GRIFF’S CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES PREVIEWS

World Series quest down to Final Four

2024 POST-SEASON THROUGH 2 ROUNDS: (Griff’s Picks WC 3-1; DS 3-1)

Over the eight contested series — Wildcard (best-of-three) and Division (best-of-five) — Griff’s picks correctly predicted 6 of 8 series, missing only on the Royals vs. the O’s in the ALWC and the Padres vs. the Dodgers in the NLDS. Teams with home-field advantage, the higher seeds are 4-4. The only one of six wildcard qualifiers to remain alive and advance to the Championship Series is the Mets. Amazingly, there are no overlap days on which the Mets and Yankees both play at home in the Big Apple.

MLB FINAL 4 AND THEIR WORLD SERIES APPEARANCES SINCE 2000:

In the 24 World Series that have been contested since and including 2000, the Yankees (2-3), Mets (0-2), Dodgers (1-2) and Guardians (0-1) are a combined 3-8 in those Fall Classics. The only previous intramural matchup within this Final 4 was the Yankees beating the Mets in 2000. In other WS appearances, the Yankees lost to the D’backs in ’01 and to the Marlins in ’03. The Mets lost to the Royals in 2015. The Indians lost to the Cubs in 2016. The Dodgers lost to the Astros in 2017 and lost to the Red Sox in 2018, while defeating the Rays in a pandemic-shortened ‘20 season.      

5-New York Mets (89-73; 5-2) vs. 1-Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64; 3-2)

G1 Oct. 13 … 8:15 p.m. @ Dodger Stadium  RH Kodai Senga vs. RH Jack Flaherty

G2 Oct. 14 … 4:08 p.m. @ Dodger Stadium LH Sean Manaea vs. RH Walker Buehler

G3 Oct. 16 … 8:08 p.m. @ Citi Field RH Landon Knack vs. RH Luis Severino

G4 Oct. 17 … TBD @ Citi Field RH Yosh Yamamoto vs. LH Jose Quintana

G5 Oct. 18 TBD @ Citi Field (if Necessary)

G6 Oct. 20 TBD @ Dodger Stadium (if Necessary)

G7 Oct. 21 TBD @ Dodger Stadium (if Necessary)

Season Series: The Dodgers were 4-2 vs. the Mets this year, outscoring them 34-20, losing the first two games at Dodger Stadium in April, then winning four in a row, including three at Citi Field at the end of May. The last time these two met in the post-season, the Mets beat the Dodgers 3 games to none in the 2006 Division Series. Remember, there would be no Mets without the Dodgers decision to move from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. For those that like to cheer for the underdog, unfortunately there is no underdog in this series with the two highest payrolls in the National League.  

How Mets win: The Mets have a Texas Rangers vibe from a year ago, clinching a playoff berth on the road late in the season then becoming road warriors through Atlanta, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, returning home after 14 days as seemingly eternal underdogs. The Mets have been carried by SS Francisco Lindor, 1B Pete Alonso and LF Brandon Nimmo. A surprise has been rookie 3B Mark Vientos. The big boys need to continue coming up big. CL Edwin Diaz, as part of an overworked bullpen, cannot stumble. The starters need to go 6-plus innings. Jays fans will have a rooting interest in that the Mets’ bench coach is John Gibbons.   

How Dodgers win: Their bullpen is clearly deeper than the Mets, with multiple potential closers. Pitching injuries cloud the Dodgers’ strategy, which might include a couple of bullpen days, a ridiculous thought for baseball traditionalists when imagining the World Series. DH Shohei Ohtani needs to step it up, along with a hobbled 1B Freddie Freeman. But OF Teoscar Hernanez and RF Mookie Betts with a quick strike supporting cast still makes them tough to pitch against. At mid-season, the Dodgers reached out for help – RHP Jack Flaherty (Tigers), UT Tommy Edman (Cards), CF Kevin Kiermaier (Jays), and RHP Michael Kopech (White Sox). The Mets will need a long series and for MGR Dave Roberts to overmanage his pitching.

NLCS Blue Jays Connections: Dodgers – OF Teoscar Hernandez, OF Kevin Kiermaier, LHP Anthony Banda, RHP Daniel Hudson.  Mets – LHP Danny Young, CCH John Gibbons; CCH Danny Barnes.

Griff’s Predicted Winner: Mets

2-Cleveland Guardians (92-69; 3-2) vs. 1-New York Yankees (95-67; 3-1)

G1 Oct. 14 … 7:38 p.m. @ Yankee Stadium RH Gavin Williams vs. LH Carlos Rodon

G2 Oct. 15 … 7:38 p.m. @ Yankee Stadium RH Tanner Bibee vs. RH Gerritt Cole

G3 Oct. 17 … 8:08 p.m. @ Progressive Field RH Clarke Schmidt vs. LH Matthew Boyd

G4 Oct. 18 … TBD @ Progressive Field RH Luis Gil vs. RH Ben Lively

G5 Oct. 19 TBD @ Progressive Field (if Necessary)

G6 Oct. 20 TBD @ Yankee Stadium (if Necessary)

G7 Oct. 21 TBD @ Yankee Stadium (if Necessary)

Season Series: The Guardians were 2-4 vs. the Yankees this year, outscored 37-22. The Guardians lost 2 of 3 at home in April and 2 of 3 in the Bronx in mid-August, scoring just five total runs in four losses. The Yankees have won the last three post-season series vs. Cleveland, in 2017-20-22. The last time the Guardians beat the Yankees in a post-season matchup was the Division Series in 2007.  

How Guardians win: The Cleveland bullpen, very deep and talented, finished the Tigers series running on fumes, so they will need to take a deep breath and have starting pitchers give them 5-6 innings per outing in order to allow MGR Steven Vogt to set up his relief efforts. Closer RHP Emmanuel Clase, the likely runner-up in Cy Young voting to LH Tarik Skubal, can be used for 4+ outs when holding the lead. The Cleveland offence has received sturdy October production from LF Steven Kwan, LF Lane Thomas and SS Brayan Rocchio to offset slumping bats of 3B Jose Ramirez and 1B Josh Naylor. The stars need to step it up.

How Yankees win: Somehow this Yankees team does not seem as intimidating as most October Bombers of the past. That being said, any lineup that features CF Aaron Judge, RF Juan Soto and a resurgent DH Giancarlo Stanton is not to be trifled with. They will win this series by outscoring the Guardians over the first six innings of games and kocking out the starters early. If the Yankees are trailing into the seventh inning, advantage Guardians. The first-time CL Luke Weaver has been handed the ninth inning role because of the struggles of RH Clay Holmes who has settled into his new, setup role. Bullpens will be the difference in the ALCS.

Blue Jays Connections: Yankees – RHP Marcus Stroman, LHP Tim Mayza, IF Jon Berti. Guardians – OF Lane Thomas; LHP Matt Boyd.

Griff’s Predicted Winner: Guardians