The Wildcard round of the playoffs was enjoyable, but only one of the four series went the three-game max. The Home-Field advantage was not much of an advantage, and the Mets choked away the season over the last two weeks. We get the big boys added in as the Braves, Yankees, Astros, and Dodgers are ready to take the field.
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San Diego added to its roster before the deadline for trades to be competitive with the Mets and Dodgers. Josh Hader won Game 3 against the Mets, and Juan Soto was 2-for-4 with two RBI in Sunday’s series-clinching win.
Los Angeles geared itself up for a possible return to the World Series with the addition of Freddie Freeman in free agency to the heart of the Padres batting order.
The Dodgers enter the NLDS with the advantage of rest and the ability to choose which pitchers they want to start during the series.
The Padres won two out of three in New York and remain underdogs again.
Series Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, October 11 at Los Angeles (9:37 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 2: Wednesday, October 12 at Los Angeles (8:37 p.m. ET, FS1)
Game 3: Friday, October 14 at San Diego (Time TBD, FS1)
Game 4: Saturday, October 15 at San Diego (Time TBD, FS1)
Game 5: Sunday, October 16 at Los Angeles (Time TBD, FS1)
Prediction
The Dodgers will have the pitching advantage, and they will be well-rested. Juan Soto was on fire in New York against the Mets, going 4-8 in the last two games; he will have to have another series like that to give the Padres a shot. The Dodgers will win this series behind Kershaw and Urias but don’t sell the Padres short they are a very good team. They just don’t have the horses to win this series. Dodgers in four games.
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Philadelphia Phillies vs Atlanta Braves
The Philadelphia Phillies won the first test after their return to the postseason, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in round one of the National League Wild Card round.
Philadelphia faces a greater challenge in the National League Division Series, where it will face the Atlanta Braves, its NL East counterpart.
Atlanta is the postseason’s most experienced team, looking to defend its World Series title. To take the division title from the Mets, the Braves showed their playoff grit by defeating the New York Mets in the final week of the regular season.
Philadelphia was third to New York and Atlanta in the NL East all season. With Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola as their starting pitchers,the Phillies have a real shot in this series.
Series Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, October 11 at Atlanta
Game 2: Wednesday, October 12 at Atlanta
Game 3: Friday, October 14 at Philadelphia
Game 4: Saturday, October 15 at Philadelphia (if necessary)
Game 5: Sunday, October 16 at Atlanta (if necessary)
Prediction
Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola are a strong one-two punch in Philadelphia. Both right-handed hurlers were victorious in their games against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Phillies have two options: They could choose to throw Nola and Wheeler to begin the series or allow the Phillies to give them more rest in Games 2/3.
Pitching depth is the Phillies’ issue in this series. Noah Syndergaard and Kyle Gibson have not been good enough for postseason starts.
Atlanta can throw Max Fried and Kyle Wright in the first three games. If needed, it could be Jake Odorizzi in Game 4. Spencer Strider was injured during the regular season and is now on the injured reserve. Strider’s condition will be closely monitored over the next few days to determine if he will be added to the NLDS roster.
The Phillies are a dangerous team, but in the end, they do not have the pitching depth to win this series, but they will not get swept. Braves in 5 games.
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American League Divisional Series
The American League Divisional Series will feature one of the most experienced playoff teams in Major League Baseball. Check out the top baseball betting sites for the divisional playoffs.
The Cleveland Guardians swept the Tampa Bay Rays in round one. Oscar Gonzalez’s 15th-inning walk-off home run set up an ALDS match with the New York Yankees.
Tampa Bay scored one run against Cleveland in 24 innings Friday and Saturday. Its pitching staff will be able to rest as the series with New York Yankees doesn’t begin until Tuesday.
New York has some of the most talented sluggers in MLB on its roster, including Aaron Judge, the new AL home run king. However, it will have to score runs against a team that allowed nine hits in its two playoff games.
Due to Cleveland’s sweep, Shane Bieber or Triston McKenzie may be available at the beginning of the series. Both pitchers should get enough rest to prepare for Games 2 and 3.
Series Odds
Game 1: Tuesday, October 11 at New York
Game 2: Thursday, October 13 at New York
Game 3: Saturday, October 15 at Cleveland
Game 4: Sunday, October 16 at Cleveland (if necessary)
Game 5: Monday, October 17 at New York (if necessary)
Prediction
A great set of pitchers can make a big difference in the MLB postseason.
Cleveland showed off its amazing arms in the two games against Tampa Bay. Triston McKenzie and Shane Bieber were outstanding in their respective starts. The bullpen continued to pitch with near-flawless pitching.
Bieber struck out eight batters in Game 1 and allowed one earned run on three of his hits. In Game 2, McKenzie struck out eight batters in six scoreless innings.
Francona might ask Aaron Civale and Cal Quantrill for four to six solid innings for the Guardians in Game 1. Then, the bullpen will be set up to complete the game. The bullpen in Cleveland gave up four hits against Tampa Bay in 10.1 innings.
Quantrill could become Cleveland’s X factor if he gets a start at Progressive Field. In the regular season, he was 9-0 and had a 3.28 ERA at his home ballpark.
To bridge the gap between McKenzie and Bieber, Cleveland’s bullpen can handle a large workload in Game 1.
The Indians pitchers lead a huge upset win for the Guardians. Guardians in 5.
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Seattle Mariners vs Houston Astros
The Seattle Mariners’ fantastic season will continue as they face their rivals, the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series.
The American League West teams will start their best-of-5 ALDS series Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. Both sides will be given a day off Wednesday and face each other in Game 2 on Thursday.
After a difficult two-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Mariners could use the break between games to rest their relief pitchers.
Houston showed that it is an all-around better team in the regular season, posting a 12-7 win against the Mariners.
Series Odds
Series Schedule
Game 1: Tuesday, October 11 at Houston
Game 2: Thursday, October 13 at Houston
Game 3: Saturday, October 15 at Seattle
Game 4: Sunday, October 16 at Seattle (if necessary)
Game 5: Monday, October 17 at Houston (if necessary)
Prediction
The Houston Astros should be considered the favorite to reach the ALCS from the all-AL West ALDS.
Houston won the regular-season series against the Mariners 12-7. It is now playing in its sixth consecutive postseason.
In each of their five previous postseason appearances, the Astros have reached at least the ALCS. They won four of their ALDS matches by a 3-0 margin or a 3-1 margin.
Dusty Baker’s team has the best American League postseason experience and can attack Seattle in many ways.
Justin Verlander is the Astros’ ace starting pitcher. They have six postseason-experienced pitchers, which allows them to approach every game with a fresh strategy and some arms that can last multiple innings.
Houston will likely pitch Verlander and Vadez for the first and second games of the series. You can use any combination of Lance McCullers Jr. Luis Garcia, and Cristian Javier to either start Game 3 in Seattle or as a relief.
The Mariners have been a great story this season, but the fun stops now. The Astros are just too good. Astros in 3 games.
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