Divisional round predictions
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Hayes/Wikimedia Commons
Last week here at The Lamron, I analyzed and predicted both American League (AL) wild-card series. I am relieved to say that my predictions came true as both the Tigers and Yankees advanced past their rivals in three games each. However, this is no time for celebration, as the playoffs are still ongoing. With the divisional round set to begin, it is once again time to channel my inner Nostradamus and hopefully nail some more predictions.
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Yankees in four games
The Yankees are riding high off a spectacular wild-card series that saw them come back from a 1-0 deficit and win two straight elimination games to knock off a talented Red Sox team. However, they cannot get too comfortable, as Toronto is a fierce competitor with an extremely talented nucleus of hitters. You also cannot forget to mention that their home ballpark, Rogers Centre, might be one of the loudest playoff environments in sports, giving them a noteworthy homefield advantage.
While Toronto’s outstanding lineup and raucous home crowd might be enough for some to pick Toronto as the prospective winners of the series, I find myself convinced that the Yankees will be the team moving on to the Championship Series. The Yanks have an equally formidable lineup, an arguably superior starting pitching rotation, and are more of a battle-tested squad coming off a World Series run just last season. Game One will be in Toronto, kicking off on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 4:08 PM.
Detroit Tigers Vs. Seattle Mariners: Mariners in five games
The Mariners are coming into the playoffs with championship aspirations for the first time in decades. This top seed in the AL has one of the most feared lineups in the game and a pitching staff that can be dominant. They have power hitters in third baseman Eugenio Suarez and AL Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidate Cal Raleigh, a superstar in centerfielder Julio Rodriguez, and two veteran pitchers in Luis Castillo and Logan Gilbert.
On paper, Seattle looks to be the heavy favorite, but Detroit loves nothing more than for people to overlook them and write them off. Much like their beloved city, the Tigers are a gritty and resilient squad that never knows when to quit. Their team’s spiritual and statistical leader, pitcher Tarik Skubal, will take Detroit as far as his left arm allows. Sadly for Skubal and Detroit, however, I believe that the Mariners’ superior lineup will eventually become too much for Detroit to handle.
Los Angeles Dodgers Vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Dodgers in five games
Now this is a heavyweight matchup that echoes Muhameed Ali and George Foreman. Both teams are World Series favorites with rosters that are stacked with superstars. Yet one of these tremendous teams will be exiting October early, much to their fanbases' chagrin. I believe that it will be Philadelphia, largely due to the absence of their top starting pitcher in Zach Wheeler as a result of a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Without Wheeler’s pitching prowess, the Phillies staff might be spread too thin, especially when considering the Dodgers might have the deepest rotation left in the postseason. This series has all the makings of an absolute classic; nonetheless, both teams are going to be trading punches left and right with the Dodgers ultimately delivering the knockout punch.
Chicago Cubs Vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Brewers in four games
In another matchup between two intense rivals, the Cubs are facing off against the Brewers in the postseason for the first time in their respective histories. This series is very difficult to predict because while the Brewers have been the best team in baseball all season (97-65 record), season after season, Milwaukee has failed to translate regular-season success into October.
Adding to the Brewers fans' anxiety is the fact that Chicago is a very dangerous team that is essentially playing with house money, as not many expected them to even make the playoffs. Take a breath, Brewers fans, because your October doldrums will finally be coming to a close. Milwaukee is a team riddled with under-the-radar, disciplined, and professional hitters (Milwaukee led the league in run differential with a staggering +172) who will take advantage of an injury-riddled Cubs pitching staff.
After the wild-card series, it looks like we are in for another electrifying postseason. Four out of the five wild-card series went down to the penultimate third game, emphasizing the tightly contested nature of this playoff field. Another interesting trend was the dominance of pitchers, notably Yankees Rookie Cam Schlitter (12 strikeouts in ALWC game three, most strikeouts in playoff debut all-time) and Tarik Skubal (14 strikeouts in ALWC game one, most strikeouts in Tigers playoff history). It will be fascinating to see if pitching continues to grab headlines or if potent sluggers like Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, and Shohei Ohtani will etch their names into postseason lore.