The month of October can be seen as the start of fall and the Halloween season, but for baseball it’s playoff time. The best teams in each league clash in the best-out-of-five Divisional League series to try and advance to their respective league championship. Check out sports editor Marcus Krum, managing editor Joseph Krum, and staff writer Victor Carrasco’s picks on who we think will win.
American League Divisional Series: Houston Astros vs. Kansas City Royals
Game 1 tonight at 7:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
The Astros (86-76), after losing the division lead to the Texas Rangers in the final month of the season, are coming off a 3-0 Wild Card game victory over the New York Yankees in which they hit two homers. They are a team accustomed to the long ball, leading the majors with only 23.7 at bats per home run. The defending American League champion Royals (95-67) finished strong, winning their final five games. Their pitching staff, who has given up only 155 home runs this year, could prove to be a big counter to the slugging Houston team.
Marcus’s pick: Royals in 5
Joseph’s pick: Royals in 5
Victor’s pick: Royals in 4
American League Divisional Series: Texas Rangers vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Game 1 today at 2:37 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)
Hot teams in September often become even hotter in October. No major league team has been on a streak quite like the Rangers (88-74), who won 19 of their final 31 to take over first place of the AL West. Although they will be starting out with two games in Toronto, they have a 45-36 record on the road this season. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are 53-28 at home, and have a formidable lineup that has hit 69 home runs and a pitching staff that has recorded a league best 1.053 WHIP – both since the all star break.
Marcus’s pick: Blue Jays in 4
Joseph’s pick: Blue Jays in 5
Victor’s pick: Blue Jays in 5
National League Divisional Series: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Game 1 Friday, Oct. 9 at 5:30 p.m. (TBS)
Coming fresh off of a 4-0 wild card win against the Pittsburgh Pirates and a nine game win streak, the Cubs (97-65) are starting Jon Lester, who is 7-7 in 14 playoff appearances including a 3-0 record in the World Series. The Cardinals (100-62) , who have the best record in the MLB, are starting John Lackey who has the seventh best ERA in the MLB (2.77). Both pitchers were teammates in Boston, and both are some of the best in the game. The Cubs bats, lead by 1B Anthony Rizzo, has a team .244 BA, while the Cardinals have 171 HR on the year.
Marcus’s pick: Cardinals in 4
Joseph’s pick: Cubs in 5
Victor’s pick: Cardinals in 5
National League Divisional Series: New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1 Friday, Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m. (TBS)
Playoff baseball is back in hearts of Mets fans, after posting a 90-62 record to win the NL East snapped a streak of nine straight years without a playoff appearance. The last time they were in the playoffs, they swept the Dodgers in the Divisional series. Although the Dodgers have one of the best starting rotations in the last decade, with Zach Greinke and Clayton Kershaw at the forefront, New York’s staff has only allowed 29 percent of batters on base – second best in the majors.
Marcus’s pick: Mets in 4
Joseph’s pick: Mets in 5
Victor’s pick: Dodgers in 5
