Baseball is back! I’m a little late to the party with these predictions, but if I happen to nail an obscure pick, I’m sure you won’t accuse me of deliberately waiting until a week into the season to post said predictions! Sorry, life simply gets in the way sometimes! Here we go………..
American League East:
New York (1)
Baltimore (4)
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Boston
American League Central:
Detroit (3)
Minnesota
Cleveland
Kansas City
Chicago
American League West:
Seattle (2)
Houston (5)
Texas (6)
Los Angeles
Oakland
NOTE: numbers in parenthesis denote playoff seeding
AL MVP: Juan Soto (New York)
AL Cy Young: Luis Castillo (Seattle)
AL Playoffs:
Texas over Detroit 2-0
Baltimore over Houston 2-1
Seattle over Texas 3-2
New York over Baltimore 3-1
American League Championship Series:
New York over Seattle 4-2
National League East:
Atlanta (2)
Philadelphia (4)
Miami
New York
Washington
National League Central:
Chicago (3)
Cincinnati
St. Louis
Pittsburgh
Milwaukee
National League West:
Los Angeles (1)
Arizona (5)
San Francisco (6)
San Diego
Colorado
NOTE: numbers in parenthesis denote playoff seeding
Who saw this one coming? Seriously, did anyone predict this matchup? Personally, I used both teams’ late season struggles against them when I was making my postseason picks. That said, it is refreshing to see two clubs who haven’t sniffed this stage in at least 12 years make it this far. Ratings may be low (think MLB was rooting for a Houston-Philly rematch?) but I will be watching.
Offense:
Once again, a tale of two different offenses. One who specializes in beating opponents into submission and one who is revitalizing the old school style of timely hitting and speed. If Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte were not on your radar three weeks ago, they certainly are now. The D-Backs also feature two other breakout players in catcher Gabby Moreno, outfielder Alek Thomas, and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, while veterans Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Tommy Pham, and Christian Walker round out the lineup. It’s a lineup that cannot mash with the Rangers but plays an exciting brand of baseball.
Speaking of mashing, is Adolis Garcia’s star shining bright now, or what? This guy has been unworldly this postseason and has the personality and charisma to make him an October legend. And it doesn’t stop there. The Rangers feature another October hero in Corey Seager, as well as Marcus Semien, Mitch Garver, and Nathaniel Lowe. Throw in youngsters Evan Carter and Josh Jung, and Texas can bludgeon opponents to death.
Slight Edge: Texas
Starting Pitching:
The starting pitching matchup is razor thin close. When you compare each team’s top two, it’s close to a wash with Arizona coming out of the gate with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, while Texas counters with Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery. While I would lean toward giving the Rangers the slightest of edges if the comparison stopped there, given Eovaldi’s growing legacy as an October beast, it’s in the third spot in the rotation that the Diamondbacks at the very least close the gap. Brandon Pfaadt has pitched superbly in enough consecutive playoff games to dispel the notion of a fluke, while Max Scherzer has struggled with rust after making his way back from injury. I understand it becomes a game of throwing whomever out there to get through a potential short outing by a starter, and no doubt someone like a Joe Mantiply for Arizona or Andrew Heaney for Texas might pitch key innings. That said, Pfaadt gives the D-Backs a Big Three.
Slight Edge: Arizona
Bullpen:
Here is where I believe one team has a decided edge over the other. Arizona’s relief corps have been lights out during the postseason. Closer Paul Sewald and set-up men Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson form a trio that has been shutting teams down for 3 to 4 innings once the Diamondbacks have the lead. Ginkel, specifically, has been filthy in the seventh and eighth innings. If youngster Andrew Saalfrank can throw strikes consistently, the Snakes will boast a true Core Four in the back end.
Meanwhile, Texas’ pen has sprung a few leaks this postseason. While closer Jose Leclerc has, for the most part, been solid, one doesn’t really know what they are getting out of Aroldis Chapman at this point, and it is difficult to trust Will Smith. Manager Bruce Bochy is going to have to piece it together, which we will go into soon. My worry for the Rangers here is that the bullpen can flip the script of an otherwise winnable game with an implosion.
