By: Kelly Byrnes
AL Wild Card: Twins (Ervin Santana) at Yankees (Luis Severino)
Minnesota is making their first playoff trip since 2010 and they haven’t won a playoff game since 2004. They are also the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs a year after losing 100 games. Ervin Santana takes the ball for the Twins and he had a career year in 2017. Yankees go to their ace Luis Severino to extend their season to the NLDS. I expect a good game but give the edge to the Yankees because of their bullpen. My heart wants the Twins to win but I believe the Yankees will knock out the Twins for their third consecutive playoff trip.
NL Wild Card: Rockies (Jon Gray) vs Diamondbacks (Zach Greinke)
Two more teams that haven’t been to the playoffs in a while, 2009 for the Rockies and 2011 for the D-Backs. I’m sorry Rockie fans but you drew one of the hottest teams in baseball and Zack Greinke doesn’t lose at home much. Of course, anything can happen in one game but I don’t see the Rockies getting past the D-Backs. For the Rockies to win they will need Jon Gray to pitch one of the best games of his career and to try to get to Greinke early. I see the Diamondbacks getting an early lead and cruising into the NLDS.