2020 AL Wild Card Series Preview
Well, we’ve made it… the unorthodox sixty game sprint has reached its conclusion and now, the real fun begins.
Just days into the 2020 MLB season, the Miami Marlins provided a wake-up call to the rest of the league, in the form of an outbreak of COVID-19. This outbreak caused numerous postponements and rendered necessary a meeting between the league and its thirty owners to decide the fate of the potentially short-lived 2020 campaign. On July 27th it seemed as if baseball was doomed and the season would reach a much too premature ending.
But now, here we are on the cusp of October, that crisp fall air has arrived and we will have postseason baseball. While this existence of the postseason brings some sense of normalcy back to our lives and the baseball world, this year’s version will be far from normal. Sixteen teams, eight opening round Wild Card Series’, no days off and a whole lot of chaos will ensue. So, buckle up, sit back and enjoy.
The eight American League teams to qualify for this year’s tournament open each of their playoff chases on Tuesday, so here is your guide for what to watch for and what to expect from the Junior Circuit over the next three days.
#6 Houston Astros (29–31) at # 3 Minnesota Twins (36–24)
In the first series to get underway in this year’s postseason, the hated Houston Astros head to Minneapolis to take on the AL Central champion Minnesota Twins. Even without fans, home field advantage will loom large as the Twins boast a 24–7 at Target Field this season. This matchup creates situation where Game 1 will be crucial, with two veteran workhorses on the mound. While this isn’t the most flashy pitching matchup of the day, Maeda and Greinke have the ability to stymie the opponent’s offense and match each other zero for zero. It seems as if the Astros will form their rotation around the result of Tuesday’s opener. A loss could cause desperation, and the need to pitch Lance McCullers Jr. in a must-win Game 2. However, a win could give Houston the luxury to turn to a more inexperienced option such as Jose Urquidy or Framber Valdez in Game 2, and save McCullers for a potential decisive 3rd game, and form a very favorable matchup against Michael Pineda.
Likely pitching matchups:
- Game 1: Zack Greinke vs Kenta Maeda
- Game 2: TBD vs Jose Berrios
- Game 3: TBD vs Michael Pineda
Players under most pressure to perform:
- Houston: 2B Jose Altuve
- Minnesota: SP Jose Berrios
Potential under-the-radar difference makers:
- Houston: SP Jose Urquidy
- Minnesota: INF Marwin Gonzalez
Overall X-Factor:
- Houston: Battered, under-perfoming superstars (Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman, George Springer)
- Lineup depth needs to step up in absence of Josh Donaldson
Prediction: Twins in 2
#7 Chicago White Sox (35–35) at #2 Oakland Athletics (36–24)
If there is one lower-seeded team that is going to pull off an “upset”, it’s the Chicago White Sox. Although they stumbled to the finish line, and with injury concerns with young phenom Eloy Jimenez, this matchup certainly is a favorable one for Chicago. We all know how deep this White Sox lineup is, but the difference maker in this series could be just how good that lineup is against left-handed pitching. With young Jesus Luzardo going in Game 1 for Oakland, I expect a quick offensive outburst from Chicago catapulting them to a series lead. There are not many pitchers I would want on my side in this year’s postseason more than Dallas Keuchel. With the crafty veteran lined up to pitch Game 2 for Chicago , the Athletics absolutely cannot afford to lose the series opener.
Likely pitching matchups:
- Game 1: Lucas Giolito vs Jesus Luzardo
- Game 2: Dallas Keuchel vs Chris Bassitt
- Game 3: TBD vs TBD
Players under most pressure to perform:
- Chicago: 1B Jose Abreu
- Oakland: SP Jesus Luzardo
Potential under-the-radar difference makers:
- Chicago: RP Garrett Crochet
- Oakland: 3B Jake Lamb
Overall X-Factor:
- Oakland: Inexperienced SPs (Jesus Luzardo, Chris Bassitt) need to step up
- Chicago: Veteran bats (Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson) need to set the tone
Prediction: White Sox in 2
#8 Toronto Blue Jays (32–28) at #1 Tampa Bay Rays (40–20)
The young upstart Toronto Blue Jays, led by Charlie Montoyo, enter The Trop to take on Kevin Cash and the Rays. Montoyo spent just about two decades with Tampa Bay and served under Kevin Cash as Bench Coach, and that is the one way in which Toronto can expose the Rays. This series will feature a lot of creativity and interesting game-plans, starting with the Blue Jays analytical decision to start Matt Shoemaker in Game 1 and save ace Hyun Jin Ryu for Game 2. This is the type of creativity Toronto will need to upset the Rays, but ultimately this series comes down to Tampa’s three-headed monster of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Charlie Morton on the bump.
Likely pitching matchups:
- Game 1: Matt Shoemaker vs Blake Snell
- Game 2: Hyun Jin Ryu vs Tyler Glasnow
- Game 3: Taijuan Walker vs Charlie Morton
Players under most pressure to perform:
- Toronto: SP Hyun Jin Ryu
- Tampa Bay: SP Blake Snell
Potential under-the-radar difference makers:
- Toronto: INF Cavan Biggio
- Tampa Bay: 1B Ji-Man Choi
Overall X-Factor:
- Toronto: Starters need to keep the offense within striking distance
- Tampa Bay: Starters need to live up to hype
Prediction: Rays in 3
#5 New York Yankees (33–27) at #4 Cleveland Indians (35–25)
This series, and for the Yankees, their entire playoff destiny, hinges on this first game. There is perhaps no better pitching matchup we could ask for than Gerrit Cole and Shane Bieber. This is the type of game the Yankees had envisioned when they signed Cole to that mega-deal this past offseason, and slumping into the playoffs, New York needs its new ace to step up in a big way and catapult this team on a run deep into the postseason. With Masahiro Tanaka and his playoff prowess waiting to go in Game 2, a Game 1 loss could mean trouble for Cleveland. However, if the Indians come out on top in the opener, and Tanaka answers back for New York, Game 3’s matchup favors Cleveland, as Zach Plesac would line-up against either veteran JA Happ or rookie Deivi Garcia. Those weapons waiting in the wings for their respective teams give Game 1 a “must-win” vibe for both sides.
Likely pitching matchups:
- Game 1: Gerrit Cole vs Shane Bieber
- Game 2: Masahiro Tanaka vs Carlos Carrasco
- Game 3: TBD vs Zach Plesac
Players under most pressure to perform:
- New York: SP Gerrit Cole
- Cleveland: SP Shane Bieber
Potential under-the-radar difference makers:
- New York: C Kyle Higashioka
- Cleveland: RP Adam Cimber
Overall X-Factor:
- New York: Offense needs to get going early and take advantage with runners in scoring position
- Cleveland: Pitching, particular Shane Bieber, has to set the tone
Prediction: Yankees in 2
- Tyler Benenati; Sports Throne Contributor
