Many who have been following my columns know that I am originally from our Nation’s Capital, Washington, D.C. I love the my hometown and I want it to succeed in the sports scene. Seeing the Capitals win the Stanley Cup will be a moment I will never forget, but there was some other big news that maybe some of you might not know about. This past May there was an announcement that an ownership is trying to bring a Major League Rugby squad to play in D.C. As a fan of rugby, this is incredibly exciting. But what is even more exciting is that this past week, an official announcement said that the franchise would start playing in 2020. So if you’re a rugby fan from D.C. you have to start marking your calendars now.

Just recently there was a webinar that was hosted by Paul Sheehy, a former USA Eagle who owns a local car dealership in the D.C. area, and Chris Dunlavey, who owns a local program management firm, as they are the main ownership partners for bringing a team to D.C. There was detailed information as to what they wanted and honestly it looked very promising. So much so that I want to be there for the beginning.

First thing that looked promising was how dedicated Sheehy and Dunlavey are about bringing a team to D.C. Both play rugby and seem to be very successful businessmen so they totally understand what it means to be a rugby fan and how a successful business model should work.

Another thing that looked promising was how they intend to build a rugby facility that has offices, a practice field, and a stadium to play their home matches at and the hope is that it will be built somewhere inside the Beltway and Metro accessible. What is great about that is that Chris Dunlavey is a co-founder of a local program management firm which deals with large scale institutional facility development, especially in sports venues. Having that type of person as one of your owners is really beneficial as you know that rugby facility will be one of the best venues in the entire league.

What else is exciting is they both have rugby minds. Dunlavey plays for a local club, the Washington Irish Rugby Football Club, and Sheehy having played for the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup. My guess is that Sheehy will have more hands on the rugby operations part of the business (with Dunlavey obvious more hands on with building the facility, though I’m sure Dunlavey will have some say in the rugby operations part too). Sheehy is also very involved with the local community with his support of some youth clubs and other adult clubs which suggests he has a keen rugby mind.

Another good thing is that they both run businesses with Sheehy owning a local car dealership and with Dunlavey and his program management firm. So they clearly know how to run a decent business model and that’s good news for rugby fans in the D.C. area.

And lastly, another great thing about this is that these are guys who know the DMV area really well and understand the rugby scene in D.C. really well. That should get fans even more excited once 2020 comes around.

In the National Football League, there are a lot of teams that feel like the best way to build up their squad is through the draft. Within the last four seasons it seems like there has been a common theme with some squads of building their teams through the draft into becoming a winner. With that being said, these are the five teams with whom I think have the best talent that has been built up through the draft and are eyeing long-term success in a league where winning is a crapshoot.

Cincinnati Bengals

Head coach Marvin Lewis knows how to evaluate talent really well and the last three seasons he has done a good job finding that talent in the draft finding such players like linebacker Nick Vigil, cornerback William Jackson, running back Joe Mixon, and center Billy Price. But this team is loaded with young talent where they could be a dangerous squad very soon. They have a lot of depth as well as some of the young talent like wide receiver Josh Malone, linebacker Carl Lawson, defensive end Jordan Willis, linebacker Malik Jefferson, and safety Jesse Bates and that could mean they are primed to be key contributors in the future. They are going to be scary good soon if not already.

Washington Redskins

If they haven’t impressed you thus far into the season, then you are missing out on something special. The defensive line is incredibly good with the likes of Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, and Jonathan Allen, players they drafted the last three drafts, as this might be one of the most lethal defensive lines in football. But the last four seasons they have gotten some great drafts as these young players have them poised to be one of the most exciting squads in the NFL soon and possibly as soon as later this season. They have drafted some great talent like wide receivers Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson, running backs Samaje Perine and Derrius Guice, offensive linemen Brandon Scherff and Chase Roullier, and defensive backs Fabian Moreau and Montae Nicholson. These guys really have a lot of talent and when they are healthy, the Redskins might quite possibly be the most talented team in the National Football Conference.

