MLB
AL Wild Card Preview
Wednesdays AL Wild Card game between the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees could be the most intriguing matchup all year. The Yankees come into this game with a 2018 Opening Day payroll of $179,598,151, which ranks 6th in Baseball. They will host the Athletics, who had an opening day payroll of $80,315,288, which was 28th in Baseball. Both teams had over 95 wins this year.
Expect Bombs
Even with this disparity, these teams are pretty similar. They both rely on their great bullpens, some timely hitting, and most of all, the long ball. The A’s came in second in Home Runs this year with a crazy 227. Not to be outdone, the Yankees broke the single-season team home run record with 267 jacks. With home run hitters like Judge (27), Stanton (38), Davis (A.L. leading 48), Olson (29), and others playing under the October lights of Yankee Stadium, expect the ball to be flying.
Lots of Pitching
The Yankees will gamble and hand the ball to Luis Severino who is 19-8 with a 3.39 ERA in 32 games for the Bronx Bombers. Severino was hotter than hot in the first half but has considerably cooled down in the second half. He will face off against something we haven’t seen on this big a stage before. The A’s have decided to embrace a sequel to “Moneyball” and tap relief pitcher Liam Hendriks to be the “opener” as manager Bob Melvin has decided to try “bullpenning” the Yanks.
This is an experiment that’s been tried by a few teams this year, mostly the Tampa Bay Rays. But this is the first time we see it on such a high stakes stage. It’s bold of Melvin to try it in a one-game playoff in Yankee Stadium. But it makes sense to mix and match the A’s strong bullpen against the powerful Yankees lineup. It’s a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him.
Prediction
If the A’s can score a couple runs early on Severino before they can reach the Yankees bullpen, they’ll be in good shape. The A’s relievers have proven they are one of the best in the league. And they will face their toughest test Wednesday night in the Bronx.
My final prediction, the A’s opener strategy works. Key hits and home runs from Khris Davis and co bounce on the Yanks first. The deadly back end of the A’s bullpen lead by closer Blake Treinen with a 0.78 (!!!) ERA and 38 saves over 80.1 Innings will finish up New York and send Oakland on a short trip to meet baseballs best in bean town for a best of five ALDS. Final Score: A’s 6, Yankees 5.
