So far, MLBTR’s readers are 2-for-2 in picking favorites, having nailed the NL and AL Wild Card matches. Are we on to something here or is it just sample-size luck? It’s a fun exercise in any event, so let’s do it again for the two National League Division Series matchups that are kicking off this evening.
The Braves and Cardinals get things rolling with a game 1 duel between Dallas Keuchel and Miles Mikolas. On paper, this is a tight series. Both teams feature exceptional veteran first basemen (Freddie Freeman vs. Paul Goldschmidt) and dueling young aces (Mike Soroka vs. Jack Flaherty). The Braves have the flashiest single star player in Ronald Acuna Jr., but the Cardinals feature a broad and deep array of talent. Plus, the Braves are dinged up, having lost several key contributors and dealt with late-season health issues for Freeman and Acuna. While the Atlanta organization will call upon contributions from a variety of players added during the course of the 2019 season — including a trio of relief acquisitions and a trio of veteran position players acquired after the trade deadline — the Cards are rolling with a roster that didn’t feature any major outside, mid-season supplementation.
Who ya got? (Poll link for app users.)
It’s hard not to like the Dodgers’ chances at a third-straight World Series appearance, but in baseball the margins are thin and the bounces of the ball can be fickle. The reward for the outstanding pole-to-pole work from the Los Angeles club is a match with a talent-laden Nats team. These two clubs turned in an absolute barn-burner when they met in the NLDS in 2016. Both rosters feature star hitters, quality depth pieces, rotation aces, and …. highly questionable high-leverage relievers. That’s a formula for theatrics. If there’s a single clear advantage for one team, it’s probably the Dodgers’ far superior pitching depth, with the relief unit expected to be bolstered by several starting-capable hurlers. But there’s still a path for the Nats — if their three staff aces can fend off the Dodgers’ deep and balanced lineup and minimize the exposure of the ever-tottering D.C. bullpen.
Which team has the advantage? (Poll link for app users.)
If Corbin wins game #1 the Nationals can win the series.
I think the Nats go all the way.by beating Yanks in WS.
Really like the Nats they are going to be tough to beat in a 5 or 7 game series.
The Braves cardinals series is interesting, hoping the injuries don’t hamper the Braves too much
Injuries were the ONLY reason I picked Cardinals. If the Braves were at full strength, I would have picked them all the way.
I think the Dodgers are definitely the favorites to win, but if there’s a team in the NL that can beat them, it’s the Nats. Corbin, Scherzer, Strasburg can be devastating to any team.
The Nats got lucky against the Brewers…..a couple of key errors made the difference ….the Dodgers are far more talented and deeper in the BP and bench than the Nats….gonna be a sweep.
Not really. With the 3 Injuries starting outfielders Braun Cain and yelich…. they went cold, but at the same time the nats got hot.
Isn’t the first time a hot team down the stretch made a push.
07 Rockies over padres
10 giants
14 royals
Etc
06 Cardinals!
So many focusing bbn on that rookie error. Thing is, that was a bases loaded hit. The error only allowed the go ahead run to score. 2 runs, the tying run were scoring anyways. Who knows what might have happened if the error had not occurred. Wmbut the Nats didnt win that game only due to an error.
That’s why they play the games
Well sure that’s why they play the games, but just the same, the results of that one is easily very different if a HBP is ruled a foul ball as it just as easily could have been, and an error wasn’t committed in RF that allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Braves/Cards is an awesome match up, I’m leaning STL right now.
Braves in 5, Dodgers in 4
Braves in 5 – Nationals in 5
Braves and Dodgers, both in 5.
IF the Nats find a RP or two they can count on, they’ve got the potential to upset the Dodgers. I wouldn’t bank on it, though.
Hudson and Doolitle are not the April/May version of the Nats closing relief. They can play.
Let’s go braves vs nats
Remember the nats are the hot team down the stretch.
Al side
Astros vs twins
How are the Nats the hot team down the stretch, when they were 17-11 in September, while the Dodgers were 18-6?
Small sample size. Both teams are 74-38 since May 23.
8-0 to finish the season against good Phillies and Indians teams. Then winning the wildcard. They eliminated 3 teams In the last week
Braves take Game 1, Cards take the rest of the series. Cards take it in 4.
Nationals win Games 1 and 4, Dodgers take Games 2, 3, and 5 to take the series.
This ain’t it.
Cards in 4, Nats in 5.
I think Freddie Freeman’s elbow is going to really hold that lineup back, and the Cardinals have been masters at run prevention this year. The Nationals beast of a rotation is the only likely NL team to take down the Dodgers and I like their chances
The Nationals have the second-best starting rotation in baseball this year. The first is the Dodgers, by a half a run in ERA, and by about 50 runs allowed. Just thought I’d point that out.
#4 and #5 starters don’t count for much in the post season.
While true, regular season stats don’t have any effect on the post season. Personally I would rather ride a Corbin, Scherzer, Strasburg, and Sanchez rotation then Kershaw, Buehler, Ryu, and Hill. I don’t really believe that Ryu is as good as his numbers have shown and I wouldn’t be thrilled with Kershaw’s overall body of work in October.
But hey, that’s just me, anything can happen in baseball and that’s why we all love it!
So how players performed in the regular season is of no consequence to the postseason? If that’s the case then why even talk about the Nationals’ starters since a team could start a bunch of journeymen in the postseason who were mediocre in the regular season and it would make no difference. Ryu is every bit as good as his numbers, he just hasn’t ever had the brand name, and he pitches in a Western division when most of the country is asleep. Funny how much we talk about stats here when it makes a case but when it doesn’t they go right out the window.
Can’t wait for the Dodgers to get back to the WS. Love watching Dave Roberts melt down with his pitching staff. The starter is throwing a no-no or 1 hitter thru 4 innings and someone gets a hit or walk and out comes Dave pulling him. Then he brings in a series of pitchers that haven’t pitched in that situation all year. Then the following game it all starts to unravel again and he does the same thing and by game 3 his pen is gassed. Then he brings in the “match “ aka Kenley Jansen and boom the fire is a 5 alarm.