Cleveland Browns

Yes, those Browns. The same team that has consistently lost over the years since they became a team again in 1999 might actually have one of the more talented rosters in football. Cleveland, however, is actually not that bad of a team despite what their record shows. They play hard in almost every facet, but it always seems like they have bad luck too. Their defense is pretty good and they have a lot of weapons on offense that is on the cusp of breaking through into becoming something great. They have a quarterback in Baker Mayfield that might fit their mold on offense with his skill set, but you have to mention all the other weapons on offense like running backs Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson, wide receivers Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins, tight end David Njoku, and offensive lineman Austin Corbett that they hope will develop into great players. The defense though is rock solid as they have youngsters like defensive linemen Myles Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Larry Ogunjobi, linebacker Joe Schobert, and corner back Denzel Ward. These guys are destined to do big things very soon.

Los Angeles Rams

Ever since the move from St. Louis to Los Angeles, things have seemingly gotten better for the Rams organization, but that might be because they are actually making some great player personnel decisions than they have done in the past. They drafted quarterback Jared Goff in 2016 to be their franchise quarterback and he has developed really well and soon could be one of the best in football. Another excellent decision was drafting running back Todd Gurley who one can make the case that he is the best in football right now. However, the best one they made that isn’t talked about like it should be is the drafting of the possibly the best defensive lineman in football and that being Aaron Donald. Other talented players on the roster that could help make this team a dominant side for years to come are wide receiver Cooper Kupp, tight end Tyler Higbee, safety LaMarcus Joyner, and linebacker Cory Littleton.

Jacksonville Jaguars

This team is very underrated talented. While their 2018 season isn’t going exactly to plan, if any team that can go on a roll and make a deep run in the playoffs, it’s the Jaguars. Their defense is absolutely stacked and they have some talented players on offense. While there are some pieces that are holding them back, if they can get those corrected then they could be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Jacksonville has a backfield consisting of two awesome running backs in Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon which gives defensive lines so much headache. Their defense has players such as cornerback Jalen Ramsey, arguably the best cornerback in the league, linebackers Myles Jack and Telvin Smith, and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. Their offense also some great players like wide receivers Dede Westbrook, Marqise Lee, and Keelan Cole. If they can find a more consistent quarterback then they could be a really good team.

With the 2018 season now over, one of the biggest storylines this offseason will be where will Washington Nationals free agent slugger Bryce Harper end up next year and how much will he command. It could be as much up to $400 million in his contract. That’s a lot of moolah. However, as a free agent, he will be highly coveted by many teams this offseason and it will be fun to see where he lands. So let’s take a look at where are possible destinations for him.

Washington Nationals

Yes, the place that drafted him and he has played for since his rookie year in 2012, is seemingly a top destination for Harper. Why? Because he loves it there and he is beloved by the fans. And another thing to mention is that the team has a bundle of talent. 2018 might have been a disappointing season, but the team has so much talent that they could be a force to be reckoned with for the coming years. Him coming back to the Nationals might actually be beneficial for both sides as they both clearly want to win a championship and that would be very realistic if he did. Now, it’s up to the front office on whether they want to shell out that much money to him (which they very much seemingly want to as he rejected an extension from them for $400 million). Otherwise, the Nationals are my favorites to sign him again.

Philadelphia Phillies

Believe it or not, this team might actually be one of the better fits for Harper to sign with. A young, but super talented team that is a year away from doing big things, Harper would be a nice big bat for a team of future superstars. Harper also hits very well up in Philadelphia at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark which would mean that he boosts their offense really well. Lot’s of people have tabbed them as the favorite, but I can’t see him going to Philadelphia with all the fans there who loathe him.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have been long favored to to sign Harper because of the young core they have and also his relationship with childhood friend Kris Bryant, but I can’t necessarily see him going there. Yes, playing on the same team as Bryant would be great for him, but he doesn’t fit their scheme very well. Manager Joe Maddon likes players who are incredibly versatile, something Harper lacks (yes, he can play all three outfield positions, but he’s realistically a primary right fielder) and they already have a rightfielder who is an elite defender in Jason Heyward. Yes, he would make their offense tremendously better considering the struggles they had in 2018, but he doesn’t fit in well with the Cubs.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are always known to be big spenders and with as big of a contract that Harper will likely want, you know they will shell out that money for him. While it would be a great place for him to play, I find it hard that he will fit anywhere in Dave Roberts roster especially with the already exorbitant amount of depth on Los Angeles’ team. Had it not been for that reason, he would fit in well unless someone gets traded. However, you should keep a close eye on what they do with him. They could very well land him.

