Fall Ball

AL Wild Card:

Yankees @ Rangers: The Rangers will ride their high powered offense to a home game in the one game playoff against the New York Yankees. Through three games so far this season the Yankees have been opposite of what most predicted. It has actually been their old and brittle offense leading the way while their pitching has been roughed up. Throughout the year things will even out for them and they will be good enough to snag the second Wild Card spot and even win it this year. The Yankees would more than likely see Cole Hamels in this game who is not the Cole of 4 years ago. He is hittable enough for the Yankees to squeak by the Rangers with a 5-4 win in Texas.

AL Divisional:

Yankees @ Astros: A Yankees/Astros match-up means I am saying the Astros will finish with the best record in the American League in 2016. I feel there is just too much talent in that organization not too. The Astros will ride their plethora of talent into a series against the worn out Yankees who have their age catch up to them this late in October. Keuchel will dominate the Yankees in Games 1 and 4 leading to a 3-1 series win.

Blue Jays @ Royals: In this rematch of the 2015 AL Championship series, two strong offenses come face to face. Jays strong with power, Royals strong with the ability to claw and scratch their way to get guys across the plate. Both teams come in with less than stellar rotations as the Royals do not have Johnny Cueto this time around. The Blue Jays however have Marcus Stroman. Stroman pitches strong in both games 1 and 5 and turns the tables on KC as they are the team being bounced this time around. Blue Jays head back to the ALCS win a 3-2 series win.

AL Championsip Series:

Blue Jays @ Astros: You have heard it a million times and I have said it a million times; pitching wins championships. When it comes to post season play, teams that rely on the home run ball fail more times than not. Once again, this becomes Toronto’s demise. With the inability to manufacture runs like the Astros can, and a shaky rotation at best behind Stroman, Canada’s World Series drought will roll on. It is an exciting series all the way through to a game 7, but the Astros have too much talent for the Blue Jays to handle, and they are left standing tall at the end of Game 7. Blue Jays force the series to go all the way, but the Astros force the Blue Jays home as Kuechel holds down the Blue Jays bats in a “Bumgarner-esque” Game 7 performance on short rest.

NL Wild Card:

Mets @ Cubs: Wow. Arrieta vs. Harvey. Reigning CY Young award winner vs the Dark Knight. This game plays exactly as one would think. Pitching rules the night in this one game playoff as both teams head to the ninth tied at zero. Arrieta takes his performance through the ninth while Terry Collins decides to hand the ball over to his bullpen in the bottom of the ninth. With Wrigley Field whipped into a friendzy, Anthony Rizzo drives a walk off home run deep into the Chicago night sending the Cubs onto the Divisional Round with the 1-0 win.

NL Divisional:

Cubs @ Nationals: Nationals finishing with the best record sure sounds like an excellent opportunity for them to choke once again. Will it happen this time around? Of course! Washington will the NL East and finish with the best record in the NL, being lead by their pitching and Bryce Harper putting up MVP numbers once again. However, once the postseason starts, s strong Cubs team will expose that Bryce Harper is virtually the entire offense for this team. Also, this late in the year, what will a guy like Stephen Strasburg have left in the tank if he is in fact still healthy? A lot like me not being able to pick against St. Louis to win their division until they don’t, I cannot pick Washington in October to win, until they do. Cubs take the series in 6.

Cardinals @ Giants: Is anyone else getting sick and tired of seeing these two teams in October? Seems to be them almost every year. Especially the even years for San Fran… Welp, it is an even year again and between their strong rotation and timely hitting the Giants move a step closer to ANOTHER World Series Title. I think the Cardinals will wear down and only salvage one game from the Giants. San Francisco in 5.

NL Championship Series:

Cubs @ Giants: I hate the Giants. I want to pick against them so bad. I just can’t though. I don’t need to tell you about the Cubs and their shortcomings. That topic has been beat to death over the last 100 years. Lets just say nothing changes in 2016. The Cubs have a bright future, but are just not quite there yet. They are so close though, they literally come within a game. Giants edge out the series in 7 games, in walk-off fashion at home. It wouldn’t be the Cubs if it wasn’t heartbreak…

World Series:

Astros @ Giants: Keuchel vs Bumgarner. I want it vs I’ve been there done that. This will match-up to be an epic World Series. I think the Astros have more talent, but the Giants have more experience. Here is my issue picking the winner in this match up. Who has home field? Unfortunately we will not know until July 12th. And this may be a cop out, but I don’t care. If Houston gains the home field, they win. Why? Keuchel pitching at home is lights out. Matter of fact in 2015 he never lost a single game at Minute Maid Park. Keuchel went 15-0 with a 1.46 ERA. On the road last year? 5-8 with a 3.77 ERA. More than a 2 run difference. If Houston is able to send Keuchel out on Game 1 he gives Houston a series lead where they never look back. If they need to start out by the Bay however, where a Game 1 and even a Game 7, where I think this series goes too, the Giants will prove to be too much. So here it is, Houston home field. they take the World Series, but if the Giants have it, they take it home with the even year magic paying off again.

 

Now off to the races!

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