Edge: Arizona
Manager:
David vs Goliath? Maybe not quite that much of a disparity, but Bochy has earned the respect he receives by how he can manage a big ballgame. Anyone remember how he brought Madison Bumgarner in relief for Game 7 of the 2014 World Series? It’s not as if D-Backs skipper Torey Lovullo is a slouch. It’s just that he lacks the big game experience of Bochy. However, he is certainly proving he can do the job, as evident by his team’s rise to the Fall Classic
Edge: Texas
The Winner:
This will be a classic series that will come down to whether the Texas bullpen can hold onto the leads it is handed. I’m betting it coughs up one or two of these games and makes the difference. I’m not betting against the Snakes again.
And then there were four. The major league baseball postseason is down to its Final Four. Two best-of-seven series to decide who will participate in the 2023 Fall Classic. Let’s make some predictions on who that will be.
National League
Arizona Diamondbacks vs Philadelphia Phillies
I must apologize to the D-backs, the city of Phoenix, the state of Arizona, and the entire desert as a whole. I totally disrespected Torey Lovullo’s crew. In actuality, whether they play out west or whatever it is, I have most recently learned how much fun one can have watching this team play. Corbin Carroll should now be a household name worldwide and not just within a 25-mile radius of Chase Field. Katel Marte, Christian Walker, and Gabriel Moreno help form a formidable lineup that has gotten hot at the right time. Meanwhile Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly create a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation.
On the flip side, I already know how enjoyable it is to watch the Phillies play baseball. A lineup that boasts Nick Castellanos batting seventh speaks volumes given the postseason tear he is on at the moment. That lineup also consists of Trea Turner, JT Realmuto, Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott, as well as big moment stars in Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, the latter becoming a modern-day Mr. October. Not just a slugging bunch of merrymen, Philadelphia is built for playoff success in large part because of their rotation, which comprises of Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez, and Michael Lorenzen. Add in a complete bullpen and one can see why the Phillies have been my pick since spring training to win the whole thing.
The Phillies are nearly impossible to beat at Citizen’s Bank Park and they have home-field advantage in this series. The Diamondbacks are impressive, but the Phils are more experienced and better.
The Pick: Phillies in 6
American League
Texas Rangers vs Houston Astros
Break out the cowboy hats and the barbeque! We have an all-Texas American League Championship Series. Bruce Bochy versus Dusty Baker. A group of fun-loving upstarts against the defending champs making their seventh (!) consecutive trip to this stage.
Texas is two seasons removed from a 100-loss season. A plethora of moves, plus coaxing Bochy out of retirement has the franchise four wins from the World Series. Yet another pleasurable team to watch, the Rangers can score plenty of runs with a lineup that consists of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Adolis Garcia, rookie Josh Jung, and newcomer Evan Carter. Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery head the rotation, with the former carving out a reputation as a big-game pitcher. Meanwhile the bullpen, a question mark heading into the postseason, has been lights out through it’s 5-0 start to the second season.
Benn there, done that. That’s the story of the Houston Astros. It’s hard to pick against this team in October. Despite a lineup that boasts Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alverez (another Mr. October), and a rejuvenated Jose Abreu, it’s the pitching depth that is the separator from Houston and the majority of its opponents. Baker can roll out Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, and Jose Urquidy and sit back, well aware Bochy or any other manager in the game doesn’t have that luxury.
I love the Rangers and I think they will be a headache for the Astros in this series. But for me, it comes down to the starting pitching, and the Astros have more.
The Orioles have their pitching lined up thanks to the week of rest, but will it be enough? I’ll take the Rangers hitting a bunch of home runs to overpower Baltimore and end the Birds’ magical season.
#2 Houston over #3 Minnesota 3 games to 1
Who wasn’t happy for the Twins as they ended an 18-game postseason losing streak and won their first playoff series since 2002? Well, maybe Blue Jays faithful. That said, Houston, who at times was sleepwalking through the regular season, have found their groove.
National League:
#4 Philadelphia over #1 Atlanta 3 games to 2
I am so looking forward to this series. The Braves have been the class of the sport all season, but I’ve been picking the Phillies for a while now. Why stop now when they are looking so strong?
#2 LA Dodgers over #6 Arizona 3 games to 1
The Diamondbacks are fun to watch and should give the pitching-depleted Dodgers a tussle. But that LA lineup……..
The Rays have been littered with injuries, but still feel like the more complete team over the Rangers, who have been maddingly inconsistent over the past month or so.
#6 Toronto 2 #3 Minnesota 1
At least the Twins will break their 18-game playoff losing streak.
Divisional Round
#4 Tampa Bay 3 #1 Baltimore 2
I love the Orioles but can’t get past their lack of starting pitching.