New York Yankees

Another team that always shells out a lot of money, they probably would be willing to shell out the dough if they want to sign Harper. The Yankees, however, have an already talented outfield that really doesn’t need him unless they trade one of them, so it wouldn’t make sense for him to go to New York. He theoretically could fit in the team if Giancarlo Stanton and him switch off playing at designated hitter or in left field. I just can’t see it working here. Also, reports have said that they are not likely to chase after him either.

Los Angeles Angels

The Angels seemingly always go after the big names in the offseason (Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton come to mind), however, this would be the biggest splash as that would mean both Mike Trout and Harper could possibly play on the same team as they are seen as the two players in the conversation for best player in baseball. Believe it or not, he does fit in well there as he can play left field and can also be the designated hitter. I look at them as being a dark horse to sign Harper.

Chicago White Sox

The only reason why I have the Pale Hose on here is because there is a recent report that they will try and go after him (as well as Manny Machado). They are currently in rebuild mode, but with a young core of prospects just on cusp of breaking through to the majors like Eloy Jimenez, and some that are already there like Yoan Moncada, it might be enticing for Harper to join them as they look to be a legitimate contender in a couple of years. Adding Harper would speed up their rebuild. He also would fit in well with the team. While not likely to sign with them, the White Sox might be a team to watch in the Harper sweepstakes

This is it. This is the postseason series every baseball fan craves as this is the biggest stage in Major League Baseball. However, this one in particular is going to be an incredibly anticipated Fall Classic as two historic franchises will square off for the ultimate championship. The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox have a plethora of talent and they look to make this an exciting series. With that being said, let’s take a look at both these squads.

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are coming into the World Series looking to win their fourth championship since the new century began which would make them the team with the most since we entered the 21st century. What is remarkable is that Boston had to beat two squads that won 100 or more games in the Division Series (Yankees) and Championship Series (Astros) to get to this point. However, not only did they beat them, the Red Sox defeated them convincingly as seemingly able to take advantage of every break that went their way. The Boston offense is explosive with the likes of bats such as J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts. The rotation has been outstanding with Chris Sale leading the way and having Nathan Eovaldi pitching superb and David Price finally able to exorcise his playoff demons with a outstanding performance in the Pennant clinching victory versus Houston. The concern is the bullpen as Craig Kimbrel, who is arguably the best closer in the game, struggled mightily thus far in the postseason. He will need to be at his best if the Red Sox want to close out games or otherwise they will have to turn to someone else. Boston seemingly looks like the more complete side as they have a lot of thump in their lineup, they can steal lots of bases, defend the ball well, and have solid pitching. If the Red Sox want to win the World Series, some of the issues that plagued them in the postseason thus far will need to be corrected. However, the team doesn’t have many flaws and there is a reason why they were the best team in baseball in 2018.

Los Angeles Dodgers

For the second consecutive season, the Dodgers won the National League pennant as they grinded out a series victory in seven grueling games against a very good Milwaukee Brewers side. While their record doesn’t suggest they match well with the Red Sox, they have been playing the best baseball out of any team in the league after a rough 16-26 start. Los Angeles could use that to their advantage to win the series. Their offense is awesome has they have the likes of Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado, Yasiel Puig, and Justin Turner leading the way. Their rotation will have the edge over Boston as the Dodgers possess some great talent like Clayton Kershaw, the best pitcher in baseball, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Walker Buehler who is an up and coming stud pitcher. Plus they have a closer whom some others think is the best in game in Kenley Jansen. Los Angeles oozes a lot of talent, but the fanbase is hungry for a championship, something they have not won since 1988. The Dodgers will expect nothing less than a World Series championship.

