It's a marquee matchup in one round with the Sox and Yankees, both Chicago ballclubs have made the playoffs this year, the fourth time ever that's happened (1906, 2008, 2020 and this year). We have another big divisional matchup in the wild card with Atlanta and Philadelphia facing off on the NL side of things.
So here's how we see the wild card series going down,
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves (September 29th-October 1st 2PM start times)
NL East battle between the Braves and Phillies start things off, the 4th time ever both teams have squared off in the post season. Philly had won all three previous meetings. During the regular season, Atlanta won 9 of the 13 meetings. Have to give full credit where its due to the Phillies for being able to even make the playoffs after getting off to a ten game losing streak early in the season and changing managers. Sure they played good ball at the right time at the end of the year, but they are facing a Braves team that had been running the East from wire to wire this year. It will go the full three games but Atlanta has the more balanced lineup to take the series and move on.
Pick: Braves in three!
Chicago Cubs vs San Diego Padres (September 29th-Ostober 1st 10PM start times)
For the second time ever, the Cubs and Padres square off in the playoffs. San Diego won the first meeting in 1985 and the Cubs won the series last year. During the regular season this year, the Cubs won five of the six meetings, including two of the three games in San Diego. Yes, San Diego had the better record this year and had a great month of September. Chicago had stumbled a little bit going down the stretch which makes one nervous going into it. Even with PCA playing at the MVP level he played at this season, its going to come up short.
Pick: Padres in three!
Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros (September 29th-October 1st 5PM start time)
For the third time ever, Houston and Chicago are squaring off. Chicago won the 2005 world series, Houston won the 2021 ALDS. Chicago is one of the feel good stories in baseball. They made the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 series we talked about. This was the first time that the White Sox have had since 2022, and considering the losses they've racked up the last three years this is an awesome story. We all know the playoffs are a totally different animal than the regular season. Houston won the division with a .500 record, while Chicago got in six games over .500. Both teams stumbled a little down the stretch, but its the playoffs and its a different animal. Houston has the deeper playoff experience than this White Sox club, but Chicago is going to make it interesting.
Pick: Astros in three!
Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees (September 29th-October 1st 8PM start times)
One of the oldest rivalries in baseball square off again in the post season. This will be the 7th playoff meeting between the teams. New York won seven of the thirteen meetings between the two during the regular season. This is probably the most even matchup of the playoffs with both teams having no problem being able to drive in runs. What its going to come down to is the pitching staff, and the starters for the Yankees are just disgustingly good.
Pick: Yankees in three!
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