As the sun has set on the regular season of Major League Baseball earlier tonight, unanswered questions remain about the final eight teams that will be playing on into the American and National League Divison Series. Naturally, with the MLB's new rule of a one-game playoff for the 4th and 5th place finishers in each league leaves questions marks as to which team will play as the Wild Card, but the wild race in the American League has furthur complicated the situation.
At my last post two weeks ago, six teams were alive and fighting for those two American League Wild Card spots. Tonight, 3 of those 6 teams still have a chance. The Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Kansas City Royals all fell out of contention (in that order), while the Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, and Cleveland Indians had strong, winning weeks to keep their postseason hopes alive. By the time play ended today, the Indians led the way with an impressive final regular season record of 92-70. The Rangers and Rays are right on their heels, finishing at 91-71 apiece. The National League situation is and has been much less intense, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have held the two wild card positions for the last few months, and will square off in their long-expected one game battle on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh. The winner of the Pirates and Reds one-game playoff will earn a first round series with the St. Louis Cardinals.
The A.L. situation leaves us with a one-game playoff tiebreaker to determine who will play in the official one-game playoff. This tiebreaker will be between Texas and Tampa Bay, played in Arlington on Monday night, with the winner travelling to Cleveland to match up with the Indians on Wednesday night. The winner of that game in Cleveland will earn a spot in the Division Series against the Boston Red Sox.
While it is too early to release my official playoff predictions with so many teams still fighting for the wild card position, I will make predictions for the three wild card games to be played this week. After these scores are settled, I will make my official 2013 MLB playoff predictions.
For this week, I see Tampa Bay edging the Rangers in a tough game Monday night in Texas. Reigning A.L. Cy Young award winner David Price will have a good start against the Rangers rookie Martin Perez, and the Rays will earn a date with the Indians on Wednesday night. The Indians have had a magical season, and I'll make a prediction that it will continue past Wednesday night, and that they will win and move on to battle Boston. In the National League, the Pirates have just come off of a weekend sweep on the Reds in Cincinnati and are playing great ball. They send Francisco Liriano to the mound, who is 11-1 when pitching at home in Pittsburgh this season. The Reds will counter with Johnny Cueto, who has recently come back after a back injury and has looked solid since his return. I see the Pirates staying hot behind their best home pitcher and playing into October for the first time since 1992.
However, nothing I say will make a difference - the only thing left to do is wait for the games to be played! There's nothing better than October baseball.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Race for the Wild Card - AL Contenders
After my last post regarding the leaders of the AL Wild Card (at the time), the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers, I went forward to make these predictions about the following four teams in the race (before the games this week). Even though the week is nearly over, I'll still write about the four contending teams as I would have before it started and leave my same predictions for the week. Their records on this post reflect their records before this week's games.
Cleveland Indians: 81-68, 0.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Indians have been playing great ball and taking advantage of a weak September schedule, but don't count them out as serious playoff contenders just because they've been beating up on the White Sox and Twins all month. The Indians have emerged as one of baseball's biggest surprises this season, and with the offense clicking up and down the lineup and a strong resurgence of Ubaldo Jiminez, I predict that there will be October baseball in Cleveland this season.
Week ahead: 3 games at Kansas City, 4 games vs. Houston. Prediction: 4-3. Dropping 2 of 3 in Kansas City and taking 3 out of 4 at home against the Astros.
Baltimore Orioles: 79-70, 2.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Orioles have had an extremely up-and-down season, at times the hottest hitting team in baseball and at other times hitting dreadful slumps. After dropping 3 of 4 at home to the Yankees in a few close, heart-breaking games they bounced back by winning the weekend series in Toronto. Unfortunately for the O's, they still have stops in Boston and Tampa Bay for 3 games with the Sox and 4 with the Rays, the two teams ahead of them in the AL East standings. The Orioles have been an exciting team to watch all year but pitching is the name of the game in late September/October, and so far the Orioles haven't proven that their starting pitching can keep them in close, playoff-like games.
Week ahead: 3 games at Boston, 4 games at Tampa Bay. Prediction: 4-3. Winning 2 of 3 in Boston and splitting the 4 games with the Rays.
New York Yankees: 79-71, 3 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Bronx Bombers have lacked their power this season, but somehow have managed to stay in the race despite lengthy (and some season-ending) injuries to stars such as Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez. Their pitching has come on strong as of late, especially Ivan Nova who has emerged as a star and won the August AL Pitcher of the Month award. After winning 3 out of 4 in Baltimore, the Yankees looked poised for an incredible comeback to possibly capture the second wild card position. However, they then traveled to Fenway and were swept by the Red Sox over the weekend, putting a damper on their plans to crash the postseason party. With a fairly light schedule over the next week, don't count the Yankees out just yet, but 3 games may just be a little too many to make up with two weeks remaining after the sweep in Boston.
