Baseball Postseason 2017

October 5, 2017

It’s time for baseball’s post season. There are some really good teams vying to win this year and some juicy match-ups. So, here are recaps with my predictions as we approach the first pitch between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros. If you like pitchers’ duels, you’ll love the first game between Sale for Boston and Verlander for Houston. Good pitching will be a theme throughout the postseason. Who wins this series? Both teams have a lot of firepower in their lineups. Bogarts and Betts lead the Red Sox attack. Houston has this year’s batting champ, Altuve, Springer and all-star shortstop Correa. The availability and the performance of David Price is a key for Boston. If the games are close, the Boston bullpen is okay with their lock down closer, Kimbrel. Houston’s hopes hinge on starters Keuchel and McCullers and their closer, Giles, who had 34 saves. These teams seem to be evenly matched. However, Houston seems to be just a tad better. Houston in 5.

The Cleveland Indians were the best team in baseball when the season ended. They can score, play great defense, have great starting pitching and the best bullpen in baseball. That’s how you win an unbelievable 22 games in a row. Their manager is so confident his team is so good he can set up his rotation so his number 1 starter pitches game 5 if needed. I have one problem with this plan. If you are not going to start your best pitcher in game 2 (Kluber) why not start your number 2 (Curasco)? Instead, number 3 Bauer with 4.17 era in game 1. The Yankees can hit and if you’re Cleveland you don’t want to lose game one. However, Cleveland can score a ton of runs against suspect Yankee pitching. Therefore, Cleveland in 3.

AL awards:

MVP: Lindor, Cleveland; Cy Young: Kluber, Cleveland; Rookie: Judge, New York; Manager: Paul Molitor, Minnesota

L.A. Dodgers vs Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers won over 100 games and Arizona finished over 20 games behind. Therefore, most people would think this series would be a cakewalk for the Dodgers. However, the last time they met, the Diamondbacks swept the Dodgers in a 3 game series. The Dodgers won’t let that happen again. The Diamondbacks’ best starter Greinke is unable to open the series (he got lit up in a start against Colorado). Therefore, the Dodgers have an advantage. The Diamondbacks do have some great hitters like Paul Goldschmidt and J.D. Martinez. But the pitching doesn’t match up. The Dodgers are no slouches at the plate with Turner, Seager and Bellinger. The old adage ‘good pitching beats good hitting’ will hold true. Kershaw and Co. take this in 4 games.

The most intriguing series is Cubs vs Washington Nationals. These are two good, evenly matched teams. Here are the reasons I think the Cubs win this series: Each team has great starting pitching. Scherzer is questionable for Washington, Arrieta for the Cubs. However, the Cubs have 3 other top tier pitchers, which is all you need for a best of 5 first round series. The Nationals have some great hitting with Zimmerman and Murphy. What may really hurt them is Bryce Harper, who may be their best player, may not have his timing back while hitting in the middle of the lineup. The Cubs can counter with Bryant and Rizzo. Ken Harrelson always says ‘it’s not what you hit, it’s when you hit.’ The Cubs have multiple players hit in the clutch, pulling out wins in late innings.  Think back to last year’s playoffs. The Cubs were the hottest team after the all-star break including 15 wins out their last 19 games. The Nationals coasted and haven’t had a meaningful game since May. Finally, close games may be decided by the bullpens. Although the Nationals’ bullpen has  improved with trades, the Cubs have Strop, Edwards, Montgomery and the best closer in baseball, Wade Davis. Cubs in 5.

NL Awards:

MVP: Goldschmidt, Arizona; Cy Young Kershaw, L. A.; Rookie: Bellinger ,L.A.; Manager: Counsel, Milwaukee

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