Predictions

James Rowe: Red Sox. While I think it will go seven games, Boston has been the best team in baseball all year for a reason and they are proving that with a very impressive postseason. The rotation is coming around and starting to pitch better as that would be very important if they want to win the World Series. This should be a fun one to watch.

This is not only the series that was supposed to happen, this was the series everyone wanted to see. Everyone got the big rivalry series they wanted to watch, but when you see the two best squads in the American League square off against one another, that’s the series you want to see. The Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros are two 100+ win teams with Boston winning 108 and Houston winning 103 combining for 211, the most combined victories for any playoff series in history. With that being said, let’s take a look at each team.

Houston Astros

The defending World Champions will be looking to reclaim their crown of American League Champions as this squad might actually be better than the 2017 version. The numbers might suggest players like Carlos Correa or George Springer have regressed, but they are very talented and can turn things around quickly as they are some of the best in the entire league in their respective positions. Their rotation is absolutely stacked with Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, and Gerrit Cole all equally deserving to be an ace for any pitching staff. The bullpen is dominant and their lineup might be the most balanced and best overall in the entire league as they can beat anyone in almost any possible way. The Astros are truly the real deal and them repeating as AL Champions is very realistic. In their ALDS matchup against the Indians, they seemed to outplay Cleveland in every facet of the game including the series clinching Game Three where they won 11-3. Cleveland was a great team, but the Astros made it seem easy which could suggest they are ready to make a return to the World Series.

Boston Red Sox

Well, a rematch now huh? The Red Sox were embarrassed last year in the American League Division Series when they played the Astros, but this time around Boston might actually have the better team. Their rotation has the likes of Chris Sale, the best pitcher in the American League, Rick Porcello, the reigning AL Cy Young award winner, and Eduardo Rodriguez, an up and coming star, and their rotation might be good enough to match Houston’s. Though their lineup might not be as balanced as the Astros’, it might be more powerful as they have J.D. Martinez, arguably the best designated hitter in baseball, Mookie Betts, a Most Valuable Player candidate, and Rafael Devers, one of the best young players in baseball. The Red Sox won the most games in baseball for a good reason in a very competitive division which saw them win the division crown over a 100-win Yankees squad which they seemed to overmatch in their division series matchup. In what was touted to be another great postseason series between the two bitter rivals, the Red Sox simply outplayed the Yankees in their ALDS series including a 16-1 drubbing at Yankee Stadium in Game Three. The Red Sox showed they might actually be the best team in the American League with a very impressive series victory against an excellent Yankees team that was also deserving to be in the ALCS.

Notes: Houston won the season series 4-3.

 

Predictions

James Rowe: Houston. I actually think this has the makings of one of the best postseason series in MLB history as I truly believe it will go seven excellent games. Both have great defenses (though I think the Astros have a slight edge), both equally awesome bullpens, and are some of the best young squads in baseball, but I think the Astros are the most complete, but slightly. It honestly could go either way, but the Astros are just that good.

This will be quite the interesting National League Championship Series as two really good pitching teams will have to face off against two excellent hitting sides which could set up an incredibly epic series. The Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers will square off as the Brewers will be looking to win the National League pennant for the first time and make their first World Series appearance since 1982 while the Dodgers are making their third consecutive appearance in the NLCS and hoping to repeat as NL champions. With that being said, let’s take a look at the series.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew are coming into this series with a lot of momentum as they have won 11 straight games, however, what’s more remarkable is that their pitching staff managed to shut down a powerful hitting Colorado Rockies by only allowing two runs in the three games that were played. They need to keep that going as the Dodgers have a lot of big bats in their lineup. However, the key will be their bullpen as once they’re handed a lead, it’s a pretty safe bet that Milwaukee will win the game with arms like Joakim Soria, Josh Hader, Corey Knebel, and Jeremy Jeffress in there. As mentioned in the NLDS article, they have a lot of weapons on offense and have a ton of depth that they should be able to score some runs to help win the game. However, their rotation needs to continue to pitch well and their lineup needs to continue to produce if they want to win, but they almost feel like the complete package of the National League.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

