With less than a week left in the MLB regular season, there are only a couple playoff spots left in question, so it is time for a preview for the 2016 MLB playoffs.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals have made it to the playoffs for five straight years. In four of those, they went all the way to the National League Championship Series. The team is brimming with solid veterans who can withstand the pressure, but the fact is that they do not have any standout players to push them over the top.
Prediction: Miss the playoffs.
New York Mets: One year removed from their improbable National League Championship, the Mets are sitting in the top wild card spot. This year, however, they will not have the pitching standards of their past because their entire rotation has been decimated by injuries. It is 43-year-old Bartolo Colón who leads the team in starts. Meanwhile, most of their great young pitchers’ arms are either injured or not performing. It is on the hitters to carry the team this year, which has not proven to be a successful strategy for the Amazin’ Mets.
Prediction: Lose in National League Wild Card game.
San Francisco Giants: It is an even year, so that means the Giants will win the World Series. Right? The Giants are looking to defend their 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Championships. With Buster Posey leading the team, you can never count them out in the playoffs, especially when you add Madison Bumgarner. The problem will be the days when Bumgarner does not pitch, since their bullpen seems to be actually trying to blow saves.
Prediction: Lose in National League Division Series.
Los Angeles Dodgers: It will be the fourth straight year in the playoffs for the Dodgers. They look to make it their first year as National League Champions since 1988, which also happens to be the last year they won the World Series. Unfortunately for Dodger fans, there are just too many question marks in their starting rotation, especially with Clayton Kershaw’s health in addition to his poor performances in the playoffs.
Prediction: Lose in National League Division Series.
Washington Nationals: This is almost the Washington Nationals team we expected last year when they got Max Scherzer to add to Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper to their roster. Now that they have arrived, it is not exactly as expected. Daniel Murphy is their best hitter, and we all remember what he did last year in the playoffs. But with Bryce Harper struggling, they will not make it past the National League juggernauts.
Prediction: Lose in National League Championship Series.
Chicago Cubs: Could this actually be the year? The Cubs have not won a World Series since Theodore Roosevelt was President (1908), and this is the best chance they’ve had to break that streak in recent memory. The Cubs really have no weaknesses. Their core of young hitters play defense exceptionally, their pitchers have been dominating and midseason acquisition Aroldis Chapman is still the best closer in the league.
Prediction: Find a way to keep the streak alive (Black Cat? Goat? Bartman?) but lose in the World Series.
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles can hit home-runs. That is also about all they can do, so a deep playoff run is not realistic for them.
Prediction: Lose in American League Wild Card Game.
Toronto Blue Jays: With the Blue Jays in the playoffs, all the games in Toronto will be a must-watch as the baseball hype continues to roll up north. If there is a rematch between the Blue Jays and the Rangers, do not think for a second that either team has forgotten what happened back in May between Rougned Odor and José Bautista. Be ready for fireworks.
Prediction: Lose in American League Division Series.
Cleveland Indians: With many young, inexperienced players, the playoffs will be an uphill battle due to the large number of playoff tested teams. But at least Cleveland has the Cavs.
Prediction: Lose in American League Division Series.
Texas Rangers: The Texas Rangers have still never won a World Series despite a few close calls in recent years. This year, they have great hitters as always, but their pitching after Cole Hamels cannot be relied on. No one in the AL, however, has truly elite pitching.
Prediction: Lose in American League Championship Series.
Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox are the hottest team in the league right now. Coming into the playoffs, that’s really all that matters, as displayed two years ago by the Royals and last year by the Mets. Their prolific offense is led by retiring superstar David Ortiz — think 2012 Baltimore Ravens sending off Ray Lewis. In his last year, David Ortiz will bring one more ring to Fenway Park.
Prediction: World Series champions.
