Preview & Predictions: 2021 Wildcard Series
After a shortened 60 Game Season in 2020, which saw the Los Angeles Dodgers finally emerge as World Series Champs for the 1st time since 1988, another Postseason filled October is upon us. 162 Regular Season Games have come and gone in 2021, and boy was that refreshing. In the end, only 10 teams were able to edge out a Postseason spot, 4 of which are vying for a chance to play in their league’s Divisional Series.
AL Wildcard: Yankees vs Red Sox
2021 Regular Season Matchup
10 Regular Season Wins vs NYY for Boston
9 Regular Season Wins vs Boston for NYY
Probable Starters 10/5/21 : (NYY) RHP Gerrit Cole vs (BOS) RHP Nathan Eovaldi
Gerrit Cole 2021 Stats - 5.6 WAR, 16-8, 181 IP, 243 K, 133 ERA+, 3.23 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 1.059 WHIP
Nathan Eovaldi 2021 Stats - 4.6 WAR, 11-9, 182 IP, 195 K, 126 ERA+, 3.75 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 1.190 WHIP
Potential X-Factors for Boston in AL Wildcard
Nathan Eovaldi
Nathan Eovaldi’s last go around vs the Yankees was not pretty, giving up 7 earned runs in 2.2 innings vs New York. Eovaldi has pitched well vs the Yankees in his career & will need to forget about his last run in with the Yankees to help secure a Wildcard win at home.
During a season which had the Red Sox missing their perennial “Ace” in Chris Sale for half of the year, Eovaldi put together a nice year with Boston showing flashes of his 2018 World Series run.
3-4, 3.64 ERA, 65 K, 8.16 K/9, 1.10 WHIP In 15 games vs NYY
Bullpen
At times the Red Sox bullpen has looked utterly dominant & was in large part of Boston’s success early on in the year when they led the AL East. Garrett Whitlock, a former Yankees draft pick & Adam Ottavino, a former Yankees offseason signee could both prove to be keys to Boston success in the Wildcard series if Eovaldi is unable to go far in his postseason start.
Whitlock 2021 Stats - 73.1 IP, 8-4, 81 K, 1.96 ERA, 241 ERA+, 2.84 FIP, 1.105 WHIP
Garrett Richards is another bullpen arm that could be a major player both in the Wildcard game and in the Divisional round if Boston is able to top New York, see that Richards has seen a resurgence since moving out of the rotation.
Richards - 3.26 ERA, 19 K, 7 ER in August, 3.86 ERA, 15 K, 6 ER in September
Rafael Devers
In another baseball universe, Rafael Devers is a top MVP candidate in 2021 after putting up another productive year for Boston.
.279/.352/.538/.890, 165 H, 38 HR, 113 RBI in 2021
During Boston’s last series with New York, Devers went down relatively quiet but provided a major swing for the Red Sox after smashing a 3-Run HR vs Gerrit Cole. If history reminds us of anything, that could very well set up Devers for another big swing and or game vs NYY if Gerrit Cole does not have it on the mound vs Boston.
.250/.302/.449/.750 with 68 H, 13 HR, 41 RBI in 71 Games vs NYY in Career
Potential X-Factors for NYY in AL Wildcard
Gerrit Cole
Gerrit Cole’s last 3 regular season starts in 2021 were certainly ones that he’d like to forget. From Cole getting boo’ed at home to allowing a combined 15 earned over that 3 game stretch, one of which came vs Boston that saw Cole pitch 6 innings, allowing 3 earned runs while striking out 6.
Cole’s start vs Boston on 9/24 wasn’t the greatest of outings but he gave the Yankees some much needed length with a bullpen that has been inconsistent as of late. If the Yankees advance to the Divisional Series vs Tampa, Gerrit Cole will be at the forefront of that.
5-3, 3.81 ERA, 70 K, 10.8 K/9, 1.20 WHIP in 10 Career Games vs Boston
Giancarlo Stanton
7-12, 3 HR, 10 RBI were Giancarlo’s stat line vs Boston the last time the two teams met from 9/24-9/26. Stanton was utterly DIFFICULT to get out for Boston during that series & showed how clutch of a player he is when given the opportunity. If the last series between these 2 rivals indicates any potential momentum for either team, Stanton could very well help the Yankees emerge victorious in the Wildcard.
Aaron Judge
He’s simply the captain. A healthy Aaron Judge indicates a Yankees lineup that is both different on paper and on the field. Judge has shown how clutch he is time and time again. Though Judge went rather quiet vs Boston their last go around in September, Judge has 59 H, 16 HR, 35 RBI with a slashline of .234/.355/.456/.811 in 66 career games vs the Red Sox in his career.
NYY Favorite (-125) in AL Wildcard vs Boston (+105)
Who Wins The AL Wildcard Game??
Boston Red Sox Win AL Wildcard Game vs NYY:
Unlike the NL Wildcard Matchup that features two teams out of eachother’s division, this AL Wildcard Matchup seems all too familiar. As mentioned earlier, the Red Sox won the season series vs NYY with a 10-9 record, and despite Boston’s recent slip vs New York, I think the Red Sox edge out the Yankees in the later innings of the game. I think Cole will come out with a chip on his shoulder looking for something to prove and I truly think the Red Sox will struggle early on with a lot of swing and misses.
Prediction: Gerrit Cole goes 6+ innings strong vs Boston but Red Sox jump on Yankees bullpen in later parts of game.
