By: Kelly Byrnes
Another postseason is upon us with 12 teams still alive for that ultimate prize. I still miss the 1 game Wild Card format but this is what we have now so we will have to live with it. Good luck to the fan bases that have a dog left in the fight and to those fans that don’t, just enjoy watching without the stress of watching your team possibly break your heart once again.
AL Wild Card: (3) Twins vs. (6) Blue Jays
The Twins haven’t won a playoff game since 2004 and a playoff series since 2002. As much as a winning a single game would be great the Twins are looking at the bigger picture and a series win. Sonny Gray will need to come up big for the Twins for he’s been their ace and Cy Young contender all year. The Blue Jays have underwhelmed most the year and its hard to turn it around after the 162-game season. I see the Twins advancing to the ALDS.
AL Wild Card: (4) Rays vs. (5) Rangers
The Rangers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The lead the AL West for more than 130 days but slumped in September and were pasted by Houston on the last day of the season. The Rays had a similar season, they started red hot and were past by Baltimore in September. The Rays have the better pitching/bullpen and the Rangers have one of the top offenses in all the baseball. Can Corey Seager and Marcus Semien crack the Rays pitching staff? Yandy Diaz will be huge for the Rays as long as he’s healthy. This is the Wild Card Series I’m most looking forward to. I got the Rays winning but I hope it goes 3 games.
NL Wild Card: (3) Brewers vs. (6) Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks are another team breaking a long postseason drought, their last appearance was in 2017. The Brewers probably have one the best staffs in the postseason with the 1-2 punch of Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff. I’m excited to see what Corbin Carroll will do in October but he’ll need help from the rest of his teammates. I don’t see the Snakes overcoming the Blue Crew. I got the Brewers taking this series.
NL Wild Card: (4) Phillies vs. (5) Marlins
No disrespect to the Marlins here because they had a heck of a season and no one outside of Miami had them playing in October back in the Spring. The Phillies are clicking and should make quick work of the Marlins. They have their sights set on Atlanta and beyond. I see Alec Bohm having a couple great games. Phillies move on with a sweep.