MLB Postseason: Who walks away with playoff berths in NL WC race?
By Ben Fadden
MLB Postseason Predictions: NL Wild Card
Washington Nationals
I’ve got the Nationals winning the first Wild Card. Juan Soto and (should be) NL MVP Anthony Rendon are carrying the Washington offense, and there’s no reason for them to slow down.
Max Scherzer looked fantastic through 6 innings in his last start vs the Cardinals, and there won’t be any opposing hitters happy to see him staring them down in the Wild Card game.
The Nats don’t have a hard schedule the rest of the season, which will help them keep that lead for the first Wild Card spot. Part of the schedule includes three games against the Marlins.
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Milwaukee Brewers
I know this will surprise some people by me not putting the Cubs in the MLB postseason, but the Brewers have by far the easiest remaining schedule with matchups against the Pirates, Reds, and Rockies–all of whom are non-contending teams.
The Brewers are 12-2 in their last 14 games and have a record of 7-2 since the Yelich injury.
I don’t see how the Brewers will slow down, based on their mediocre schedule and the Cubs playing the Cardinals will help them out because both teams are going to beat each other up, letting Milwaukee slip right past the Cubs and retain the second Wild Card.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs will end the season just outside of a Wild Card spot because they didn’t fare well against the Cardinals in their final two series of the season.
I know that Anthony Rizzo returned last night and Javier Baez and Craig Kimbrel are back from injuries, but I just believe the Brewers have an easier path.
The Brewers easy schedule is what will lead to the Cubs missing the MLB postseason, and probably the end of Joe Maddon‘s managerial career in Chicago.