2019 MLB Playoff Predictions

I still can’t believe that a team like the Red Sox, who had an almost 20-game winner, three players hit more than 30 home runs with a fourth that hit 29 and two players produce 100 RBIs and 100 runs, only wins 84 games. In business though, the cash cow doesn’t cause bankruptcy. Companies usually go under when they over invest. The little expenses start to add up and all of a sudden, they can’t afford the whole production. This is what seemingly happened to the Red Sox. They over paid for guys like Nathan Eovaldi, David Price and Steve Pierce and in return, handicapped themselves and let themselves without much ability to do anything this offseason if the Red Sox want to get under the luxury tax threshold. In return, we have a postseason without Boston baseball.

With October baseball set to begin without Boston, here are the official Lewis and Sports MLB Playoff Predictions.

AL Wild Card

Oakland A’s vs Tampa Bay Rays

In my Texas Rangers franchise, the Oakland A’s went through a reidentification process and renamed themselves the Oakland Beavers. Maybe that makes me biased, but the playoffs generally come down to the best pitching staff. The Indians began the playoff-bullpen archetype by employing Andrew Miller almost every night for multiple innings. Then the Astros took that and used starters as relievers, which Alex Cora then took to Boston. I think the Rays are better equipped for this new process, while the A’s might have one of the worst bullpens in baseball. All the Rays have to do is hit in this game, which is sometimes hard for them. I’ll take the Rays though.

NL Wild Card

Washington Nationals vs Milwaukee Brewers

To me, the Nationals have turned themselves into one of the most intriguing teams in the playoffs. Since the end of May, the Nationals have the best record (69-36 for a .657 winning percentage). I also feel like their trio of starters in Stephen Strasburg-Patrick Corbin-Max Scherzer make them better suited for a short series. In an otherwise mediocre season, the Brewers turned themselves into one of the hottest teams in baseball. This reminds me last of the Colorado Rockies’ home-away split. I like the matchup because of the recent success of both teams, but I will go with the more consistent Nationals. Lets just hope their bullpen holds up.

ALDS

New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins

This series could turn into a slugfest. Neither team has exceptionally strong starting pitching but both teams have very good hitting. The biggest obstacle for the Yankees will be the loss of Domingo German. Still, I think Masahiro Tanaka will hold up, while the Yankees have 306 homers without most of their opening day lineup. I’m taking the Yankees in this slugfest.

Houston Astros vs Tampa Bay Rays

I don’t have much to contest here. I think the Astros have the best overall team in baseball and no team that takes them in this opening round has a true shot at beating the Astros in a best of five series. Facing Garret Cole-Justin Verlander-Zach Greinke makes it extremely hard for any team to take two-of-three, which is what it will ultimately take in facing this Astros team. I just don’t see it happening. Astros in this one.

NLDS

Atlanta Braves vs St. Louis Cardinals

Before the season ended, I looked for teams that had outside forces that one could say caused them to outperform. By this, I mean, the Red Sox had the Boston bombing in 2013, the Houston Astros had Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Teams generally play better when they’re playing for something greater than the game. I thought St. Louis might have had something like that, but I didn’t find anything relevant, which makes this all pointless other than for a shout out to organizational behavior. These two teams are eerily similar. They have a decent collection of hitters and pitchers and will bank on a few players to carry the rest of the team. St. Louis has an older roster with some more experience, so I like that over this young Braves team.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Washington Nationals

If this ends up true, this might become the best series of the postseason. Both teams rely on their starting pitching. The Dodgers have only a slight 4-3 advantage in the season series against the Nationals, which makes me feel better about believing that these teams are much closer than we think. They were built similarly, focusing on starting pitching. Generally, if I were to make a bet on this series, I would bet on the Dodgers. But I think the Nationals will make things competitive and probably have it in them to take down the Dodgers, so I will take the Nationals in this series.

ALCS

Houston Astros vs New York Yankees

I think we all expected this matchup. The Astros and Yankees were the two best teams in the American League and probably the two best teams in the MLB all season. I think losing Domingo German takes away the Yankees biggest ability to win games this postseason and even though the Yankees are more than one man, I take the consistency and potency of the Astros.

NLCS

St. Louis Cardinals vs Washington Nationals

I don’t think you will see this matchup from many predictors. It will make it feel all the better when it happens though. Again, the Nationals seem like the better of the two teams in this matchup. They hit well and I think they will capitalize on any and all pitching that comes their way. As long as their bullpen holds up, the Nationals have a real shot at winning this matchup and getting to the World Series.

World Series

Houston Astros vs Washington Nationals

For all the hype I created for the Nationals, it ends here. I don’t think anyone will take down the Astros in the pursuit to the World Series crown. In a league full of great teams and then some very bad teams, the Astros sit on top of the rest. They have the pitching, the hitting and the fielding. They have star power and several players primed for breakout performances this postseason. It creates the perfect blend for World Series Champions.

World Series Winner: Houston Astros.