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Post by nuraman00 on Sept 30, 2018 13:28:57 GMT -8
Because these games and series start within days of each other, it's best to keep them in one thread.
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Post by nuraman00 on Sept 30, 2018 21:47:12 GMT -8
Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs Play-In Game
The Brewers have made every move possible to make their roster as strong as possible.
Aguilar hits a HR, and Lorenzo Cain makes a diving catch.
Brewers Win.
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Play-In Game:
The Rockies started the year with a pretty good bullpen.
Then they started having troubles.
The Rockies also had trouble scoring.
Then the past few weeks, they started scoring again.
However, Buehler on the Dodgers looks good, and so does their lineup.
Dodgers Win.
Oakland A's vs. New York Yankees Wild Card Game:
The A's have a great bullpen. They have also gotten great seasons from starters.
Matt Chapman and Stephen Piscotty have also been good.
The Yankees have had a great year from Miguel Andujar, and Luke Voit has had a good recent stretch.
I'll go with the A's, even though I don't know their starter yet. If it's someone I don't have much confidence in, then I'll change the pick.
Their bullpen, if used a lot in the wild card game, will presumably be good to watch.
Oakland A's win.
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Post by BillLaimbeer on Oct 1, 2018 16:21:58 GMT -8
That was strange to have two tiebreaker games in which both of the losers still make the playoffs and have to play each other the next day.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 6:58:21 GMT -8
Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs Wild Card Game:Right now, I'm also feeling good about Blackmon, Story, and Arenado. The game will be close, but I think the Rockies have the better lineup, and their pitching seems to be back on track right now. Cubs ballpark will hurt them with these power lineups of the Brewers and Rockies.
I don't know much about Kyle Freeland on the Rockies. Ottavino and Oh are the Rockies best relievers. Rockies Win.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 6:58:49 GMT -8
That was strange to have two tiebreaker games in which both of the losers still make the playoffs and have to play each other the next day.
LOL, it was. Still fun though.
Too bad Yelich couldn't get the triple crown with a Brewers win in that play-in game.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 12:06:37 GMT -8
It appears the A's are using an "opener" in Liam Hendriks. I'm not sure what to think about that, but I'll keep an open mind.
I wouldn't mind if they used Yusmiero Petit in the middle of the game, if necessary.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 16:07:33 GMT -8
Rockies SP Kyle Freeland grew up a Rockies fan when he was a kid.
Cool story, because the Rockies probably don't have many players in their history that grew up in the area.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 16:16:50 GMT -8
A ball gets stuck in the ivy, so it's a ground rule double.
Are triples the rarest at Wrigley because of this?
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 16:22:12 GMT -8
Holiday strikes out to end the top of the first.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 18:00:52 GMT -8
Happ pinch hits for Lester and gets the full count walk in the 6th.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 18:32:43 GMT -8
Catchers interference. Wow. Wasn't there a game in last year's WS with that?
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 18:35:55 GMT -8
Ottavino gets the strikeout to end the 7th.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 19:09:32 GMT -8
I never thought Blackmon would be subbed for.
Why not sub out Holiday?
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 20:25:36 GMT -8
When was the last time a game had two normal "starters" pitch relief like this, with Cole Hamels and Kyle Hendricks?
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 21:13:18 GMT -8
Rockies win.
Great game.
Scott Van Pelt had a great analogy. He said every 1/2 inning in extra innings feels like it's a power play in the NHL, where either you hope your team scores, or you hope the other team doesn't score.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 21:18:49 GMT -8
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 2, 2018 21:41:22 GMT -8
Braun vs. Holiday.
Will that be a battle of relics, or will one or both of them come up with a signature playoffs moment?
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 3, 2018 13:48:06 GMT -8
ESPN picks the A's.
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24793586/your-al-wild-card-guide-stun-yankees
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 4, 2018 11:15:31 GMT -8
Colorado Rockies vs. Milwaukee Brewers:
The Rockies can match the Brewers power, but the Brewers have the better bullpen.
If Colorado wins, it will probably be in a longer series.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee in 3.
Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers:
No result would surprise me.
Atlanta's SP looks good. I like the Dodgers offense more.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Dodgers in 3.
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Post by nuraman00 on Oct 5, 2018 9:48:34 GMT -8
Cleveland Indians vs. Houston Astros:
Houston does everything well. Maybe their bullpen isn't as deep as other teams, but they'll find a way.
Andrew Miller hasn't been as great as usual this year.
I'll pick Cleveland, for no reason really. They're good enough.
Melky Cabrera will either have a big run scored, or a big outfield assist in throwing a runner out. I guess since he only plays against righties, the odds aren't as good of him playing enough defensive plate appearances for him to make such a play. Oh well.
This will be the best series of the division round.
Cleveland in 5.
Cleveland
Cleveland
Houston
Houston
Cleveland.
New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox:
Yankees have the better offense and bullpen.
Red Sox have the better starting pitching.
Boston in 4.
Boston
Boston
New York
Boston
I was going to go with Boston in 3, but changed my mind.
Also, when picking MLB more than any sport, sometimes the things that seem to be an advantage on paper, actually have little impact to how the games end up being played out. Other factors like errors, wild pitches, or several players struggling at the same time start to impact the game.
For example, it might hypothetically appear one team has more speed or hits more HRs, then all of a sudden they won't get on base or they won't get hits.
Or it might appear a pitcher is more of a fly ball pitcher, then all of a sudden a team can't make hard contact against him.
So I'll do some analysis in making a pick, but I'll try not to place too much importance in it, because sometimes it ends up not mattering.
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