It’s the most wonderful time of the year. MLB Postseason Preview: Let the October anxiety begin.
Rally towels. Big home-runs. Celebrations. Champaign.
All the recipes for a World Series title that could belong to the city near you in just a matter of weeks.
Coming into October, teams such as the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees seem to be the heavy favorites. However, don’t sleep on the underdog.
This isn’t the NBA playoffs.
With the anxiety set to begin on Tuesday night in Oakland. Let’s take a look at the first step in this year’s playoff bracket, the cardiac matchups, the Wild Card games.
AL Wild Card Game: Tampa Bay Rays at Oakland Athletics
Now, I know what all you baseball fans are thinking at the moment. It doesn’t matter who wins this game because ultimately, the winner is gonna get maimed by Houston’s three-headed pitching monster in the ALDS, right?
You’re probably right, but just to entertain all Oakland and Tampa Bay fans out there. Let’s dive deeper into this wild card matchup in Oakland as both teams have things to prove heading into a potential date with Justin Verlander on Friday.
The Athletics earned the right to host this wild card game after winning 97 games for the second consecutive season, behind Manager Bob Melvin, who is in his eighth season at the helm.
The Tampa Bay Rays are no slouch. However, winning 96 games this season, finishing with the second most wins in their franchise’s history for a single-season.
Home-field will play a big factor in this one as the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum has been known to bring opponents to their knees throughout the years. Oakland will surely be looking to dethrone the American League West Champions later in the postseason.
NL Wild Card Game: Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals
This one is more of a toss-up between two very evenly matched ball clubs with the Milwaukee Brewers coming into Nationals Park after being edged out by the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central Division title.
The Nationals will send Max Scherzer to the mound with Washington attempting to win their first playoff round in franchise history.
Washington is coming off a 93-win campaign, following the departure of Bryce Harper a season ago, basking in the glory of a playoff appearance that the Philadelphia Phillies will not have this season.
The Brewers march into D.C. winning 89 games this season, with the Nationals history of postseason disappointment on their side.
However, it will not be an easy task for the brew crew playing this do or die game on the road.
The crew will also possibly go up against Washington’s three-headed monster with Max Scherzer getting the start and Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin set to relief in later innings.
AL Division Series: Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees
This may possibly be the most anticipated matchup in the division series. As the two teams with the most home run in baseball square off in the most friendly home-run hitting ballpark in history.
The Minnesota Twins (101-61) had arguably one of the best seasons in franchise history behind first-year manager, Rocco Baldelli. This season, launching 308 home runs over the course of 162 games, setting a new league record in the process.
Despite their success. However, they run into a familiar foe that they have not been able to solve in the postseason…ever.
The New York Yankees (103-59) have defeated the Twins in the postseason 5 times since 2004. Including two division series, sweeps in 2009 and 2010. Most recently defeated them in the 2017 AL Wild Card game just two years ago.
This will be a matchup between two great power-hitting offensives and two okay pitching staffs.
Buckle up, ladies and gentlemen, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.
NL Division Series: St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves road off into the sunset as NL East Division Champions for the second year in a row. As they get set to host a team that has been starving for a postseason appearance since 2015, the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cardinals last saw postseason baseball when they were eliminated at Wrigley Field by the Chicago Cubs in the 2015 NLDS. However, they have gathered an entirely difference offense since then.
With the additions of Paul Goldschmidt and Marcell Ozuna in the last two offseason, St. Louis has assembled an offensive juggernaut that may be able to take down Atlanta despite playing the first two games of this series at SunTrust Park.
Just like the Twins quest to slay their personal dragon in the Yankees. This matchup should display raw power against elite pitching, possibly going the distance before a date in the National League Championship Series.
Best Teams In Baseball: Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s no surprise to see this two teams receiving first round byes this postseason, with the Astros (107-55) and Dodgers (106-56) putting together they’re most impressive regular seasons in franchise history.
Houston’s elite pitching staff will ride them this postseason with Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, Zack Greinke, and Wade Miley. All proving to be elite hurlers in 2019, with George Springer having MVP-like camping with 39 long balls.
Los Angeles was powered by the re-emergence of Cody Bellinger, who slugged a career-high 47 home-runs in 2019. Behind a pitching staff that includes Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Walker Buehler.
The Dodgers competition leading to the World Series seems to be more lenient than Houston’s. As the 2017 World Champions will have to combat a 95+ win team in either Oakland or Tampa. In the ALDS while slaying a 100+ win powerhouse in either Minnesota or New York in the ALCS.
It should be interesting to see who will be able to compete with Los Angeles. However, as Dave Roberts and company have really stacked the deck against whomever they face.
Whether they face off against Dave Martinez’s three-headed pitching monster, or Atlanta’s elite offensive surge. The Dodgers path to their third consecutive World Series is a lot more clear than Houston’s.
MLB Postseason Preview: Let the October anxiety begin.
