After a long grueling season the 2010 MLB Playoffs have arrived. We have some familiar faces in the Yankees, Phillies, Rays and some new faces such as the Reds, Rangers and Giants. The 2010 season has been filled with pitching dominance, not hitting. Two pitchers who threw no hitters this season, Matt Garza and Roy Halladay, will pitch in the playoffs. Which team has the best chance of winning it all you ask? We'll determine Wednesday's LDS matchups below.
Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays - 1:30pm EST - Cliff Lee vs David Price
Last year Cliff Lee single handed led the Phillies to a World Series birth. All Cliff Lee did was go 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in five 2009 postseason starts, including two stellar outings against the Yankees in the World Series. Lee took Game 1 from the Yankees in the Bronx in 2009 and some say should have pitched 3 times in the World Series. Granite Lee isn't in the same form heading into this year's playoffs but he can still be a dominate force on the mound. Opposing him will be AL Cy Young candidate David Price and the Rays. Tampa Bay has been a force all season and won the most games in the AL with 96. The Rays won their second division title holding off the Yankees. Now they have to hold off the Rangers.
Prediction - Tampa Bay Rays in 5
Cincinnati Reds @ Philadelphia Phillies - 5:30pm - Edinson Vólquez vs. Roy Halladay
The Phillies are trying to return to the World Series for the third straight year. No National League team has appeared in three consecutive World Series since the St. Louis Cardinals from 1942-44, an amazing feat. With strong pitching and a superbly balanced lineup, the Philadelphia Phillies are once again primed to make a run for the World Series. With the best record in the National League and the most home victories in baseball, the Phillies' chances are that much stronger as they'll possess home-field advantage in every series this postseason in their bid for their third World Series in a row.
The Reds are a feel good story making their first playoff appearance since 1999. The Reds surprised many teams including the disappointing Cardinals. The Reds have a dangerous rotation of Volquez, Arroyo and Cueto. All three are right handed that could give the Phillies trouble. The Reds have better offensive numbers than the Phillies in their hitter friendly ball park. The Reds have an MVP candidate in Joey Votto (.324, 37, 113, led NL in slugging percentage at.600) and feature a line up with Scott Rolen and Johnny Gomes and Jay Bruce. The Reds are no slouch and should give the Phillies a run for their money.
Prediction - Phillies in 4
New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins - 8:30pm - CC Sabathia vs. Francisco Liriano
The Yankees are opening up the 2010 playoffs on the road visiting the Twins. The Twins were the first team to clinch their division and trip to the playoffs and now get ready to face the big boys of baseball. The Twins will have to face Sabathia twice and unfortunately for the Twins the Yankees basically own them in regular season and post season. The Yankees aren't the same dominant team they were last year and some say are limping into this year's playoffs. Limping or not they are still the Yankees and as they say, until someone beats them they are still the champs.
Prediction - Yankees in 5
No comments:
Post a Comment