2018 MLB Playoffs: Who Will Make National League Playoffs?
By Max Neibaur
Analyzing the 2018 MLB Playoffs: NL West Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Rockies
The Dodgers
The 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers made the playoffs and took it all the way to the World Series. In one of the greatest Fall Classic’s of all-time, the Dodgers lost Game 7 to the Houston Astros.
L.A. still has future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw leading the rotation. They lost a great player in Cory Seager to a season-ending injury, but they swung a trade for perennial All-Star Manny Machado to make up for that loss.
The huge market of L.A. allows them to outspend many other teams. This puts them in position to create a deep team of veterans and breakouts.
The Dodgers will make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
This is not the Washington Nationals. This team looks loaded with individual talent on paper, but it also has a recent history of winning together. The Dodgers battled all the way to Game 7 of the World Series last season.
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The Dodgers did run away with the NL West like many experts predicted they would. But, L.A. made up for random injuries to special players such as Seager and Justin Turner.
Turner is back and hitting well, and the trade for Machado made up for losing Seager.
Furthermore, the Dodgers sport a loaded rotation.
Along with Kershaw, they have Rich Hill, Kenta Maeda, and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Furthermore, Alex Wood has rejuvenated his career and Walker Buehler has contributed greatly despite this being his first full MLB season.
That makes six great options. The team will only need to rely on five to make the 2018 MLB Playoffs.
Kenley Jansen, arguably the best closer in baseball anchors the Dodgers bullpen.
The Dodgers will NOT make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
The Dodgers could be suffering from some of the same issues as the Milwaukee Brewers.
Max Muncy stepped up when players went down this season and has kept himself in the race for NL home run king. After trading for Machado and Brian Dozier, L.A. has too many infielders to play every game.
The outfield is overflowing as well. Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Cody Bellinger all need at-bats.
Manager Dave Roberts could have the same problem as Brewers manager Counsell. If the batting order and defensive alignment becomes too inconsistent, it could hurt the team.
The Arizona Diamondbacks
Annual MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt got off to an awful start, but he has bounced back beautifully. This team also has had its share of injuries, but manager Torey Lovullo has kept team momentum going.
Arizona plays well on the road and has a good run differential. This is the first season that the Diamondbacks have used a humidor on home baseballs, but that has not hurt the offense.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
Along with Goldschmidt, David Peralta has kept his OPS at around .900. That is an All-Star-worthy high. Furthermore, players such as A.J. Pollock, Nick Ahmed, and Ketel Marte have contributed to the lineup this season.
Along with team ace Zack Greinke, Patrick Corbin has shut down teams this season. He leads the team in strikeouts.
Furthermore, the team ERA was second only to the deep Dodgers at the end of August.
With all the consistency, the Diamondbacks could win the division in 2018.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will NOT make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
Arizona expected big contributions from Robbie Ray and Zack Godley. Godley has somehow amassed well over ten wins already, but his peripheral stats do not look good.
Robbie Ray also has bad peripherals. He broke out in 2017. Some thought the addition of the humidor would make him a Cy Young candidate in 2017. It has not worked out that way.
The Colorado Rockies
Everyone knows offense is easy and pitching is difficult in the thin air at Colorado’s Coors Field.
The Rockies have tried many different approaches to building around their home ballpark. This past offseason, they loaded up their bullpen. The Rockies have a history of having tremendous hitters. Guys such as Andres Gallaraga, Larry Walker, and Matt Holliday have put up pinball numbers at Coors.
The recent Rockies teams have relied on Nolan Arredondo to lead with the bat.
The Colorado Rockies will make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
Some might not realize the Rockies are right there in the 2018 NL Playoffs race. There is history here. In 2007, the Rockies came out of nowhere to make the playoffs and then continue their tear all the way to the World Series.
Trevor Story seems to have hot and cold years, and this is a hot year. His overall WAR is second on the team to Arredondo. Meanwhile, Charlie Blackman and Carlos Gonzalez lengthen the lineup.
The Rockies real weapon is their starting rotation. Colorado has some bright young starters that continue to develop.
The Colorado Rockies will NOT make the 2018 MLB Playoffs because…
The Rockies have a few hitters going well, but the overall lineup does not look as good as years past.
This is a team that used to get 30 and 40 home run years out of Vinnie Castilla and Dante Bichette.
The young rotation has some upside, but not many would bet on Kyle Freeland vs Madison Bumgarner, Greinke, or Kershaw.
Furthermore, when one looks at the deeper team stats of the Rockies, their success looks like it was done with smoke and mirrors.
dark. Next. Gonzalez solidifying case as trade candidate
They actually have a negative run differential. That is not easy to do as a winning team and indicates the Rockies are walking a thin line maintaining a winning record.