#2 Houston 3 #6 Toronto 1
Who had the Astros written off a week ago?
American League Championship Series
#2 Houston 4 #4 Tampa Bay 2
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Astros are going to the World Series.
National League
Wild Card Round
#4 Philadelphia 2 #5 Miami 0
The Marlins are a nice story, but as you are about to see, I’m a believer in the completeness of this Phillies group.
#3 Milwaukee 2 #6 Arizona 0
Pitching, pitching, pitching.
Divisional Round
#4 Philadelphia 3 #1 Atlanta 1
No, the Phillies will not sneak up on the Braves this time, but I struggle with how Atlanta will get past Philly considering the injuries to its starting rotation. This is the worst draw for the Braves.
#3 Milwaukee 3 #2 LA Dodgers 2
Again, a patchwork rotation will do in a favorite. The Dodgers will slug their way to a couple of victories, but it won’t be enough.
National League Championship Series
#4 Philadelphia 4 #3 Milwaukee 2
This will be a fun series, but the Brewers don’t have enough offensive juice to move forward.
World Series
Philadelphia 4 Houston 2
In a World Series rematch, the Phillies get revenge. Nick Castellanos wins series MVP honors.
The Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone. Here are my team predictions for the rest of the 2023 season:
American League East:
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
Toronto
Boston
NY Yankees
Will the Orioles have enough starting pitching to hold off the Rays? Jack Flaherty will help, but my money is on Tampa to take the East. Toronto made a couple of decent moves, getting Paul DeJong and Jordan Hicks. Meanwhile, will heads roll in New York when the Yankees (albeit with a winning record) finish last?
American League Central:
Cleveland
Minnesota
Detroit
Chicago WS
Kansas City
Let’s just say the Guardians win this lousy division and move on.
American League West:
Houston
Texas
LA Angels
Seattle
Oakland
The defending champion Astros seemed to have been flying under the radar all season, however, that may change with the acquisition of Justin Verlander on Tuesday. The Rangers will be a tough out, while the Angels did the only thing they could do with the greatest two-way player in the world and go for it while they have him.
Playoff Teams (Seeded 1 through 6):
Houston
Tampa Bay
Cleveland
Texas
Baltimore
Toronto
National League East:
Atlanta
Philadelphia
Miami
NY Mets
Washington
The Braves are running away with it again, but I really like the way the Phillies are built, especially with the acquisition of Michael Lorenzen. A nice season in Miam ends on the outside looking in, while the Mets, as disastrous as this season has been, picked up some interesting prospects in their trades this past week.
National League Central:
Milwaukee
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati
St. Louis
Pittsburgh
Another weakish division in the Central, with the Brewers edging out the surprising Cubs (is anyone talking about them?) and Reds, who may be the NL team most on the rise.
National League West:
LA Dodgers
San Francisco
San Diego
Arizona
Colorado
The Dodgers, like always, are the cream of the crop here. That said, this has been a nice bounce back season for the underrated Giants. Meanwhile, aren’t the Padres too talented to miss out on the postseason? They’re right there.
Playoff Teams (Seeded 1 through 6):
Atlanta
LA Dodgers
Milwaukee
Philadelphia
San Francisco
San Diego
World Series:
In a rematch of last year’s Fall Classic, the Astros, behind their dominant pitching, take out the Phillies in six games. Framber Valdez wins two games to capture the series MVP award. Dusty Baker’s troops go back-to-back.
5-time World Series champion (closed out 4 different World Series)
1999 World Series MVP
2003 American League Championship Series MVP
5-time American League Rolaids Relief Man Award winner
3-time Delivery Man of the Year winner
3-time Major League Baseball saves leader
Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019 on the first ballot (first inductee ever to receive 100% of the vote)
Pitched in 1,115 regular season games, which is fourth most in MLB history, most in American League history, and most all-time by a right-handed pitcher
2.21 ERA and 1.00 WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched) are the lowest of any pitcher in the live ball era with at least 1,000 innings pitched
8–1 win–loss record and a 0.76 WHIP in the postseason
Postseason record lowest career ERA (minimum 30 innings pitched) (0.70)
Postseason record 42 saves
Postseason record most consecutive scoreless innings pitched (331⁄3)
Postseason record most consecutive save opportunities converted (23)
Postseason record most games pitched (96)
Almost exclusively threw a cut fastball, which hitters knew was coming, yet couldn’t do anything about
Whipped Owl 