Photo courtesy: Erik Drost
It already started with the two Wild Card Games over the last two days, but the month of October will have a ton of playoff baseball. If each series goes the distance, it’s even possible there is at least one game every day from now until October 22. Both American League Division Series start today, and here’s the schedule for each of the series (with Games 4 and 5 if necessary):
Thursday, October 5
-ALDS Game 1: Red Sox @ Astros | 4:00 PM ET | MLB Network
-ALDS Game 1: Yankees @ Indians | 7:30 PM ET | Fox Sports 1
Friday, October 6
-ALDS Game 2: Red Sox @ Astros | 2:00 PM ET | Fox Sports 1
-ALDS Game 2: Yankees @ Indians | 5:00 PM ET | MLB Network
Sunday, October 8
-ALDS Game 3: Astros @ Red Sox | 2:30 PM ET | Fox Sports 1
-ALDS Game 3: Indians @ Yankees | 7:30 PM ET | Fox Sports 1
Monday, October 9
-ALDS Game 4: Astros @ Red Sox | TBD | Fox Sports 1
-ALDS Game 4: Indians @ Yankees | TBD | Fox Sports 1
Wednesday, October 11
-ALDS Game 5: Red Sox @ Astros | TBD | Fox Sports 1
-ALDS Game 5: Yankees @ Indians | TBD | Fox Sports 1
The National League preview will come tomorrow, but these AL playoffs include two of the most popular franchises (the Red Sox and the Yankees), along with two very exciting teams that finished with over 100 wins for the year. Major League Baseball must be thrilled with these matchups.
Series Previews and Predictions
Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros
For much of the season, the Astros were in command in the American League standings. But a Carlos Correa thumb injury and a mid-season lull, along with the Indians rattling off a record win-streak, led to Houston settling for the number two spot in the AL. However, they’ve really bounced back after getting Correa back, going 22-8 in their last 30, including 8-2 in their last ten to end the regular season. With the league’s best offense in terms of runs per game, the Astros cannot be counted out in any game.
Boston had to fight off a late surge by the Yankees, but they still were in firm control of the AL East during the latter portion of the season. The Red Sox have a good mix of hitting, pitching, and defense, and they obviously have the upside to go on a run this postseason. The pitching staff led by Chris Sale has dominant potential, and it includes David Price (who will want to exercise his postseason demons) out of the bullpen along with 2016 AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello as a potential ace-in-the-hole (despite his 17 losses this season).
On the season, the Astros held a 5-3 edge in their eight games against the Red Sox, including winning three of four in their last series of the regular season. Boston will attempt to advance to their seventh ALCS since 1999, but I like the team that’s been there most recently and had some great playoff battles in 2015 to advance (the last playoff appearance for the Red Sox was their World Series title in 2013).
Prediction: Astros in four
New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians
The potential of the Yankees was on full display during their Wild Card Game win against the Twins, as they easily overcame a quick 3-0 deficit en route to the victory. AL MVP candidate Aaron Judge seems poised and ready for the big moments, as he’ll look to lead the offense against the league’s toughest pitching staff.
Everyone knows about the Indians’ 22-game win streak, and it’s not like they’ve gone in a slump after it was over. Cleveland is 7-3 in their last ten, and they clearly want to be remembered for more than the epic win streak. Kluber, Bauer, and Carrasco is going to be tough to beat now that they are at full strength—and you’ll probably remember Bauer showing extreme toughness when he played through a helplessly-bleeding finger last postseason.
Cleveland should be considered the favorites to come out of the American League, and they should be able to use their playoff experience to get past the Yankees.
Prediction: Indians in three
CLEVELAND ROCKS
I’m more excited for the NL series. Seem much more interesting.