AL Division Series-1
(4) Yankees (93-68) vs. (1) Rays (98-64)
G1 Sat. Oct. 3 @ Tampa Bay … 6:30 p.m.
G2 Mon. Oct. 5 @ Tampa Bay … 8:00 p.m.
G3 Wed. Oct. 7 @ New York … 8:00 p.m.
*G4 Thu. Oct. 8 @ New York … 8:00 p.m.
*G5 Sat. Oct. 10 @ Tampa Bay … 8:00 p.m.
OVERVIEW: The Tampa Bay Rays, in this ALDS, will be darlings of the MLBPA heading towards the Dec. 1 expiration of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. If MGR Kevin Cash’s underdog team can win this series, it will lay waste to the main ownership argument that small-market teams cannot compete unless there is a salary cap. Of course, we all know that, for owners, it’s really about cost certainty, not competition
PITCHING: With key off days before this series begins, plus off days after G1 and after G2, the Yankees bullpen will be all-hands-on-deck to log multiple innings if needed after RH Gerrit Cole, RH Cam Schlittler and LH Max Fried. The Rays counter with RH Drew Rasmussen, RH Freddy Peralta and RH Nick Martinez, plus CL Bryan Baker and a no-name bullpen
HITTING: The Rays have what is arguably the best Top 3 batting order in the AL -- DH Yandy Diaz, 1B Jonathan Aranda and 3B Jose Caminero, who should receive strong consideration for AL MVP. The Yankees have a lefthand-heavy batting order geared for the short porch when they get home to the Bronx. But the Rays have little in terms of shutdown lefties in their pen. The Yankees will likely be missing RF Aaron Judge (calf strain) for another series, but there is the spectre of post-season legend Giancarlo Stanton coming off the bench with Ben Rice as DH.
INTANGIBLES: The Yankees shocked their MGR Aron Boone by playing solid defence vs. the Red Sox. The Sox believed they would have an advantage vs. the Bombers with all the tough lefties on their pitching staff, but LF Cody Bellinger and the rest of the southpaw swingers stood tall and spoiled the BoSox AI assisted plan … and, oh yeah, also surprised MGR Chad Tracy.
PREDICTION: Yankees in 4.
AL Division Series-2
(6) White Sox (84-78) vs. (2) Guardians (85-77)
G1 Sat. Oct. 3 @ Cleveland … 1:00 p.m.
G2 Mon. Oct. 5 @ Cleveland … 5:00 p.m.
G3 Wed. Oct. 7 @ Chicago … 4:00 p.m.
*G4 Thu. Oct. 8 @ Chicago … 5:00 p.m.
*G5 Sat. Oct. 10 @ Cleveland … 5:00 p.m.
OVERVIEW: The White Sox endured 3 seasons of 100 losses in a row, so when the season started very little was expected. The Sox were 1-5 under MGR Will Venable before sweeping the Blue Jays in Chicago in early April, previewing an unexpected season turnaround. The Chisox looked like a mortal lock for the AL Central at one time, but the Guardians under MGR Stephen Vogt are forever relentless down the stretch and ran them down.
PITCHING: When it comes to White Sox pitching, they’re like the poker player who goes all-in every hand and somehow is still alive at the final table. The Sox feature a bullpen start to open the series, while the Guardians line up LH Parker Messick, RH Gavin Williams and deadline disappointment LH Foster Griffin. While The Sox bullpen plays “rock-paper-scissors” for whose turn it is, that night, Cleveland has one bullpen “rock” in Canadian RH Cade Smith.
HITTING: The Sox have Canadian CF Tristan Peters and former Jays OF Randal Grichuk with whom fans should be familiar. The one major addition credited with the Sox newfound belief in themselves is Japanese rookie 1B Munetaka Morikami (.207 Avg. 35 HR; 77 RBIS). It can be argued that Jays’ 3B Kaz Okamoto had a better rookie season, but the Sox are still alive and Morikami’s hot season start has carried over. Cleveland received huge clutch moments from SS Brayan Rocchio and others in the supporting cast, but they need 3B Jose Ramirez to step it up offensively in October.
INTANGIBLES: One of these two 84-85 win teams is going to the ALCS. The White Sox are playing with house money and Pope Leo XIV’s blessing. Just an observation, but the Pope’s big hat that he wears on road trips already looks like a rally cap, which is what they will be needing against a Guardians team that they battled hard in the regular season, going 7-6 outscoring Cleveland 58-57. But, face it, any team with LH Anthony Kay as a key hurler will not win.
PREDICTION: Guardians in 5
NL Division Series-1
(3) Braves (94-68) vs. (2) Dodgers (100-62)
G1 Sat. Oct. 3 @ Los Angeles … 4:00 p.m.
