By: Kelly Byrnes
First of all let me say this, I am not a fan of 16 teams being in the postseason for MLB. Since it is 2020 I’ll deal with it but it better be for only the 2020 season. I do think that anything can happen in a 3 game series so this round will be exciting to watch. I hope they go back to the 1 game winner advances and loser goes home format for next year. Back in July I don’t think many baseball fans thought we would get through a 60 game season and into the postseason. Lets enjoy this next month because you never know what could happen between now and next March.
NL WILD CARD (BEST OF 3)
1) Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) vs 8) Milwaukee Brewers (29-31)
Do you really expect me to pick against my Dodgers in the Wild Card round? Come on now. Boys in blue advance.
4) San Diego Padres (37-23) vs 5) St. Louis Cardinals (30-28)
Looks like Tatis is starting to warm back up at the right time. Question marks on Clevinger and Lamet makes this a little harder decision but I still have one of the most exciting teams in baseball advancing into the next round, Padres advance.
3) Chicago Cubs (34-26) vs 6) Miami Marlins (31-29)
The Cubs were the surprise NL Central Champs and the Marlins surprised everyone by making the postseason after losing 105 games in 2019. The Marlins lost their first ever postseason series. The Cubs advance.
2) Atlanta Braves (35-25) vs 7) Cincinnati Reds (31-29)
This is the most exciting series in the Wild Card round. The Reds were the team I was hoping the Dodgers wouldn’t have to play in this round. Bauer, Castillo and Gray are scary in a short series. I’m sure the popular pick will be the Reds over the Braves but I think the Braves will not get upset again in the postseason after last year’s surprising exit to the Cardinals. I got the Braves in a very close series.
AL WILD CARD (BEST OF 3)
1) Tampa Bay Rays (40-20) vs 8) Toronto Blue Jays (32-28)
The Rays have the second best record in all of baseball and the Blue Jays earned a playoff spot that no one thought they had a chance of doing at the beginning of the season. The Rays advance.
4) Cleveland Indians (35-25) vs 5) New York Yankees (33-27)
Shane Bieber vs Gerrit Cole in Game 1 of this series, oh boy! I think whoever wins this game takes the series. Bieber has been the best pitcher in baseball all year but he’ll need help from his offense to beat Cole. This is a really tough decision but I’m leaning towards the Yankees to advance in this one.
3) Minnesota Twins (36-24) vs 6) Houston Astros (29-31)
Can you guess what team this Dodgers fan is going to pick to win? The Twins are my second favorite team in the Wild Card round and they will advance.
2) Oakland A’s (36-24) vs 7) Chicago White Sox (35-25)
A really tough end of the season for the White Sox but they were playing with house money this season as no one expected them to compete for a playoff spot. The A’s are a tough draw for anyone. I know the Sox won’t just layover for them but I got A’s advancing into the next round.