Month: October 2020

The New York Yankees knew they had to play a near perfect game last night against the Tampa Bay Rays to stay alive in the ALDS and they did just that, holding Tampa to just 3 hits and committing no errors, resulting is a 5-1 victory. Tonight New York will send the best in the business to the hill, Gerrit Cole. Cole is 2-0 in the postseason, with a 3.46 ERA, and led the Yankees to a decisive Game 1 victory over the Rays, 9-3. Tyler Glasnow is also 2-0 in the postseason, with a 4.91 ERA, and is expected to get the nod for Tampa. Glasnow was the winner in Game 2 for the Rays but threw 93 pitches and will be working on only 2 days’ rest so he could be on a short leash. Southpaw Blake Snell will be the probable reliever for Glasnow. The Yankees crush lefties and that was evident in Game 1 when they nailed Snell for 6 hits, 4 runs, and 3 homers over 5 innings of work. The Bombers have the momentum going into Game 5, and with Cole on the hill they get it done.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

It is do or die for the Miami Marlins today when they face the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS but there is hope. Atlanta is expected to send Kyle Wright to the hill. Wright was a dismal 2-4 in the regular season with a 5.21 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP, and it gets better. The Marlins faced Wright twice this year and lit him up in both meetings, routing the Braves 8-2 and 8-0. Sixto Sánchez should get the nod for Miami and this guy throws heat. Sánchez was a respectable 3-2, with a 3.07 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and was 1-1 this year against the Braves. The Marlins stay alive.
TODAY’S PICK: MIAMI MARLINS

The New York Yankees’ bats were silent last night at Petco Park, except for Giancarlo Stanton’s, in their 7-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of their Divisional Series matchup, but that won’t last. The Yankees lineup, 1 through 9, is lethal and the Rays are expected to turn to Charlie Morton to keep them in check. Morton has not had a stellar season, at 2-2, with a 4.74 ERA, and he has not pitched in 11 days so could his rhythm be off tonight? Absolutely. Masahiro Tanaka is expected to get the nod for the Yanks. He was roughed up in his last turn against Cleveland but has been lights out in his career against the Rays, with a record of 11-5 and a 3.31 ERA. Tampa owned New York this year in the regular season but let’s not forget the Bombers were missing their heavy hitters for most of those matchups.
TONIGHT’S PICK: NEW YORK YANKEES

Game 1 of the NL Divisional Series between the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves will have two aces opposing each other with southpaw Max Fried getting the nod for Atlanta and Sandy Alcántara for Miami. Alcántara, who throws heat on every pitch, was dominant against the Cubs in the first game of the NL Wild Card. He is 4-2, with a 2.77 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and allowed just 1 run on 3 hits over 6.2 innings of work, resulting is a 5-1 Marlins win. Fried, who has yet to lose with a mark of 7-0, a 2.00 ERA, and a 1.06 WHIP, was also throwing flames in his last turn against the Reds. He threw 7 scoreless innings with no walks resulting in a 1-0 win for Atlanta. The Braves won 4 of the last 5 meetings this year against the Marlins, outscoring them 56-22 during that span. Miami’s record against left-handed starters is not good, at 5-12 in their last 17, and with Fried on the hill…good luck.
TODAY’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES

The AL Divisional Playoffs will get underway today at Dodger Stadium with the Houston Astros facing the Oakland Athletics. Oakland will be considered the home team in the opener and is the superior team in this series. The Athletics finished 36-24 in the regular season and are expected to send Chris Bassitt to the hill. He has been exceptional. Bassitt is 6-2, with a 2.19 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and was lights out the last time he faced the Astros, pitching 7 scoreless innings resulting in a 6-0 Athletics win. The Astros were 29-31 in the regular season and as of now Lance McCullers, Jr. is slated to get the start, but don’t be surprised if Dusty Baker makes a switch to Zack Greinke. McCullers is 3-3 with a 3.93 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Oakland owned Houston this year, going 7-3 overall, and down the stretch they won the last 3 meetings.
TODAY’S PICK: OAKLAND ATHLETICS