MLB Postseason Preview

American League Division Series

Texas Rangers (90-72) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (96-66)
Season Series: Rays 4-2
Prediction: Rays 3-2

Rangers

Manager: Ron Washington
Rotation: LHP Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18 ERA), LHP C.J. Wilson (15-8), 3.35 ERA), RHP Colby Lewis (12-13, 3.72 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: OF Josh Hamilton, DH Vladimir Guerrero, 3B Michael Young
X-Factor: SP C.J. Wilson – August was Wilson’s second best month of the season with a 2.11 ERA. However, with a 6.26 ERA in September, the Rangers don’t know who they’ll see coming out to the mound. Matching up with a hittable James Shields, Wilson is the better pitcher in game two. Regardless of whether Cliff Lee starts the series with a win, it is imperative Wilson takes advantage of his position to give the Rangers a shot.
The Scoop: Hamilton missed 24 games with two broken ribs, but still was able to easily maintain the batting title with a .349 batting average and lead the league in OPS at 1.044. Though he is inexperienced in the playoff realm, don’t expect him to get shy. Not to mention Vladimir Guerrero has been an absolute beast in his first year with Texas. A slight concern for the rangers is game-one starter Cliff Lee. While he is definitely one of the best pitchers in the league, he has an undesirable 4.56 ERA in three starts against the Rays this season. If Texas wants a chance to move on, they’ll need Lee to be in top form.

Rays

Manager: Joe Maddon
Rotation: LHP David Price (19-6, 2.72 ERA), RHP James Shields (13-15, 5.18 ERA), RHP Matt Garza (15-10, 3.91 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: 3B Evan Longoria, OF Carl Crawford
X-Factor: Closer Rafael Soriano – Soriano converted 45 of 48 save opportunities this season with a stellar 1.73 ERA. With solid setup men in Joaquin Benoit and Grant Balfour, the Rays know how to close games out.
The Scoop: The Ray had the third most runs batted in this season with 769, despite a low team average of just .247. This is in part because the Rays led the league in walks and steals. Star third basemen Evan Longoria said in a pre-series press conference that his injured quad is about 85-90 percent, but definitely will be in the starting lineup. With the team’s opportune hitting and ability to manipulate the basepath to their advantage, this offense can go toe-to-toe with anybody’s.

New York Yankees (95-67) vs. Minnesota Twins (94-68)
Season Series: Yankees 4-2
Prediction: Yankees 3-1

Yankees

Manager: Joe Girardi
Rotation: LHP C.C. Sabathia (21-7, 3.18 ERA), LHP Andy Pettitte (11-3, 3.28 ERA), RHP Phil Hughes (18-8, 4.19 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: 3B Alex Rodriguez, 1B Mark Teixeira, 2B Robinson Cano
X-Factor: SP Andy Pettitte – Before he went down July 18 with a groin injury he was one of the top pitchers in the league. Since returning Sept. 19, he has had three starts with a combined 6.75 ERA. If Pettitte is not there to back up Sabathia, chances are Hughes could fold as well. A top offense still needs solid pitching to win postseason games.
The Scoop: The Yankees won the World Series using a three-man rotation last year, and that’s what they’ll try to do again this year. With a pitcher like C.C. Sabathia, why not? He tied for most wins in the majors with 21, and has already proven this tactic can give the Yankees a huge advantage. Once again the Yanks led the league in runs scored and had three infielders with at least 100 RBI. They also were incredibly patient with a .350 on-base percentage and 10.4 percent walk rate. Pitcher A.J. Burnett has been ruled out of the opening series, meaning Phil Hughes will be given his first postseason start. Depending on how Pettitte performs, there could be some big pressure put on his shoulders.

Twins

Manager: Ron Gardenhire
Rotation: LHP Francisco Liriano (14-10, 3.26 ERA), RHP Carl Pavano (17-11, 3.75 ERA), LHP Brian Duensing (10-3, 2.62 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: C Joe Mauer, OF Delmon Young, DH Jim Thome
X-Factor: Without Justin Morneau out, Joe Mauer is the clear centerpiece of this team. He needs to be healthy and productive to show them the way. Comeback player of the year Francisco Liriano also plays a huge role. He can make or break the direction and tone of this series in the first game.
The Scoop: The Twins have lost nine straight postseason games overall and are 0-3 in the past three postseason series against the Yankees. As stated, the Yankees are a very patient team, but the Twins pitching staff is just the opposite. Minnesota posted the lowest walk rate in baseball and threw the highest number of pitches in the strike zone. If the Twins can take them out of their routine and get them down in the count early, they will greatly increase their chances of stopping New York’s high-powered offense. The team will be without star player Justin Morneau, but Jason Kubel and Jim Thome have filled some of that void.

