Better late than never, right? I've been wanting to get this posted here, but I've been having trouble getting TPM to load lately!! But anyways, playoff time is here again, and, just like in 2022, Cleveland has been a huge surprise team, getting off to a very hot start, and even though they cooled off a lot from June until the end of the season, they were able to maintain a pace close to .500 and hold off the Royals/Tigers/Twins, who all threatened to take over the division lead at various times during the season. Even better, we were able to skip the Wild Card round this time and go straight to the ALDS! Results have been very mixed the first few seasons with the new format, with teams skipping the first round maybe not having as big of an advantage as previously anticipated, but it should be good for Cleveland, as it allows us to rest up our bullpen, by far the strongest part of our team. Game 1 went perfectly, with the Guardians becoming the first team ever to score 5 times before making their first out in a playoff game, and helping to cool off the red hot Tigers. Game 2 will be a challenge, with the Guardians taking on the likely Cy Young award winner, AL pitching triple crown winner Tarik Skubal, while we counter with long time Tiger Matthew Boyd, who has been really good after missing most of the year recovering from last year's Tommy John surgery.
Sooo.... thoughts/predictions? How are you rooting for and/or against?
Happy October!!
~American League Wild Card Series~
#6 Tigers (2-0)
#3 Astros (0-2)
#5 Royals (2-0)
#4 Orioles (0-2)
~National League Wild Card Series~
#6 Mets (2-1)
#3 Brewers (1-2)
#5 Braves (0-2)
#4 Padres (2-0)
~American League Division Series~
#5 Royals (1-3)
#1 Yankees (3-1)
#6 Tigers (2-3)
#2 Guardians (3-2)
~National League Division Series~
#4 Padres (2-3)
#1 Dodgers (3-2)
#6 Mets (3-1)
#2 Phillies (1-3)
~American League Championship Series~
#2 Guardians (1-4)
#1 Yankees (4-1)
~National League Championship Series~
#6 Mets (2-4)
#1 Dodgers (4-2)
~World Series~
Yankees (1-4)
Dodgers (4-1)