Complete 2015 MLB Playoff Preview: Schedule, Team Rankings and Predictions
There are 162 games in a Major League Baseball season, but they're all just a warm-up for what comes next. And what comes next, friends, is happening now.
The postseason has arrived.
Ready or not, you've come to the right place. With the field set for the 2015 playoffs—the American League and National League Wild Card Games kick things off Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively—it's time for a full preview and predictions for what's to come this October.
First, that means taking a look at the full schedule for the postseason. Then we'll take a look at overall performance, recent performance and general manpower and firepower to break down the top lineups and pitching staffs in the field before wrapping everything up with surely ironclad predictions for how it will all shake out.
Step into the box when you're ready.
Complete Schedule
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Division Series (TOR vs. TEX; KCR vs. HOU; LAD vs. NYM; STL vs. CHC)
Oct. 8: Game 1 of TOR vs. TEX; Game 1 of KCR vs. HOU
Oct. 9: Game 1 of LAD vs. NYM; Game 1 of STL vs. CHC; Game 2 of TOR vs. TEX; Game 2 of KCR vs. HOU
Oct. 10: Game 2 of LAD vs. NYM; Game 2 of STL vs. CHC
Oct. 11: Game 3 of TOR vs. TEX; Game 3 of KCR vs. HOU
Oct. 12: Game 3 of LAD vs. NYM; Game 3 of STL vs. CHC; Game 4* of TOR vs. TEX; Game 4* of KCR vs. HOU
Oct. 13: Game 4* of LAD vs. NYM; Game 4* of STL vs. CHC
Oct. 14: Game 5* of TOR vs. TEX; Game 5* of KCR vs. HOU
Oct. 15: Game 5* of LAD vs. NYM; Game 5* of STL vs. CHC
*If necessary
Championship Series
Oct. 16: ALCS Game 1
Oct. 17: ALCS Game 2; NLCS Game 1
Oct. 18: NLCS Game 2
Oct. 19: ALCS Game 3
Oct. 20: ALCS Game 4; NLCS Game 3
Oct. 21: ALCS Game 5*; NLCS Game 4
Oct. 22: NLCS Game 5*
Oct. 23: ALCS Game 6*
Oct. 24: ALCS Game 7*; NLCS Game 6*
Oct. 25: NLCS Game 7*
*If necessary
World Series
Oct. 27: Game 1 (at AL)
Oct. 28: Game 2 (at AL)
Oct. 30: Game 3 (at NL)
Oct. 31: Game 4 (at NL)
Nov. 1: Game 5* (at NL)
Nov. 3: Game 6* (at AL)
Nov. 4: Game 7* (at AL)
No. 8 Offense: St. Louis Cardinals
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 3.99 (No. 24 in MLB)
- Team BA: .253 (No. 12 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .716 (No. 19 in MLB)
- Team HR: 137 (No. 25 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- 3B Matt Carpenter
- CF Tommy Pham
- LF Matt Holliday
- RF Jason Heyward
- 1B Stephen Piscotty
- SS Jhonny Peralta
- C Yadier Molina
- 2B Kolten Wong
- Pitcher
Projected Postseason Bench
- OF Randal Grichuk
- OF Peter Bourjos
- OF Jon Jay
- C Tony Cruz
- INF Pete Kozma
- OF/INF Brandon Moss
Lineup Overview
As Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday, the Cardinals are hopeful that veteran catcher Yadier Molina will be able to play in October after being cleared to participate in baseball activities. He's still recovering from a thumb injury, but he could be available after all.
Mind you, securing Molina for the playoffs wouldn't help the Cardinals offense as much as it would help their defense. But on the bright side, there's an argument to be made that the overall numbers the St. Louis offense has produced this season undersell what the club is working with.
In the likes of Matt Carpenter, Tommy Pham, Jason Heyward, Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk, the Cardinals have five hitters who were all hot in the second half. Matt Holliday and Jhonny Peralta, meanwhile, are two veterans with long track records of strong hitting.
Though he's not pictured here, a potential X-factor to watch is Matt Adams. He hasn't impressed since his return from a lengthy injury absence Sept. 10, but the Cardinals could make an upside play by including him on the roster anyway.
