Post by Dodgers GM on Aug 19, 2019 23:11:38 GMT -5
A yearly tradition continues!
Quarterfinals
1. Pirates vs 8. Cardinals
A matchup from a finals a few years ago I think? Pirates started off incredibly hot but have run into a buzzsaw of injuries to their pitching staff which should make this much closer than a 1-8 matchup would normally be. I think the Pirates score just enough to pull out a close matchup, but this will be one to watch closely!
2. White Sox vs 7. Royals
This year's AL division winner vs last year's! A very young Royals team with Bellinger, Baez, Hiura, Gleyber Torres, Syndergaard and Shohei Ohtani will be sure to be a perennial contender for years to come. This year though I don't know that there's enough pitching without Scherzer to knock off a strong White Sox side riding a few breakouts - who saw Gio Urshela coming? Certainly not my Blue Jays! (Fire Shapiro) - and Trout to a division title and a win in the first round.
3. Cubs vs 6. Tigers
In a shocker, both the Cubs and Pirates lost their matchup in the last week of the season - trying to avoid the Cardinals, perhaps? Surprised nobody wanted to win that division and win some extra $$ for next year, if nobody objects then I would have taken it no problem. Tigers have had a really nice season with losses only to teams ahead in the standings. Maybe a breakout Ketel Marte can lead them past the defending champs, but I don't see it happening in this matchup.
4. Diamondbacks vs 5. Red Sox
I'd like to say I feel confident going into this matchup, but that was before I lost Tatis and Sale for the season in the span of a few days. Now I'm really worried about trying to beat a breakout Matt Boyd and a resurgent Sonny Gray in this first round matchup. Red Sox just beat the Cubs to end the season and look really hot, but I think - I hope - that this goes the same as our one matchup in the regular season and I advance here.
Semis
1. Pirates vs 4. Diamondbacks
The difference between 2 super beat up teams will be who can get healthy first. If this matchup were held in May or June I would take the Pirates in a cakewalk...but I think the pitching staff is just decimated enough that I can pull off the upset.
2. White Sox vs 3. Cubs
These two teams faced off in the regular season in a crazy high scoring matchup - 494 to 471! That should be enough to win every week, especially in a one week matchup. I'm hopeful that we see the same fireworks here to see if the North Side vs South Side produces a classic matchup. Just like in the regular season I see a Cubs win - too tough to knock off the defending champs here.
Final
3. Cubs vs 4. Diamondbacks
I think my Cinderella run ends here in the final against the defending champs but I'm hoping I at least put up a good fight. With a full pitching staff and hopefully a hot hitting Vladdy Jr I think I can make the Cubs work, but I think we're looking at a 3-peat!
Best of luck to all playoff teams, and let's see how accurate I can be this year!
Past Predictions:
2018: Not so good this year...got all quarterfinals right but wrong on the rest. 4/7
2017: Got all picks right! 7/7
2016: Got all quarterfinal and semifinal picks right, got the final wrong. 6/7 in predictions
Hope my predictions are better this year!
Quarterfinals
1. Pirates vs 8. Cardinals
A matchup from a finals a few years ago I think? Pirates started off incredibly hot but have run into a buzzsaw of injuries to their pitching staff which should make this much closer than a 1-8 matchup would normally be. I think the Pirates score just enough to pull out a close matchup, but this will be one to watch closely!
2. White Sox vs 7. Royals
This year's AL division winner vs last year's! A very young Royals team with Bellinger, Baez, Hiura, Gleyber Torres, Syndergaard and Shohei Ohtani will be sure to be a perennial contender for years to come. This year though I don't know that there's enough pitching without Scherzer to knock off a strong White Sox side riding a few breakouts - who saw Gio Urshela coming? Certainly not my Blue Jays! (Fire Shapiro) - and Trout to a division title and a win in the first round.
3. Cubs vs 6. Tigers
In a shocker, both the Cubs and Pirates lost their matchup in the last week of the season - trying to avoid the Cardinals, perhaps? Surprised nobody wanted to win that division and win some extra $$ for next year, if nobody objects then I would have taken it no problem. Tigers have had a really nice season with losses only to teams ahead in the standings. Maybe a breakout Ketel Marte can lead them past the defending champs, but I don't see it happening in this matchup.
4. Diamondbacks vs 5. Red Sox
I'd like to say I feel confident going into this matchup, but that was before I lost Tatis and Sale for the season in the span of a few days. Now I'm really worried about trying to beat a breakout Matt Boyd and a resurgent Sonny Gray in this first round matchup. Red Sox just beat the Cubs to end the season and look really hot, but I think - I hope - that this goes the same as our one matchup in the regular season and I advance here.
Semis
1. Pirates vs 4. Diamondbacks
The difference between 2 super beat up teams will be who can get healthy first. If this matchup were held in May or June I would take the Pirates in a cakewalk...but I think the pitching staff is just decimated enough that I can pull off the upset.
2. White Sox vs 3. Cubs
These two teams faced off in the regular season in a crazy high scoring matchup - 494 to 471! That should be enough to win every week, especially in a one week matchup. I'm hopeful that we see the same fireworks here to see if the North Side vs South Side produces a classic matchup. Just like in the regular season I see a Cubs win - too tough to knock off the defending champs here.
Final
3. Cubs vs 4. Diamondbacks
I think my Cinderella run ends here in the final against the defending champs but I'm hoping I at least put up a good fight. With a full pitching staff and hopefully a hot hitting Vladdy Jr I think I can make the Cubs work, but I think we're looking at a 3-peat!
Best of luck to all playoff teams, and let's see how accurate I can be this year!
Past Predictions:
2018: Not so good this year...got all quarterfinals right but wrong on the rest. 4/7
2017: Got all picks right! 7/7
2016: Got all quarterfinal and semifinal picks right, got the final wrong. 6/7 in predictions
Hope my predictions are better this year!