While Milwaukee’s pitching has been phenomenal, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been almost as good as they shut out the Atlanta Braves in the first two games of the series and then allowed just two in the series clinching win. On paper, they do have more talent in their pitching staff, but the key will be for them to match the Brewers’ staff. Offense should not be an issue as they’ve got big bats like Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado, Justin Turner, and Yasiel Puig. Los Angeles undoubtedly has the better offense and they need to show why their offense is so potent and so deep in this series if they want to reclaim their title as National League Champions. They have the best pitcher in the league in Clayton Kershaw leading their stacked rotation and the hope is that the Dodgers can take advantage of that. Yes, their record is “worse” than last year’s, but from May 15 and on, the Dodgers went 76-45, the best in the NL in that span.

Notes: Dodgers won the season series 4-3.

 

Predictions:

James Rowe: Brewers. I personally think this will go seven games, but I feel like the Brewers are the best side at this point. Yes, the Dodgers are more talented despite being even in bench depth and defense with Milwaukee, I just think the Brewers are riding a momentum that will be hard to stop. I just hope it’s a great series.

Argentina vs Australia

This game will come down to see who will get the wooden spoon of the competition as both sides here will be playing for pride. That being said though, Argentina has shown how good they can be and have been very impressive. They might have lost to New Zealand last week, but they have already beaten Australia in this tournament and probably will use that to their advantage. The Wallabies on the other hand played well in their contest against South Africa, but the Springboks proved to be too much as Australia lost 23-12. Things are seemingly trending down for the Wallabies, but watch them come back and fight hard against the Pumas.

Predictions

James Rowe: Argentina. I really have been impressed by the Pumas and with the Wallabies floundering, I just think Argentina has this in the bag.

 

South Africa vs New Zealand

The two bitter rivals face off in the last week of the season, but the Springboks won the first contest 36-34 and hope to use that to their advantage. They are after all coming off a victory from last week so they have a lot of momentum. The All-Blacks could play this lightly as they have already clinched the title, but this will be against one of their nemesis so don’t expect them to hold anything back. They are going to play hard and they are going not only want to win, but also have bragging rights. It could be a great one to watch.

Predictions

James: South Africa. While I think New Zealand will make a game out of this, if they get any whiff of a possible injury, they will not keep any of them in. Plus the Springboks have a lot of momentum coming into this matchup, I expect this to be great to watch.

On the American League side of the bracket, every squad that made it are some of the most elite teams in baseball as each side is good enough to win the World Series and there are even three sides that won 100 games or more. The AL was very strong in 2018 as the “weakest” side is a strong contender for the pennant. It will be fun to watch this side of the bracket as even two bitter rivals will face off against one another in the Division Series round. With that being said lets take a look at the competitors.

Cleveland Indians vs Houston Astros

Indians

The franchise with the longest title drought at 70 years, they are a team the has enough experience in the postseason as they know how to find ways to win. However, there are a lot of question marks as they played a relatively easy schedule and in a division where there are too many sides that are going through rebuilds or are underachieving. That being said, despite being the “weakest” team in the American League side of the bracket, they are still dangerous as they have a great rotation with the likes of Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, but they also had five pitchers win at least 10 games for them. Their offense is also something to not take lightly as they have some great hitters like Jose Ramirez, Michael Brantley, and Francisco Lindor. They can really hit the ball well plus their defense is pretty solid. With how great their pitching staff is (including a great bullpen), they matchup well against any team in the AL especially with such a great offense that could support them.

Astros

The defending champions, the Astros might actually be better than the 2017 edition as they possess some great players in every facet of their team. The hitting might not be a home run hitting machine, but with players like Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer on the squad plus the breakout season from Alex Bregman, they are a pretty solid hitting core. Their rotation is outstanding as well as they have three pitchers that are aces in Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Dallas Keuchel. Their bullpen is outstanding with Roberto Osuna leading the way. The Indians might matchup well with other teams, but the Astros can actually matchup well with other squads as well. There’s a reason to believe that they will repeat this year.