National League Division Series

Cincinnati Reds (91-71) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
Season Series: Phillies 5-2
Prediction: Phillies 3-0

Reds

Manager: Dusty Baker
Rotation: RHP Edinson Volquez (4-3, 4.31 ERA), RHP Bronson Arroyo (17-10, 3.88 ERA), RHP Johnny Cueto (12-7, 3.64 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: 1B Joey Votto, OF Jay Bruce, SS Brandon Phillips
X-Factor: RP Aroldis Chapman – Some are talking about this 22-year-old more than any other pitcher and he has only pitched in 15 games. With a 169 kph (105 mph) fastball, the hype is well deserved. If the Reds can take a lead to the sixth or seventh innings, there’s a good shot this kid will hold it.
The Scoop: The team with the fourth-lowest payroll to start the season is entering its first postseason since 1995. Unlucky for them, they face quite possibly the best rotation in the playoffs. Edinson Volquez, who started only 12 games this year coming back from Tommy John surgery, will face 21-game winner Roy Halladay to start the series. Cole Hamels, who has absolutely dominated the Reds, will be waiting in game two, but don’t think the Reds are running scared. This team has loads of talent, and they know it. The Reds’ 72 errors are good for second-best in the majors, and aside from MVP candidate Joey Votto, the team has five other players with at least 18 home runs.

Phillies

Manager: Charlie Manuel
Rotation: RHP Roy Halladay (21-10, 2.44 ERA), RHP Roy Oswalt (13-13, 2.76 ERA), LHP Cole Hamels (12-11, 3.06 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: 1B Ryan Howard, OF Jason Werth, 2B Chase Utley
X-Factor: SP Roy Halladay – It is not that difficult to say he is the best pitcher in the majors. He had 21 wins, a career-high 219 strike outs, nine complete games for the third straight year, a 1.04 WHIP and only 30 walks.
The Scoop: For the first time in the team’s history, the Phillies won the most games in the bigs. They also added their fourth straight NL East title. While the offense has been sometimes spotty, the pitching is what can win this series. Roy Oswalt is amidst the best season of his career, Roy Oswalt has been lights out since coming to the Phillies, and in seven career starts against the Reds, Cole Hamels has a 1.07 ERA. The Reds should be able to break through one of these guys, but not all three.

Atlanta Braves (91-71) vs. San Francisco Giants (92-70)
Season Series: Braves 4-3
Prediction: Giants 3-1

Braves

Manager: Bobby Cox
Rotation: RHP Derek Lowe (16-12, 4.00 ERA), RHP Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.33 ERA), RHP Tim Hudson (17-9, 2.83 ERA)
Offensive Leaders: OF Jason Heyward
X-Factor: OF Jason Heyward – With team leaders Chipper Jones and Martin Prado out for the season, Heyward already faced some big responsibility in his rookie year. The Braves need him to consistently get on base and lead the offense. He has already shown maturity years above his age, so don’t think the playoffs scare him.
The Scoop: Because Atlanta’s playoff chances were uncertain right up to the last day of the season, ace Tim Hudson won’t be available until game three. However, Derek Lowe is no stranger to the playoffs, and he is hitting his stride just at the right time. The experienced vet went 5-0 in September with an absurd 1.17 ERA. The Braves have the worst road record out of any team in the playoffs, but they also went 56-26 at Turner Field, the best home record by an NL team since 1977. This is Bobby Cox’s final shot at the big show, and he’s got a diverse, resilient team with a rock-solid bullpen and a knack for comebacks.

Giants

Manager: Bruce Bochy
Rotation: RHP Tim Lincecum (16-10, 3.43 ERA), RHP Matt Cain (13-11, 3.14), LHP Jonathan Sanchez (13-9, 3.07)
Offensive Leaders: C Buster Posey, 1B Aubrey Huff
X-Factor: C Buster Posey has been everything the Giants could ask for and more. As catcher, he has locked down opponents running threats while hitting .305 for 67 RBI over 108 games.
The Scoop: Like the Braves, the Giants waited to the last day of the season to make their first to the playoffs since 2003. The team stats show they have a middle-of-the-pack offense, but additions of Pat Burrell, Jose Guillen and Cody Ross gave the team some much needed power. Additionally, rookie catcher Buster Posey has been sensational on all sides of the ball. The Giants have been one of the hottest teams in baseball in the second half of the season going 51-30 since July 4. The entire National League hit a pathetic .182 off the Giants in the September as they blasted their way to a 1.78 ERA for the last month of the season. Who was the best pitcher for the Giants during that time? Lincecum, right? Think again. Jonathan Sanchez hurled his way to a 1.03 ERA over his last seven starts.