Week ahead: 3 games at Toronto, 3 games vs. the Giants at home. Prediction: 4-2. Winning 2 of 3 in each series against the last-place Blue Jays and Giants.
Kansas City Royals: 78-71, 3.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Royals are still playing meaningful games late into September, which may have a lot of people around the country surprised. Having not had a winning season since 2003, the Royals look destined to at least break that mark, if not make a late push into one of the remaining two wild card spots. After a rough 3-game sweep by the hands of the last-place White Sox in late August, the Royals have turned things around, going 15-8 since then and catapulting themselves right back into the playoff race. This week will pit them against two other wild card contenders (Indians and Rangers) and home before going on the road to play the lowly Mariners then White Sox over the last week of the season. If they can manage to survive the Indians and Rangers series' (and I believe they will), the Royals should be right in the mix heading in to the last week of the season.
Week ahead: 6 game homestand, hosting the Indians for 3 and then the Rangers for 3. Prediction: 4-2. Winning 2 of 3 in each of their final two home series'.
IN REVIEW
Based on the weekly predictions I made, here is what I expect the AL Wild Card standings to be after all games are complete on Sunday, September 22nd.
Tampa Bay Rays: 86-70 (+1 game)
Cleveland Indians: 85-71
--------------------------------
Texas Rangers: 83-72 (1.5 games back)
Baltimore Orioles: 83-73 (2 games back)
New York Yankees: 83-73 (2 games back)
Kansas City Royals: 82-73 (2.5 games back)
Cleveland Indians: 81-68, 0.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Indians have been playing great ball and taking advantage of a weak September schedule, but don't count them out as serious playoff contenders just because they've been beating up on the White Sox and Twins all month. The Indians have emerged as one of baseball's biggest surprises this season, and with the offense clicking up and down the lineup and a strong resurgence of Ubaldo Jiminez, I predict that there will be October baseball in Cleveland this season.
Week ahead: 3 games at Kansas City, 4 games vs. Houston. Prediction: 4-3. Dropping 2 of 3 in Kansas City and taking 3 out of 4 at home against the Astros.
Baltimore Orioles: 79-70, 2.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Orioles have had an extremely up-and-down season, at times the hottest hitting team in baseball and at other times hitting dreadful slumps. After dropping 3 of 4 at home to the Yankees in a few close, heart-breaking games they bounced back by winning the weekend series in Toronto. Unfortunately for the O's, they still have stops in Boston and Tampa Bay for 3 games with the Sox and 4 with the Rays, the two teams ahead of them in the AL East standings. The Orioles have been an exciting team to watch all year but pitching is the name of the game in late September/October, and so far the Orioles haven't proven that their starting pitching can keep them in close, playoff-like games.
Week ahead: 3 games at Boston, 4 games at Tampa Bay. Prediction: 4-3. Winning 2 of 3 in Boston and splitting the 4 games with the Rays.
New York Yankees: 79-71, 3 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Bronx Bombers have lacked their power this season, but somehow have managed to stay in the race despite lengthy (and some season-ending) injuries to stars such as Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez. Their pitching has come on strong as of late, especially Ivan Nova who has emerged as a star and won the August AL Pitcher of the Month award. After winning 3 out of 4 in Baltimore, the Yankees looked poised for an incredible comeback to possibly capture the second wild card position. However, they then traveled to Fenway and were swept by the Red Sox over the weekend, putting a damper on their plans to crash the postseason party. With a fairly light schedule over the next week, don't count the Yankees out just yet, but 3 games may just be a little too many to make up with two weeks remaining after the sweep in Boston.
Week ahead: 3 games at Toronto, 3 games vs. the Giants at home. Prediction: 4-2. Winning 2 of 3 in each series against the last-place Blue Jays and Giants.
Kansas City Royals: 78-71, 3.5 games behind Texas/Tampa Bay for Wild Card. The Royals are still playing meaningful games late into September, which may have a lot of people around the country surprised. Having not had a winning season since 2003, the Royals look destined to at least break that mark, if not make a late push into one of the remaining two wild card spots. After a rough 3-game sweep by the hands of the last-place White Sox in late August, the Royals have turned things around, going 15-8 since then and catapulting themselves right back into the playoff race. This week will pit them against two other wild card contenders (Indians and Rangers) and home before going on the road to play the lowly Mariners then White Sox over the last week of the season. If they can manage to survive the Indians and Rangers series' (and I believe they will), the Royals should be right in the mix heading in to the last week of the season.
