saves, 0.54 ERA) but it also does hurt that they bolster offensive studs like Manny Machado (.294 BA, 37 HR) and Mark Trumbo (47 HR, 108 RBI). The Blue Jays’ pitching staff is solid but Marcus Stroman has not been very effective this season (9-10) and is just coming off of a home loss to Baltimore on Sept. 30. Jose Bautista, Josh Donaldson, Edwin Encarnacion, and Troy Tulowitzki are dangerous but I will take my chances with Tillman and the O’s.
Prediction: Orioles (Score: 4-2)
Stoll: The Orioles will go up against the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card game, the winner will face the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series. Lets see how the two ball clubs match up; starting pitchers: Baltimore: Chris Tillman (16-6), Toronto: Marcus Stroman (9-10). This Wild Card game will be an offensive battle, both teams have solid pitchers starting and bullpens, although Baltimore’s closer Zach Britton has not blown a save. With that being said, the Blue Jays will truly only have eight innings to win the game. Both sides have great bats, Orioles led by Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo, and the Blue Jays led by Josh Donaldson and Edwin Encarnacion.
Prediction: Blue Jays (Score: 7-5)
NL Wild Card -- Wednesday, Oct. 5:
San Francisco (87-75) vs New York (87-75)
Post: This was one of the more difficult picks for me because both are sending out such dominant pitchers. The Giants: Madison Bumgarner (15-9, 2.74 ERA). The Mets: Noah Syndergaard (14-9, 2.60 ERA). Since I am forced to choose between the two aces, I will take Syndergaard and New York. Partially because of home field advantage, partially because they are coming off of a World Series berth, and partially because of guys like Jay Bruce (33 HR, 99 RBI) and Yoenis Cespedes (.280 BA, 31 HR).
Prediction: Mets (Score: 3-1)
Stoll: The winner of this matchup will battle the Chicago Cubs, starting pitchers; San Francisco: Madison Bumgarner (15-9), New York: Noah Syndergaard (14-9). This Wild Card game will be more of a battle on the mound, rather than at the plate like in the American League. Neither team has outstanding power, but have the ability to knock one out of the park. The Giants led by Buster Posey and Brandon Belt, and the Mets are led by Yoenis Cespedes and Asdrubal Cabrera. Both Pitchers will go into the seventh inning, but the Mets will get to Bumgarner late in the game and pull out the 4-3 victory.
Prediction: Mets (Score: 4-3)
AL Division Series -- Thursday, Oct. 6:
BAL/TOR (89-73) vs Texas (95-67)
Post: The Texas Rangers have been one of the most consistent teams in the MLB over the past two seasons, working with a lot of no-name players that work extremely hard. However, even if most of their team consists of non-household names, they still have some All-Stars like Cole Hamels and Adrian Beltre. Hamels (15-5, 3.32 ERA) will be on the mound in Game 1 and will likely have a good matchup since the Orioles (or Blue Jays) will be sending out their No. 2 pitcher. One of the main reasons I am comfortable picking the Rangers to advance is because of their outstanding infield. 1B Mitch Moreland, 2B Rougned Odor (.271 BA, 33 HR, 88 RBI), SS Elvis Andrus, and Beltre (.300 BA, 32 HR, 104 RBI) create a dominant group on offense and defense. Yu Darvish and Ian Desmond are also players to keep an eye on.
Prediction: Rangers (Series: 3-2)
MVP: Cole Hamels (SP)
Stoll: The Rangers have an extra day of rest as the Blue Jays (or Orioles) come out of a Wild Card game. Pitching rotation; Texas: Hamels (15-5), Perez (10-11), Holland (7-9), Darvish (7-5), and Griffin (7-4), Toronto: Estrada (9-9), Dickey (10-15), Happ (20-4), Sanchez (15-2), and Stroman (9-10). Toronto as mentioned before led by Encarnacion and Donaldson, also have tremendous power in Tulowitzki and Bautista, but the Rangers led by Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, Adrian Beltre, and Ian Desmond will prevail in a rematch of last season's epic five-game series.
