The Atlanta Braves’ “No Dog in This Hunt” Playoff Projection Post
Aug 24, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Kris Medlen (39) delivers a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
American League
This is tougher right from the start because there are still 7 teams still in the hunt for 5 playoff spots… but there are trends brewing.
The heart-breaker will be this: after leading the division for nearly the entire year, the Houston Astros relinquished control to rival Texas last night. Unfortunately for the Astros, I believe that slide will continue and they may miss the playoffs completely.
Houston’s problem – aside from streaky hitting – is that the schedule does not favor them. Over the last 10 games, everybody else in their division is playing better… and they still have to play all of those teams. By the way, their record for the year is just 31-31 against the AL West.
Meanwhile… quietly… the Minnesota Twins have continued to hang around and they are now just 1.5 games back of the Astros for that second Wild Card spot. The Twins’ schedule is helpful after a key series hosting the LA Angels this weekend. If they can at least split those 4 games with LA, I think Minnesota will cruise into the post-season… leaving both Houston and those Angels behind.
The Angels hopes hinge on sweeping the Twins…or at least taking 3 of 4. If they do so, then suddenly they will be in the conversation – especially since Houston and the Rangers have to play 5 more times against one another… and also face the Angels 3 times apiece. But I don’t believe that’s going to happen.
PROJECTIONS
The Yankees host the Twins for the Wild Card game and win it. That sends them to Kansas City, who barely holds on to the home-field advantage. It takes a while, but the Royals dispatch the cobbled-together Yankees, who actually seem to have somehow over-achieved anyway.
Meanwhile, Toronto thrashes the Rangers, winners of the West. Admittedly, I’d love to see a series between Houston and the Blue Jays… those scores might rival NFL numbers that weekend.
So the AL comes down to Toronto and Kansas City. Ten different pitchers have started this season for the Royals. Frankly, their success here could come down to Johnny Cueto, who’s looked less than ordinary lately. It could actually take Kris Medlen to bail them out.
Toronto won their season series 4 games to 3. I think they’ll do likewise in the ALCS. Sorry, Missouri: no I-70 series this year.
WORLD SERIES.
The Cardinals and the Blue Jays. Could this one hinge on whether Troy Tulowitski is healthy and playing at normal production levels? Probably not – the Blue Jays’ potency isn’t riding just on him… and Julio Teheran proved last night that their offense can be shut down by mixing speeds and staying away from their happy zones.
I think the balance of Cardinal pitching and hitting… plus defense… will be too much for Toronto. The National League takes the series again, in 6 games, giving St. Louis their 3rd title in the last decade and 7 of 10 for the NL overall. It will probably also fully justify the Jason Heyward trade in the minds of the Cardinal faithful.
But this is – as always – an open forum: let’s hear your thoughts below!