Week ahead: 6 game homestand, hosting the Indians for 3 and then the Rangers for 3. Prediction: 4-2. Winning 2 of 3 in each of their final two home series'.
IN REVIEW
Based on the weekly predictions I made, here is what I expect the AL Wild Card standings to be after all games are complete on Sunday, September 22nd.
Tampa Bay Rays: 86-70 (+1 game)
Cleveland Indians: 85-71
--------------------------------
Texas Rangers: 83-72 (1.5 games back)
Baltimore Orioles: 83-73 (2 games back)
New York Yankees: 83-73 (2 games back)
Kansas City Royals: 82-73 (2.5 games back)
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Race for the Wild Card - American League leaders, 9/15/2013
As explained in the last post, the purpose of these blogs will be to analyze the remaining two weeks of the Major League Baseball season and attempt to make accurate predictions as to which teams will play on into October and make a run at the World Series championship. Today's post will be specifically analyzing the six remaining teams in the American League and making predictions based on their schedules this week.
Texas Rangers - 81-67, tied with Tampa Bay for the Wild Card lead. The Rangers have hit their roughest patch of the season thus far, coming off of an 0-6 week, having been swept by both the Pirates and the Athletics. Getting swept by the Athletics at home all but ended their hopes of a division title, and they are now clinging to hang on to a Wild Card position. Unfortunately, this week may be their most difficult challenge yet. The Rangers have a week-long road trip, playing seven games in seven days, all against other wild card contenders. They will start in Tampa for four games with the Rays and then travel to Kansas City for three games over the weekend against the Royals.
Prediction: Not good. Two wins and five losses, one win against each the Rays and Royals. The Rangers have lost six games in a row and 13 of their last 16. With no off-days left on the schedule and this rough upcoming road trip, the Rangers may be playing their way out of postseason position.
Tampa Bay Rays - 81-67, tied with Texas for the Wild Card lead. The Rays have recently seemed to break out of their recent slump, going 3-3 this past week and winning the weekend series against Minnesota, despite blowing a late lead and losing on Sunday. This coming week will also be a test for them, with back-to-back four game series' at home against fellow Wild Card contenders Texas and Baltimore. They played well agaisnt Baltimore three weeks ago before hitting their slump, so this week may be a different story. Something has to give between Tampa Bay and the Rangers, and I expect the Rays pitching to be the deciding factor in a winning series for the Rays.
Prediction: Five wins and three losses. Winning three out of four against the Rangers and splitting the two game series with the Orioles.
Texas Rangers - 81-67, tied with Tampa Bay for the Wild Card lead. The Rangers have hit their roughest patch of the season thus far, coming off of an 0-6 week, having been swept by both the Pirates and the Athletics. Getting swept by the Athletics at home all but ended their hopes of a division title, and they are now clinging to hang on to a Wild Card position. Unfortunately, this week may be their most difficult challenge yet. The Rangers have a week-long road trip, playing seven games in seven days, all against other wild card contenders. They will start in Tampa for four games with the Rays and then travel to Kansas City for three games over the weekend against the Royals.
Prediction: Not good. Two wins and five losses, one win against each the Rays and Royals. The Rangers have lost six games in a row and 13 of their last 16. With no off-days left on the schedule and this rough upcoming road trip, the Rangers may be playing their way out of postseason position.
Tampa Bay Rays - 81-67, tied with Texas for the Wild Card lead. The Rays have recently seemed to break out of their recent slump, going 3-3 this past week and winning the weekend series against Minnesota, despite blowing a late lead and losing on Sunday. This coming week will also be a test for them, with back-to-back four game series' at home against fellow Wild Card contenders Texas and Baltimore. They played well agaisnt Baltimore three weeks ago before hitting their slump, so this week may be a different story. Something has to give between Tampa Bay and the Rangers, and I expect the Rays pitching to be the deciding factor in a winning series for the Rays.
Prediction: Five wins and three losses. Winning three out of four against the Rangers and splitting the two game series with the Orioles.
Introduction - 9/15/2013
With two weeks remaining in the Major League Baseball regular season, the race for the postseason is heating up. The race in the American League is particularly close, with six teams chasing the final two wild card positions. The Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Kansas City Royals are all separated by just three and a half games in the standings. The National League appears to be less dramatic, but with the Washington Nationals finally playing good baseball and a slumping Cincinnati Reds team, it is certainly not over. The Central division of the National League is also yet to be determined, as the Reds are battling to keep up with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, two of baseball's best teams over the last few months. In this blog I will make weekly predictions based on the schedule strength of the remaining teams and attempt to predict which clubs will still be playing ball come October.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)