The MLB Championship series are set for each division and both couldn't have better matchups as the Tampa Bay Rays will take on the hot Houston Astros in the ALCS and the Los Angeles Dodgers will face the Atlanta Braves in the NLCS.
The Rays hot off the press of dethroning the hot hitting New York Yankees, 2-1 showed resilience, toughness and furver cooling down the likes of Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge some games while also out hitting them thanks to the likes of Randy Arozarena, Manuel Margot Mike Zunino and others.
Their first ALDS appearance since 2008 has been thanks to Kevin Cash’s unbelievable ability to coach, motivate and make mid-game adjustments.
Meanwhile Houston is trying to right the wrongs of their past (cough, still cheaters, cough cough! and prove they are a great hitting team all trash-can banging aside.
Carlos Correa has been on mission reaching liftoff for Houston batting .500 with three home runs and 11 RBI’s in just six games and Framber Valdez has brought much-needed stability winning both his starts while surrendering just a 1.50 ERA.
Outfielder Michael Brantley has been an on-base machine and manager Dusty Baker has just been what the doctor ordered for much-needed stability.
So something's gotta give.
The X-Factor for the Rays could be:
Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have been horses as starters but I’m going to go to go with the pen and say Diego Castillo. Castillo has been lights out giving up zero RBI’s, home runs and just two hits through 4.2 innings pitched with seven strikeouts. Castillo and the pen will need to stay steady against an excellent hitting Astros team.
Hitter: the obvious answer would be Randy Arozarena who has been electric this postseason but I’m going to go with Manuel Margot, Margot has two home runs and five RBI’s through six games and his ability to get on base and go yard could be the key to the Rays World Series aspirations).
The X-Factor for the Astros could be
Pitcher: Most of the pitching for Houston has been bad outside of pitcher Framber Valdez. Valdez is leading the Astros in strikeouts (9), wins (2), ERA (1.50) and Innings Pitched (12).
Hitter: Once again, the obvious would be Carlos Correa but I’m going to pick Michael Brantley. Brantley has been one of the best overall hitters on any team this postseason hitting two home runs and seven RBI’s with a blistering .346 average. If Brantley continues to get on-base and score, watch out cause H-Town could be World Series bound non-cheatingly this time.
My prediction is the Rays thanks to the arms of Snell and Glasnow and hitting off () ()
pull out of a tough series beating the 'Stros in six games.
Out west, the Braves have looked like the team of destiny reaching the NLCS for the first time since 2001 fresh off a sweeping of the Miami Marlins.
With bats the likes of Ronald Acuna Jr. Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson one would expect the Braves hitting to be the reason there in the NLCS but it's been the pitching as Atlanta has simply been phenomenal with four shutouts in five games on the arms off Ian Anderson, Max Fried, Will Smith, Mark Melancon and company.
They will need a repeat performance as they take on the most balanced lineup in baseball in the Dodgers who are in familiar territory reaching the NLCS for the third time in four seasons.
Veteran Clayton Kershaw along with youngins Julio Arias and Walker Buehler have played well enough to let Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger and Will Smith bring them home each game ousting the Padres and Brewers respectively.
This will certainly be a rock fight each game.
The X-Factor for the Braves could be
Pitcher: Atlanta has had one of the best pitching staffs in the entire 2020 postseason just surrendering five runs with 11 pitchers so basically everyone for the Braves have played amazing so let me flip a coin and I got Ian Anderson. The rookie has been exceptional, surrendering zero runs, zero homers with just three walks and 17 K’s through two wins. Anderson will face a much tougher, more seasoned Dodgers lineup but if he continues to spit fire, Los Angeles will have a tough time manufacturing anything.
Hitter: The obvious choice would be Travis D'Arnaud who is white-hot for the Braves but I’m going to go with Dansby Swanson. Swanson has two Home Runs and seven RBI’s through five games bringing much-needed offense stability to this Braves lineup. He along with Ronald Acuna Jr. will need to bring the bats against a wonderful pitching staff of the Dodgers.
The X-Factor for the Dodgers could be
Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler will need to be consistently excellent during their starts but so will the bullpen and no one has been better in the Dodgers pen than Julio Urias. The fifth-year player has been lights out giving up just one walk with no runs or homers through eight innings pitched. When Kershaw and Buehler exit, Urias and the pen will need to hold the fort in what looks to be a neck-and-neck game-by-game series upcoming.
Hitter: Los Angeles has struggled to manufacture runs during this postseason outside of Cody Bellinger but I’m rolling with Corey Seager. The sixth-year shortstop has been consistent for the Blue and White batting in three RBI’s through three games against the Padres. His ability to get on-base and bring the likes of Bellinger, Turner and others home will be key against a stout Braves pitching staff.
My prediction is the Dodgers will receive just enough hitting from Betts and Co. and exceptional pitching from Kershaw and the staff for Los Angeles to advance to the World Series for the third time in the last four seasons. Los Angeles in seven.
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