MLB Postseason Preview

MLB POSTSEASON PREVIEW

by Alex "Moose" Strizak

YES!

I love this time of the year where every pitch matters SO MUCH!

And this theory was proven true in the Brewers-Nats Wild Card Game... What. A. Game. The Nationals finally have luck on their side instead of it driving them straight into frustration for another offseason... And keep this statement in mind so you're not as surprised when you read my predictions below...

But a quick recap of the 2019 season... One that really exposed baseball's current flaws...

We saw home runs being hit more than we ever have before. We saw strikeouts more than we ever have before. We saw pitching changes more than we ever have before.

People love home runs and what players like Pete Alonso are doing, but there comes a point where the strikeouts and pitching changes are overwhelmingly boring and time-consuming.

I am a strong supporter of the idea of having a minimum batter faced of 3 for each reliever unless the inning ends or for injury reasons (which would result in the pitcher missing 2 games following that appearance). This would really push the strategy of the game farther and be more entertaining, in my opinion.

I am more likely to let Dallas Keuchel try to get himself out of trouble if I know that Luke Jackson is going to have to face two lefties after the righty that is currently up to bat... And that's what baseball fans want to see is that battle in a jam versus cutting to a commercial for one righty that throws 100 mph for a strikeout, only to cut to commercial again for the lefty-specialist to come in for the 4-hole hitter to strike him out to end the inning and go BACK TO COMMERCIAL! Argghhhhh...

Hopefully, the MLB gets rid of 40-man rosters at the end of the year and considers the idea of the minimum batters to face for a reliever...

But the Postseason is here and this where every pitch matters! Let's get to the predictions...

American League Divisional Series

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are an absolute juggernaut this year. They have an amazing lineup, the best starting pitching in the league, and a reliable closer in Osuna. It's going to be difficult for anyone to stop them, let alone a Cinderella team like this. Sorry, but I just don't see this being a "miracle" season for Tampa Bay, even though they've had a very impressive year.

Astros win series 3-1

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

This is not going to be an easy series for the Yankees. The Twins can rake and their bullpen has stepped up in a mighty way to end the year and win the division. Both these teams have banged up starting pitching and I feel everyone of these games could turn into a close slugfest. Give me the Yankees in a difficult series.

Yankees win series 3-1

National League Divisional Series

Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Nats held up their end of the bargain in my radio-rants about how good this team is and it is FINALLY their time to shine... It'd be such a great "baseball story" to have the Nats have such success after losing their "Face of the Franchise" player. I put this in quotations because there's a new sheriff in town named Juan Soto. Plus, the Dodgers starting pitching is banged up and inexperienced with not much of a bullpen to come in and save the day.

That being said... I'm taking the underdog and saying the Nats knock the heavily-favorited Dodgers and send a shockwave through the National League that they mean business.

Nationals win series 3-2

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves

This series is very underrated. The Braves have proven that their rebuild has taken the next step forward and this team should be taken seriously. HOWEVER, the team they are playing has quietly been on an absolute tear coming into this series. The Cardinals team may not have the best pitching, but baseball is the one sport where sometimes things just don't make sense and a team finds a way to win ball games one out at a time. I think this is one of those times... Give me the red birds in 5...

Cardinals win series 3-2

American League Championship Series

New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros

Heeeeeere we go. Many will argue that this series could be more intense than the World Series...
This would be a really fun one to watch, even with some key Yankees still dinged up. The Astros are the deepest team in baseball which is what could prevail them through a difficult series and return them back to center-stage of the World Series. The Yankee fan in me will be rooting for them the entire way, but the sports analyst in me has to pick the 'Stros...

Astros win series 4-2

National League Championship Series

Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals

This is an unexpected choice, as many people are looking forward to a Braves-Dodgers showoff... I think this series would be far more entertaining in the amount of talent on both the Nats and Cardinals that people forget about. In the end, I see the Nationals pitching being too much for St. Louis... Bryce who? Nationals to the Series...

Nationals win series 4-3

2019 MLB World Series

Washington Nationals vs. Houston Astros

I really really really really really want to pick the Nationals. It is about dang time they get over the hump and bring it home. This is the last year they may have Rendon paired with Juan Soto and Turner... This HAS to be the year they've been waiting so long for!

Sadly for them, the road to the World Series is through Houston. They are one of the most well-built teams we have seen and will be a real Goliath to bring down. Goliath did lose, but Goliath didn't have an MVP candidate like Bregman and a Cy Young candidate pair of Verlander and Cole... I've gotta go with the Astros in a tough series win.
Give me Alex Bregman as the MVP for this playoff run. Both defensively and offensively, he will be on an absolute tear to bring it back home to Houston.

Astros win series 4-2