By: Kelly
AL Wild Card: Orioles (Chris Tillman) at Blue Jays (Marcus Stroman)
The one thing I am sure about for this game is that multiple home runs will be hit. Both starting pitchers will have a short leash. I expect this to be a bullpen game. Stroman went 0-5 in September and Tillman is not good at the Rogers Centre. Normally you can throw out home field advantage in a one game playoff but the Rogers Centre is going to be loud and it will make the difference. Stroman pitches a little better than Tillman and the Blue Jays win a high scoring game. It helps that a really want to see a Rangers vs. Blue Jays rematch in the ALDS also.
NL Wild Card: Giants (Madison Bumgarner) at Mets (Noah Syndergaard)
I’m not sure how anyone could pick against the Giants with Bumgarner pitching in the playoffs but then again the Mets are at home with Syndergaard on the mound. What we have learned in the 1st four years of the Wild Card game is that home field advantage doesn’t mean much. Home teams are 2-6 and both lost their game last year. What matters is who is hot and who is pitching. Giants have won four straight and Mad Bum is on the mound. Enough said. This is probably the best pitching matchup in the 1st four years of Wild Card games.