The 2017 season has come to a close and the playoff match-ups are just about set. What a chaotic end to the season that truly effected the final standings. As National League guy, I want to take a look at the NL playoff picture. We’ll get some predictions and potential dark horses to succeed in October.
The Match-ups
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the top seed in the National League and will play the winner of the wildcard game. The wildcard game, which is annually one of the most intense games of the postseason, is set as Colorado versus Arizona, and the Washington Nationals have the second seed and will face off against the defending champion Chicago Cubs in the division series.
Predictions
As the Rockies are poised to challenge the Diamondbacks in the wildcard game, there are two potential factors that lead me to believe Arizona will win. First, is starting pitching, which is absolutely crucial in the playoffs. Arizona’s starting staff has a team ERA of 3.67, whereas Colorado’s team ERA is 4.52. The Rockies’ best starter, Jon Gray, sports a respectable 3.67 ERA, however, the D-Backs’ best pitcher, Robbie Ray, has pitched to a superb 2.86 ERA on the season. Secondly, Arizona will greatly benefit from Colorado playing on the road. Coors field is notorious for being a hitter-friendly park. and the Rockies are significantly better at home than on the road. The game is by no means a cakewalk for the Diamondbacks, but, if I were to bet, my money would be on Arizona.
As for the division series between the Nats and Cubs, starting pitching and bullpen performance will shape this series between two of baseball’s powerhouses. Three of the Nationals starters have a sub 3.00 ERA. On the flip side, the Cubs didn’t have a single starter with an ERA under 3.00. If Scherzer, Strasburg, and Gonzalez carry their regular season performance into October, the Cubs may be looking at an early exit.
On the offensive side, Chicago has a solid lineup which has been red hot in the second half. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Wilson Contreras occupy the heart of their order and will need to produce if Chicago wants to make a run deep into October. However, the Nationals also have one of the league’s best lineups, consisting of Daniel Murphy, Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman, and Anthony Rendon. Harper is fresh off an injury, which could affect his performance. His knee appears healthy, however, timing is a crucial part of the game, and only time will tell if the last 10 games of the season were enough for Harper to regain his form. All in all, both star-studded teams could make a postseason run, but I’ll take Washington in 5.
Let’s all enjoy some postseason baseball! It’s going to be a great month for baseball fans.