Call to the pen
Fansided

Predicting the 2021 MLB Playoffs

By s.a. rose

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) reacts after game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor throws to first base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor throws to first base against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning in game seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

The Wild Card Round

NL:  All season long it is predicted that two teams from the NL East will go toe to toe for the division crown.  Constructed using different tactics, the top of the Phillies order – leadoff hitter and CF Odubel Herrerra, all-star SS J.P. Crawford and last year’s HR derby champion Maikel Franco – will keep Philadelphia (91-71) within striking distance most of the season of the New York Mets (89-73) and their vaunted rotation of Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz and allow them to overcome them by two games in the last week of September when all is said and done.

The Mets will regret not taking the division and lose to the Milwaukee Brewers (88-74) and the best outfield in the NL made up of Brett Phillips, Lewis Brinson and Corey Ray.  SS Orlando Arcia will set the table for the Brewers lineup and despite finishing sixteen games behind the NL Central leaders, Milwaukee won’t apologize for making the playoffs and will go to Citi Field for the Wild Card game and come out with a win with lefty Josh Hader throwing a complete game 4-hitter to knock out the Mets.

AL:  Getting to extra innings in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series is the closest Cleveland has come to getting the elusive championship that is now seventy-two seasons and counting.  The last few seasons injuries have derailed their chances of post-season success but in 2021, Cleveland (93-69) will be one of the wild-card teams with a typical well-balanced Cleveland-style team.  AL MVP prediction SS Francisco Lindor (with four-time MVP Trout coming in second) will lead the offense alongside CF Tyler Naquin and young slugging 1B Bobby Bradley.   In the Wild Card game, Cleveland will take on the Boston Red Sox (93-69) and the core four players they have had for years: RF Mookie Betts, CF Andrew Benintendi, SS Xander Bogaerts and recently re-signed ace SP Chris Sale.  Despite Red Sox GM Dave Dombrowski’s big moves at the Winter Meetings every year, this year those moves won’t pay off either as Cleveland will rally to beat the Red Sox in the winner-take-all wild card and advance to the divisional round to play the dreaded New York Yankees.

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