Notes: In the seven games played between the two this season, Houston won four of them.

Predictions

James Rowe: Astros. I do think this is more evenly matched than some may think, however I believe the Astros are just too good. I really believe they will repeat, but I expect this to be a great series.

 

Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees

Red Sox

The Red Sox did set a franchise record for wins in a season, but they might actually be the best Red Sox team to ever be assembled. They truly can mash the ball as they have players like J.D. Martinez, Mookie Betts, and Andrew Benintendi leading their offense, but they also possess a lot of depth in their lineup as even their bench is good enough to start for most teams. They also have great pitching as they have the best pitcher in the AL in Chris Sale, but they also have Rick Porcello, David Price, and the emerging Eduardo Rodriguez in their rotation, plus their bullpen isn’t too shabby with the likes of Craig Kimbrel in there. They are a fun team to watch.

Yankees

The Bronx Bombers won their contest against Oakland in the Wild Card Game on Wednesday, but they showed why they are a team to be reckoned with as they have some great talent on their roster. This team is technically in a rebuild as they are still transitioning their older players out for newer ones, but they have a plethora of young and exciting talent that still makes them a strong team with the likes of Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and Miguel Andujar. Their rotation is great with the likes of Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and Sonny Gray. What separates them the most from other teams in the league is how talented and dominant their bullpen is as they have names in there like Aroldis Chapman, Zach Britton, David Robertson, and Dellin Betances whom all can close games. This team can absolutely mash as they set a new MLB record for team home runs, but they also have great pitching and solid defense. They are the perfect storm for a deep playoff run.

Notes: Red Sox won the season series 10-9. This is also going to be fun to watch as they are bitter rivals and it is the best rivalry in baseball. A rivalry matchup to start the postseason is always awesome.

Predictions

James: Red Sox. Yes, this will be a five game series and there will be some great and probably tense moments in this series as it is a rivalry after all, however, the Red Sox just simply have the best team here. It should be a great series to watch honestly.

 

Now that we finally have the matchups set up in the National League side of the playoffs, this could be a very interesting race to the NL pennant as each of these squads will look to win the World Series in a very long time or win it for the first time. With that being said, let’s take a look at the matchups.

 

Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies

Brewers

With the best record in the NL, the Brewers showed why they were the best as they had one of the most fun teams to watch. On paper, Milwaukee is the most talented side in the NL. While they have great veterans in Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, and Curtis Granderson, they have so much depth of great players like Mike Moustakas, Jonathan Schoop, and Travis Shaw and they are also getting some breakout seasons from players like Christian Yelich and Jesus Aguilar. Their bullpen is phenomenal as they have shut down relievers such as Josh Hader, Jeremy Jeffress, and Corey Knebel. The rotation is stacked as they have Jhoulys Chacin, Gio Gonzalez, and Wade Miley, plus a breakout year for Freddy Peralta. They should be the favorite to win the pennant.

Rockies

As mentioned in the NL Wild Card Game article this team can absolutely slug and also can pitch really well. Their defense is solid too as they possess the best defensive third baseman in the game in Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu who is a gold glove second baseman. The Brewers might have an edge on defense, but the Rockies undoubtedly have the better offense and might be able to match well with the pitching standards. Both bullpens are phenomenal and if it does come down to a battle of the ‘pens, then we would see some great baseball as the Rockies have pitchers such as Adam Ottavino, Wade Davis, and Bryan Shaw who are incredible relievers. On paper, the Rockies might not match up well, but Colorado has a great chance against the Brewers.

Notes: Brewers won five of the seven games played against one another this season.

