With the Fall Classic looming and the 8 teams set. Who is advancing to the Championship League Series? Let’s break down all the matchups and see whose chances I like the best.
Phillies Vs Dodgers
This is, without a doubt, the most intriguing matchup for the playoffs. The two highest odds to win the World Series, and arguably the most balanced lineups in the playoffs, with batting title-winning infielders, left-handed hitting sluggers. What separates these two giants? It has to be the bullpen. When the Phillies went out and got Johan Duran, it truly put them over the hump. On the flip side, the Dodgers bullpen finished the season with a 4+ ERA, 27 blown saves, and was a bottom-ranked pen throughout the entire league. Prediction: Phillies in 5, bullpen matters deeply in the postseason.
Cubs vs Brewers
This is a somewhat historic divisional rivalry, but both have struggled in the postseason as they battle. Pitching easily goes to the Brewers, while the lineup goes to the Cubs ever so slightly. The Chicago Cubs won the season series 7-6, but as we saw in the Yankees v Red Sox series, regular season matchups do not matter. Prediction: Brewers in 4, Brewers win the Craig Counsell revenge series.
Yankees vs Blue Jays
Another set of divisional rivals meet in the playoffs, but for the first ever time. Toronto won the season matchup 8-5, with the Yankees blowing numerous leads in those games. I honestly think the Yankees are better in every aspect on the field, better starting pitching, bullpen, lineup and depth on the bench. BUT. It comes down to managing at the end of the day. Aaron Boone and the NERDS cost the Yanks in game 1 vs BOS and almost cost them the entire series from it. Lefty/Lefty matchups and pitch counts should not matter; play your best players, and you will win the game. Playoff Volpe is a real thing, Cam Schlittler is a dawg, and situational hitting won them the last series. Expect new heroes in this series. Prediction: Yankees in 4, win one in Toronto, and wrap it up in the BX.
Tigers vs Mariners
We should already have Skubal and the Tigers lined up for 2 wins, but do they have enough in the bullpen to get them a 3rd win? The bullpen allowed 7 runs in 3 games vs a bottom-dwelling lineup from the Guardians; it could’ve been a familiarity aspect, or they are just that bad. Now, to the Mariners, I love everything they have, pitching and lineup-wise. Homeruns win games in the playoffs, and they have plenty of homerun hitters. A 4 headed horse starting rotation and star studded closer in Munoz. If this series goes 5 games, I love the Tigers to take it, but I don’t think they have the firepower to hang in that long. Prediction: Mariners in 4.
We are setting up for a pretty entertaining divisional series with many rivalries and star-studded teams lining up. Who will advance to the Championship Series, and will you get my Aaron Boone crash out podcast this week or the week to follow?
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