G2 Sun. Oct. 4 @ Los Angeles … 8:00 p.m.
G3 Tue. Oct. 6 @ Atlanta … 6:00 p.m.
*G4 Wed. Oct. 7 @ Atlanta … 6:00 p.m.
*G5 Fri. Oct. 9 @ Los Angeles … 8:00 p.m.
OVERVIEW: The Dodgers are going after a three-peat of World Series titles, a result that MLB owners who favour a hard salary cap are secretly cheering for, under their breaths. The new Evil Empire West, they will tell you, is everything that’s wrong with players being allowed to earn what an employer is willing to pay them. Some might scratch their heads call what they object to as the free enterprise system. That being said, the Braves do have a puncher’s chance given their deep lineup and Chris Sale.
PITCHING: The Dodgers can go with LH Tarik Skubal, RH Yosh Yamamoto and RH Tyler Glasnow and still have in reserve LH Blake Snell, RH Justin Wrobleski and RH Roki Sasaski. The Dodgers seem to use the regular season IL as a holding tank for an overabundance of talent. The Braves reflect what has become of today’s modern pitching staffs, going with a G1 opener and the bullpen to open a playoff series. They will likely follow with ace, Sale, and RH Tyler Mahle. The bullpen may well determine this series, with neither being total lockdown late in games.
HITTING: The Dodgers lineup since beating the Blue Jays last year, has added RF Kyle Tucker and made regulars out of CF Andy Pages and 2B Tommy Edman. The Braves have an effective and relentless lineup, with surprising SS Mauricio Dubon, healthy RF Ronald Acuna Jr., reliable 1B Matt Olson and sparkplug 2B Ozzie Albies. No lead either side is safe.
INTANGIBLES: Braves’ GM Alex Anthopoulos has history with the Dodgers, the team to which he fled, upon his departure from the Jays. Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman is facing his original team which he departed under a cloud of controversy. The Braves were 5-1 vs. the Dodgers, regular season, outscoring them 26-15. Dodger Stadium is predicted to be hotter than Death Valley this weekend.
PREDICTION: Dodgers in 5
NL Division Series-2
(4) San Diego Padres (91-71) vs. (1) Brewers (103-59)
G1 Sat. Oct. 3 @ Milwaukee … 8:30 p.m.
G2 Sun. Oct. 4 @ Milwaukee … 4:00 p.m.
G3 Tue. Oct. 6 @ San Diego … 9:30 p.m.
G4 Wed. Oct. 7 @ San Diego … 10:00 p.m.
G5 Fri. Oct. 9 @ Milwaukee … 4:30 p.m.
OVERVIEW: The Brewers play the game right, showing that money can’t buy scrappiness. Another small-market warrior, Milwaukee held off the Dodgers for the top overall seed which very quietly shows L.A. is vulnerable, so don’t concede them the championship, yet. The Padres are not to be trifled with, finishing as the hottest team down the stretch for the new ownership group. The Padres were 4-2 vs. the Brewers, outscoring them 26-21.
PITCHING: The Brewers are counting on winning every game that RH Jacob Misioroski starts, but that does not always work out. The Brew Crew also has RH Logan Henderson and RH Dustin May, but can their secondary starters match up to Pads LH Robbie Ray, RH Michael King and RH Nick Pivetta. King is the ace and necessarily goes in G2. The Brewers bullpen can’t match up with Padres CL Mason Miller and setup LH Adrian Morejon. The Brewers counter with CL Trevor Megill and loose cannon setup man RH Abner Uribe.
HITTING: The Brewers used just three of 28 position players that are 30-years-of-age or older. They are role models for an emerging style of modern baseball that eschews the all-or-nothing style ruled by launch angle and exit velocity, choosing to move runners, steal bases, lay down bunts, field your position and play situational baseball under MGR Pat Murphy. The Padres, meanwhile, have a lineup studded with stars, led by RF Fernando Tatis Jr., 3B Manny Machado, SS Xander Bogaerts. The Jays lost free-agent 1B Ty France after last season and he has been a huge contributor on both sides of the ball for the Pads.
INTANGIBLES: If Misioroski holds serve for the Brewers in his two starts, they can win, but if the Padres jump out to early leads, they can bridge that momentum to the late innings and it’s lights out. Players union is cheering for another low budget team in Milwaukee. The built-in off days help the availability of both teams’s bullpen big boys.
PREDICTION: Padres in 4
I love your "takes" on the series, the provocative leg up for thinking them over (even if I've been taking a little break from baseball after the Jays' stuttering season and demise)