Predictions

James Rowe: Brewers. I actually think this will be a fun series to watch as it’s more evenly matched than some may conclude, but the Brewers have been red hot and possess the better roster.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Atlanta Braves

Dodgers

Los Angeles is back in the postseason once again, but this time around they have a roster that might even be better than last year’s squad which won more games and actually made the World Series. They acquired top talent like Manny Machado and Brian Dozier to complement other elite talent like Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, and Justin Turner including getting career years from Matt Kemp and the surprise story of Max Muncy. This is a dangerous team in many ways with an offense that can score a lot of runs, that plays great defense, and a pitching staff with the likes of the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, on the team. They might not have played as well as they should have in 2018, but they have a squad that could return to the World Series.

Braves

They are young and hungry, but unfortunately that might hurt them as they are inexperienced and are squaring off against a team that wants to redeem themselves so badly after the loss from last year’s World Series. However, they are an up and coming team that exceeded expectations and came into the playoff picture a year earlier than expected. They have some great young talent like Ronald Acuna, Ozzie Albies, and Johan Camargo, but they also have veteran players in Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman, and Ender Inciarte to complement them. While their pitching is young and talented, it’s also inexperienced. That being said though, they at least matchup well against the Dodgers. They might be the “weakest” team in the whole field, but they will be a very strong one in the future.

Notes: Dodgers won five of the seven games played against one another this season.

Predictions

James: Dodgers. Braves are talented and will be good soon, however, they are overmatched here as the Dodgers simply are more experienced and will be hungry to win a World Series after losing it in disappointing fashion in 2017.

After a thrilling game last night between the Cubs and Rockies, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy another potential thriller between the Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees as this game will be held at Yankee Stadium in the American League edition of the Wild Card Game. The Yankees had a great season despite finishing in second place in their division as they won 100 games. The Athletics on the other hand were a bit of a surprise as most didn’t even see them having a .500 record by the end of the season, but they got hot at the right time and won 97 contests. With that being said, let’s look at both squads.

New York Yankees

Let’s call them what they really should be called, the Baby Bombers (a play off their nickname the Bronx Bombers). This team is technically in a rebuild as they are still transitioning their older players out for newer ones, but they have a plethora of young and exciting talent that still makes them a strong team with the likes of Aaron Judge, Gleyber Torres, and Miguel Andujar. Tonight they will send out Luis Severino to the mound who at this point in his career should be considered a bonafide ace pitcher. This team can absolutely mash as they set a new MLB record for team home runs, but they also have great pitching and solid defense. They are the perfect storm for a deep playoff run.

Yankees lineup

1. Andrew McCutchen LF
2. Aaron Judge RF
3. Aaron Hicks CF
4. Giancarlo Stanton DH
5. Luke Voit 1B
6. Didi Gregorius SS
7. Miguel Andujar 3B
8. Gary Sanchez C
9. Gleyber Torres 2B

 

Oakland Athletics

This young and exciting talented roster surprised every one a year earlier than they were expected to compete, but nonetheless, here they are in the playoffs. They have an incredible crop of players like Matt Chapman, Marcus Semien, and Matt Olson, which could make them a playoff contender for a long time to come. They have one of the best defensive third basemen in the game in Chapman, but their defense overall is pretty solid. They can hit the ball well, but they seem to come up in the clutch more often than not. And their pitching is solid. However, in this game, it seems like they are going with a bullpen type of approach as they will send out Liam Hendriks to “start” as he’s more of an opener and then trot out more arms from the bullpen as the game goes along. It’s a very interesting approach.

Athletics lineup

1. Nick Martini LF
2. Matt Chapman 3B
3. Jed Lowrie 2B
4. Khris Davis DH
5. Matt Olson 1B
6. Stephen Piscotty RF
7. Ramon Laureano CF
8. Marcus Semien SS
9. Jonathan Lucroy C

 

Notes: The season series was split at 3-3, however the Yankees won two out of three at Yankee Stadium where this contest will be held tonight. New York hit the most home runs in baseball while Oakland finished third, so this could be a slugfest.

 

Predictions

James Rowe: Athletics. The Yankees are the better team, but the Athletics have won a staggering 63 of their last 92 games. They are the hottest team going into the playoffs. I do think it will be a good game as both bullpens are great and both have the ability to slug, but this contest could go any way, however, I feel comfortable predicting Oakland to win.