The MLB playoffs are here, the best time of the year, but we do not have the best format of schedule on the calendar. The way it used to be, we had a Friday in October where we had 4 games that went all day and I could go out on a nice autumn day, sit at the bar, start drinking and be passed out by 8pm that evening.
There are ZERO Friday games this week and ZERO next week. Yes, let’s put games on Saturday and Sunday up against College and Pro Football. Yet again, another step backwards on the part of Major League Baseball. And yes, I am very upset about this.
I am going to break down the four Wild Card Series here with picks on who is going to be in the World Series being made now as well & we’ll cover each day there is a 4 game DFS slate with an article throughout the first two rounds. After that, it’s all in Discord for input.
RANGERS vs RAYS
Both these teams looked good as Gold to be winning their divisions as of a couple of months ago, but do not look at either of them as ‘collapsing’ to wind up in the Wild Card round. The Orioles & Astros over taking them were just that good.
Prediction: Rangers in 2.
MARLINS vs PHILLIES
I have a formula which I have shared in the past in regards to teams setup well for a post-season run. Last year it was the Phillies who fit this mold, and this year, yep, it’s the Phillies. The keys are that you need 1 or 2 sure thing SP at the front, a deep bullpen with set rotations and roles, and a lineup which has the ability to not have any 1-2-3 cold spots throughout the lineup. In short, you need to be balanced, have depth and reduce your weaknesses which can limit you. Philly has all of that.
Their nemesis though stands in their way, and that’s not the Braves. Luckily for them, they are avoiding Sandy Alcantara and all three games at home should allow them to steal one late if Luzardo OR Garrett pitch out of their minds Tuesday or Wednesday.
Prediction: Phillies in 2, but at least one of the games they need to come from behind late to win.
BLUE JAYS vs TWINS
This series should lean towards pitching doing well. The first game (today) is going to be in some warm weather so the offense surge should be there, but after that it’s going to be a pitching battle and I like the Jays to have enough offense to go with their pitching.
Prediction: Blue Jays in 3.
DIAMONDBACKS vs BREWERS
I wish this was a five game series because Arizona is not losing at home in the playoffs. But going into Milwaukee is something they should be able to manage to get through and the Diamondbacks are one of my sleeper teams going deep out of the Wild Card round.
Prediction: Diamondbacks in 3.
- Zack Wheeler (DK: $8600, FD: $9600) … Expect Wheeler to be 50%+ owned here. Folks will still target the Marlins and Wheeler for sub 9k is impossible to pass up in my mind. Miami is a weaker lineup than anyone else going today & Wheeler comes in with plenty of rest.
- Kevin Gausman (DK: $9800, FD: $10500) … This game will easily come down to the better SP in it, although I wouldn’t say I trust the Jays bullpen with a ton of confidence to close out a road game. But I would expect Gausman to be among the easiest paths to a big strikeout game in the first day of the playoffs.
- Jordan Montgomery (DK: $7100, FD: $6200)
One of the reasons I LOVE MLB Playoff DFS is it’s less about stacking and more optimizing your right 2-2-2 type core builds.
- Diamondbacks/Brewers … (Marte/Walker for Arizona, Yelich/Adames for Milwaukee)
- Blue Jays … (Springer, Bichette)
- Rangers … (Semien, Garcia)
CATCHER
- Jonah Heim
- Christian Bethancourt
- Gabriel Montero
FIRST BASE
- Christian Walker
- Yandy Diaz
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
SECOND BASE
A position which generally is not that good becomes very good in the playoffs now. I really like both Semien (for his power) and Marte (for his gap doubles) today and wouldn’t even bother with anyone else besides them.
- Ketel Marte
- Marcus Semien
THIRD BASE
- Alec Bohm
- Matt Chapman
- Royce Lewis
SHORTSTOP
- Bo Bichette
- Trea Turner
- Willy Adames
OUTFIELD
- George Springer
- Christian Yelich
- Sir Thomas Pham
- Adolis Garcia
- George Springer – OF – Blue Jays – Chairman of The Dongers Club
- Christian Walker – 1B – Diamondbacks
- Marcus Semien – 2B – Rangers
- Alec Bohm – 3B – Phillies
BETS
Rangers ML
Blue Jays ML
Diamondbacks ML
Marlins/Phillies under 7.5
WORLD SERIES PREDICTION
Phillies over Orioles — Trea Turner MVP