Nathan Eovaldi might be gone early in this game, meaning Boston will have to dip into their bullpen as well but I think given what we know about the inconsistency of the Yankees, New York will end up leaving runners on and will end up looking flat.
Final Score: Boston 5 / New York 2
NL Wildcard: Cardinals vs Dodgers
2021 Regular Season Matchup
4 Regular Season Wins for LAD vs St. Louis
3 Regular Season Wins for St. Louis vs LAD
42 Runs Scored for LA vs Cardinals
18 Runs Scored for St. Louis vs Dodgers
Probable Starters 10/6/21: (STL) RHP Adam Wainwright vs (LAD) RHP Max Scherzer
Adam Wainwright 2021 Stats - 3.5 WAR, 17-7, 206.1 IP, 174 K, 127 ERA+, 3.05 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.057 WHIP
Max Scherzer 2021 Stats - 6.0 WAR, 15-4, 179.1 IP, 236 K, 166 ERA+, 2.46 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 0.864 WHIP
Potential X-Factors for St. Louis in NL Wildcard
Paul Goldschmidt
After a surprising year for St. Louis that saw the Cardinals go on an improbable 17 game win streak, Goldy was at the forefront of St. Louis success in 2021. Goldy slashed .294/.365/.514/.879 with 177 H, 31 HR, 99 RBI with an OPS+ of 143.
In 143 Career Games vs LAD, Paul Goldschmidt has slashed .293/.366/.534/.900 with 159 H, 33 HR, 101 RBI.
Nolan Arenado
Being traded from Colorado to St. Louis in the offseason certainly came with it’s adjustment period for Arenado. Not including the shortened 2020 season, Nolan’s slashline dropped below the “norm” that we’re used to seeing from him. In 2021, Arenado slashed .255/.312/.494/.807 with 151 H, 34 HR, 105 RBI and has put together a great campaign in his first year with St. Louis. If St. Louis is able to beat the odds vs the Dodgers in the NL Wildcard, Both Goldschmidt & Nolan could be two of the biggest reasons for that.
In 134 Career Games vs LAD, Nolan Arenado has slashed .275/.329/.494/.823 with 136 H, 28 HR, 90 RBI
Adam Wainwright
What a year “Uncle Charlie” has had in 2021. At the age of 40 years old, Wainwright has put together Cy Young numbers that no one saw coming before the start of the season. If St. Louis overcomes the Dodgers, Adam Wainwright will need to go deep in this game to prevent their bullpen from coming into high-leverage situations.
St. Louis’ bullpen has been a point of struggle this year, albeit in the early half of the season, Waino will need to go at the very least 5-6 innings to help clinch this win or go home game. An honorable mention is Jack Flaherty who could “piggyback” off of Wainwright in this game out of the bullpen and or in the Divisional Series if they advance.
7-5, 2.66 ERA, 74 K, 6.8 K/9, 1.15 WHIP in 17 Career Games vs LAD
Potential X-Factors for Dodgers in NL Wildcard
Max Scherzer
Since being traded to the Dodgers, Max Scherzer continued his remarkable year at the age of 37. In 11 Games with LA this year, Scherzer went 7-0 in 68 IP, 89 K, 208 ERA+ & a 1.98 ERA.
With that said, would it REALLY surprise anyone if Max Scherzer goes 7+ innings vs St. Louis, utterly dominating them in a potential shutout effort?? The short answer to that is no. Scherzer knows when to flip the switch and rises to the occasion in big time moments and Wednesday night vs St. Louis will be no different for “MadMax.”
4-6, 2.76 ERA, 108 K, 11.48 K/9, 1.03 WHIP in 13 Career Games vs St. Louis
Trea Turner
Among the leagues best shortstops, Trea Turner continued his success with LA after being traded from Washington along with Max Scherzer. Turner’s on base speed is always considered a “threat” & with Yadier Molina being behind the plate for St. Louis, something as simple as a stolen base could prove to be key in a game that could very well be low scoring with 2 veterans squaring off on the mound Wednesday.
.357/.357/.500/.857, 5/14 with 1 RBI in 14 plate appearances vs Adam Wainwright.
.256/.297/.384/.680, 22 H, 1 HR, 6 RBI in 22 Career Games vs St. Louis.
Mookie Betts
The 2021 Season has come with ups & downs for Mookie Betts, seeing his WAR total drop below 5.0 for the first time since 2014. Although Betts has put up some very respectable numbers in a season that has seen him play less than 150 games, the 2021 Postseason could be Mookie’s time to shine for a Dodgers team that is seemingly out for blood after being unsuccessful in their quest for the NL West crown.
.383/.434/.511/.945, 18 H, 1 HR, 9 RBI in 12 Career Games vs St. Louis.
LAD Favorite (-220) in NL Wildcard vs St. Louis (+180)
Who Wins The NL Wildcard Game??
St. Louis Continues Remarkable 2nd Half Run, Beating Dodgers in NL Wildcard Game:
The last time the Adam Wainwright was on the mound for St. Louis vs the Dodgers, Waino pitched 8.1 innings allowing 4 ER with 4 K en-route to a 5-4 win. The Dodgers were totally unprepared for the Giants this year & despite pulling off the BIGGEST trade deadline deal in recent memory, I think the Cardinals will ultimately come out victorious despite being the underdogs.
Similar to Gerrit Cole in the American League, I think Max Scherzer will have a strong outing vs St. Louis but LA’s bullpen could ultimately bite them vs a very potent Cardinals lineup that features familiar names that have mashed vs them in the past.
Final Score: STL 8 / LAD 5
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