Prediction: Rangers (Series 3-2)
MVP: Adrian Beltre (3B)
NL Division Series -- Friday, Oct. 7:
SFG/NYM (87-75) vs Chicago (103-58)
Post: The Cubs are the best team in all of baseball; it is as simple as that. They won 103 games, were the fifth fastest team to ever clinch the division, and have one of the best infields of all-time. Not to mention, three candidates for NL Cy Young and two for NL MVP. Whichever rotation Joe Maddon decides to put out there, Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA), Kyle Hendricks (16-8, 2.13 ERA), and Jake Arrieta (18-8, 3.10 ERA) are going to be nearly impossible to defeat. Kris Bryant (.292 BA, 39 HR) and Anthony Rizzo (.292 BA, 109 RBI) are not going to let this team lose this early in the playoffs, if at all.
Prediction: Cubs (Series: 3-1)
MVP: Kris Bryant (3B)
Stoll: This divisional series will be dominated by the all-around great Cubs team. Chicago is outstanding on both sides of the ball which is the main reason why they won 103 games. The Mets are either good on the mound or at the plate, more times than not. Pitching rotation; New York: Colon (15-8), Lugo (5-2), Gsellman (4-2), DeGrom (7-8), and Syndergaard (14-9), Chicago: Arrieta (18-8), Lester (19-5), Hendricks (16-8), Lackey (11-8), and Hammel (15-10). Chicago is boasting an All-Star infield and an outfield who has really stepped up down the stretch of the season.
Prediction: Cubs (Series 3-0)
MVP: Anthony Rizzo (1B)
AL Division Series -- Thursday, Oct. 6.
Boston (93-69) vs Cleveland (94-67)
Post: Obviously getting off to a good start is key in a five-game series, and the Red Sox are in prime position going into the first matchup. They have the luxury of sending out probable AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello (22-4, 3.15 ERA). Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26 ERA) is far from a slouch but the BoSox have the clear upper hand. Not to mention Boston has a few big names hitting the ball in Mookie Betts (.318 BA, 113 RBI) and David Ortiz (315 BA, 38 HR, 127 RBI). I just think the Red Sox have too much firepower for the AL Central champions to keep up.
Prediction: Red Sox (Series: 3-1)
MVP: Mookie Betts (RF)
Stoll: Both teams will are fresh and won their division, which will create for an exciting series. The Red Sox have Rick Porcello (22-4), David Price (17-9), and Drew Pomeranz (11-12) to start the series, while the Indians have Trevor Bauer (12-8), Corey Kluber (18-9), and Carlos Carrasco (11-8). Boston has been great all season long being David Ortiz, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Mookie Betts. The Indians have been hot-and-cold at times led by Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana, Mike Napoli and Francisco Lindor. Pitching wise will be a solid matchup but the Red Sox offense is too potent.
Prediction: Red Sox (Series: 3-1)
MVP: David Ortiz (DH)
NL Division Series -- Friday, Oct. 7:
Los Angeles (91-71) vs Washington (95-67)
Post: Both of these teams are very similar in my eyes, led by dominant pitching, with a lot of contact hitters, and one main home run hitter. The Dodgers will most likely send out Clayton Kershaw (12-4, 1.69 ERA) in Game 1 even though he is recently back from a long DL stint. Max Scherzer (20-7, 2.96 ERA) should take the mound for Washington at home. Fortunately for the viewers, those guys have been a mainstay for the last five years among the MLB's best. Game 1 (and beyond) should be thrilling. I just put my faith in the Nats because of Daniel Murphy (.347 BA, 25 HR, 104 RBI) who we saw explode in the 2015 playoffs, and Bryce Harper (.243 BA, 24 HR, 86 RBI). Corey Seager (.308 BA, 26 HR, 72 RBI) will have something to say for Los Angeles but I will take Washington in the closest series of the first round.
Prediction: Nationals (Series: 3-2)
MVP: Daniel Murphy (2B)
Stoll: The Dodgers and Nationals lost one of their aces in Greinke and Zimmerman, respectively, but have both been able to have division-winning seasons without them. Mostly due to other pitches who have stepped up; Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw (12-4), Rich Hill (12-5), and Kenta Maeda (16-11), and the Nationals with Max Scherzer (20-7), Gio Gonzalez (11-11), and Joe Ross (7-5). This series will be a battle on the mound. Offensively; Los Angeles is led by Corey Seager and Justin Turner, Washington is led by Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper.
Prediction: Nationals (Series 3-2)
MVP Daniel Murphy (2B)
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