MLB: Playoff berths on the line

As September comes to an end, the fall season approaches. With tinges of burnt orange and fiery red scattered throughout the country’s treetops, my favorite time of year begins. For a sports fan, there is nothing better than the next couple of months. Both NCAA and NFL football seasons are well underway. NHL and NBA teams prepare for another long season. But best of all is the start of the MLB playoffs. Even though my beloved Yankees will not be competing in late October this year, the excitement of playoff baseball is incomparable. With the end of the regular season approaching, The News-Letter thought it would be a good time to take a look at the pennant race. Though several teams have locked up spots for the postseason, there are still exciting games to be played in the final weeks. We will start by looking at the American League.

American League

The Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics have all locked up division titles. The Red Sox certainly responded well after a last place finish in the 2012 season. Healthy pitching from ace Clay Buchholz and underdog John Lackey, along with a revitalized clubhouse, have the Fenway Faithful hoping for another World Series ring.

The Tigers return to the playoffs aided by an unexpected Cy Young caliber season from right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer. The dominant duo of Scherzer and fire baller Justin Verlander could make the Tigers a tough team to beat. The deadly batting order, centered around MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera makes the Tigers chances for a strong playoff run likely.

The Athletics will enter the postseason once again, benefiters of the Billy Beane Moneyball approach. The A’s, with the league’s fourth lowest payroll, are a young team with an underrated pitching staff, especially standout sophomore pitchers Jarrod Parker and Tommy Milone. Nobody should be surprised to see Oakland come home with an AL Championship.

Behind the Athletics, are the Texas Rangers who sit 1.5 games out of the second wild card spot. MLB is employing a new playoff format this year that will allow two wild card teams to play in a single elimination game for the last spot in the playoffs. In previous years, only the top wild card team was granted the opportunity to contend in postseason play.

The exciting new playoff format will certainly make for some nail biters and GM Nolan Ryan wants to make sure his Rangers are there for the fun. Ryan has taken a “win now” approach by slinging two big deadline deals to acquire pitcher Matt Garza and outfielder Alex Rios. If Texas wants a chance for October glory, these two newcomers will certainly play big parts in the drama.

In front of the Rangers stand the Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays. The Indians strong play has first year skipper Terry Francona up for the Manager of the Year award. His expertise within the clubhouse has the Tribe competing without any worries. A rejuvenated Ubaldo Jimenez looks primed to lead the well balanced Indians into October.

Atop the Wild Card sits the Tampa Bay Rays led by manager Joe Maddon. With five capable starters including David Price and Matt Moore, the Rays will be tough to knock off in a seven game series. The core from several years ago is more seasoned and should be better prepared to handle the pressure of postseason baseball.

My Prediction

With easy schedules to finish the season, I see both the Indians and Rays battling it out for the final spot in postseason play. The Rays will win that battle and return to the playoffs after last year’s hiatus.

National League

The Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers should both head into October with well rested squads, after holding comfortable divisional leads for much of the season. The dynamic Braves pitching staff and star studded Dodger’s lineup will make both teams tough to beat. The real race is in the NL Central with only 2.5 games separating the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds from the division leading St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cardinals arguably have the best pitching staff in baseball. With a plethora of arms capable of reaching 95 miles per hour on the radar gun, St. Louis will make it difficult on opposing teams to plate runs. Right now they are my pick to win the division.

That leaves the Pirates and the Reds. Much to the joy of my deprived suite-mate, the Pirates secured their first winning season in twenty years. Boosted by the additions of Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau, the Pirates should be able to swing it in the postseason. Though the thought of AJ Burnett as a staff ace is scary, the Pirates will be ready to compete.

The Pirates will face off against division foe Cincinnati in a pivotal sudden death game. Defense and pitching wins championships, and the Reds certainly have both. Former Gold Glover Joey Votto will lead the charge in support of arms Mat Latos and Mike Leake. Like all teams with deep staffs, the Reds will be tough to beat in a long series.

My Prediction

The Pirates help complete their fairytale season and knock off the Reds in the single elimination game. Andrew McCutchen leads the charge into October as Pittsburgh looks to continue their magic.