After yesterday’s games, the playoffs are now set.
NL Wild Card Game: Rockies at Diamondbacks
NLDS 1: Wild Card Winner at Dodgers
NLDS 2: Cubs at Nationals
AL Wild Card Game: Twins at Yankees
ALDS 1: Wild Card Winner at Indians
ALDS 2: Red Sox at Astros
Looking at the stats, Kluber should be a foregone conclusion for Cy Young. I would not put any money on what happens in the NL voting, though. Amazing what the Nats’ rotation has pulled off. Kershaw leads the NL in ERA and wins, but Scherzer has him beat in just about every other category. Does Scherzer lose votes because of teammates Strasburg and Gonzalez being on his tail?
So, how does everyone think this is going to play out?
It will be interesting to see who the Astros run out as their 3-4 pitchers. The most talented and best if at the top of his game is Lance McCullers, but he has not been good since coming back from injury. The best per-inning is probably Brad Peacock, but he doesn’t pitch a lot of innings; sometimes has trouble even getting past the fifth, never mind the sixth. My guess is they go with Charley Morton, who’s been solid all year, and Collin McHugh, who’s been pretty good after he came back from an injury late in the year.
Can the Dodgers play the winner of Cubs/Nats instead of D-bags/Rox? There are only 2 teams the dodgers have a losing record against this season can we at least wait to face them until the NLCS?
Unlike last post season, the Tribe enter with their entire pitching staff healthy. Last year they overused their best remaining pitchers and they were just out of gas by the end of the World Series.
Hopefully this year they can spread the workload around more and avoid that problem.
This wildcard game is terrifying. At least when you win the division, you’re guaranteed a minimum of three more games. The cliche that anything can happen is, of course, true. One bad outing by a starter or a reliever and bye bye season. I’d be disappointed if the Yanks lose tomorrow, but still excited about the future. I had low expectations for this season, and now I want more, naturally.
If this Twins win, I’ll tip my proverbial cap and root for the Indians to go all the way.
Wild card winners: Diamondbacks, Yankees.
ALDS: Astros over Red Sox, Indians over Yankees.
ALCS: Indians over Astros.
NLDS: Nationals over Cubs, Dodgers over Diamondbacks.
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers.
WS champion: Cleveland Indians in 6.
(while I’m usually poor at such predictions, I did get all the winners correct in 2016 with the exception of the NL wild card game).
Wild card winners: Rockies are on a tear, as are the Twins. I’m going to ride the hot hands.
ALDS: Astros over Red Sox, Indians over Twins.
ALCS: Astros over the Indians, even though I love watching Cleveland play.
NLDS: Nationals over Cubs, Dodgers over Rockies
NLCS: Nationals over Dodgers.
Almost certainly not. Up through 1993 only the top team in each division (or prior to 1969 league) went to the post-season. It was never the case that both (or only) second-place team was below .500.
I haven’t checked after that, but until a few years ago only one second place team got it. It’s only since 2013 there have been two wildcards and 5 out of 15 making it.
Right, definitely not 1981. The Reds had the best record in the NL that year, and possibly in both leagues…and didn’t make the post season. The Cardinals had the best record in the NL East and didn’t make it either. And I’m pretty sure the White Sox were over .500 for the year as well, but the Royals and A’s went to the playoffs instead.
Yanks should beat the Twins tonight. Better team, better starter and much better bullpen and at home. Yanks hit exceptionally well at home.
But either way, the wildcard winning team will then have the nearly impossible task of beating Cleveland in a 5 game series. I don’t think the Yanks or Twins are up to the job.
There was a great Tank McNamara strip at the beginning of the 1981 playoffs with the Reds occupying the field during one of the playoff games, chanting “The whole world is watching! The whole world is watching!” as the firehoses get aimed at them.