No. 7 Offense: Los Angeles Dodgers
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.12 (No. 19 in MLB)
- Team BA: .250 (Tied for No. 19 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .739 (Tied for No. 7 in MLB)
- Team HR: 187 (No. 6 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- LF Carl Crawford
- 2B Howie Kendrick
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez
- 3B Justin Turner
- RF Andre Ethier
- SS Corey Seager
- C Yasmani Grandal
- CF Joc Pederson
- Pitcher
Projected Postseason Bench
- INF Jimmy Rollins
- OF Yasiel Puig
- OF Justin Ruggiano
- C A.J. Ellis
- IF/OF Kike Hernandez
- OF Scott Van Slyke
Lineup Overview
Earlier in the season, it looked like the Dodgers had an all-timer of an offense on their hands. Those were the days when Joc Pederson was the clear favorite for NL Rookie of the Year, and the club's assorted veterans were all crushing the ball.
But that was a while ago. The Dodgers offense managed just a .717 OPS in the second half, and even that number may overstate how good it was. There have been some strong individual performances, but, as a whole, the Dodgers lineup really hasn't been clicking since it was red-hot earlier in the season.
Still, this is a lineup nobody is likely to underestimate. The Dodgers have at least one red-hot hitter in super rookie Corey Seager, and the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Justin Turner and Andre Ethier all have the goods to get hot. Maybe Yasiel Puig can do some damage, too, if he can stay healthy and find a groove.
If not, Puig will at least be a part of what should be a solid bench for skipper Don Mattingly. Between Puig, Justin Ruggiano and Scott Van Slyke, Mattingly will even have the option of going with a completely different outfield when there's a tough left-hander on the mound.
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No. 6 Offense: Texas Rangers
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.64 (No. 3 in MLB)
- Team BA: .257 (No. 10 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .739 (Tied for No. 7 in MLB)
- Team HR: 172 (No. 11 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- CF Delino DeShields Jr.
- RF Shin-Soo Choo
- 1B Prince Fielder
- 3B Adrian Beltre
- 1B Mitch Moreland
- LF Josh Hamilton
- SS Elvis Andrus
- 2B Rougned Odor
- C Chris Gimenez
Projected Postseason Bench
- 1B/OF Mike Napoli
- C Robinson Chirinos
- INF Hanser Alberto
- OF Will Venable
- 3B/OF Joey Gallo
Lineup Overview
The Rangers offense was good the whole way through the season, but it really came together at the end to help the club mount its rally in the AL West race. Collectively, the Rangers posted a .751 OPS in August, and did even better in September and October with a .781 OPS.
The latter is indeed the kind of number your offense can put up when its key pieces are hitting. Shin-Soo Choo and Adrian Beltre were especially hot in the season's final month, and the Rangers also got strong hitting from Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland.
If the four of them can keep it up, the Rangers will at least be able to terrorize opposing pitchers with the heart of their order. If Josh Hamilton has any of his old magic left, well, even better.
As for what the Rangers have on their bench, Mike Napoli and Joey Gallo stand to be dangerous pinch-hitting threats. Texas just needs to do its best to keep the former out of left field, as he looked far from a natural in his brief stints out there.
No. 5 Offense: Chicago Cubs
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.25 (No. 16 in MLB)
- Team BA: .244 (Tied for No. 28 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .719 (Tied for No. 17 in MLB)
- Team HR: 171 (No. 12 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- CF Dexter Fowler
- LF Kyle Schwarber
- 3B Kris Bryant
- 1B Anthony Rizzo
- 2B Starlin Castro
- C Miguel Montero
- RF Chris Coghlan
- SS Addison Russell
- Pitcher
Projected Postseason Bench
- OF Jorge Soler
- OF Austin Jackson
- OF Chris Denorfia
- C David Ross
- INF Javier Baez
- INF Tommy La Stella
Lineup Overview
On the whole, the Cubs offense didn't put up impressive numbers in 2015. For that, they can thank how messy things were in the first half, when Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant were doing all the heavy lifting on their own.
But it's been a different story in the second half. The Cubs' OPS went from .690 before the break to .754 after the break, and not just because Rizzo and Bryant kept hitting. Slugging rookie Kyle Schwarber got everyone kick-started with a hot stretch in late July and early August, and Dexter Fowler, Chris Coghlan, Starlin Castro and Miguel Montero enjoyed strong second halves as well.
However, the Cubs offense still has a fatal flaw. With a 24.5 K%, they were the most strikeout-happy team in baseball in 2015. In a playoff field loaded with power pitching, that could be what extends the Curse of the Billy Goat.
Fortunately, Cubs skipper Joe Maddon will have options should he feel the need to change things up, as his bench will have a good mix of veteran and youthful talent.
No. 4 Offense: New York Mets
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.22 (No. 17 in MLB)
- Team BA: .244 (Tied for No. 28 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .712 (No. 20 in MLB)
- Team HR: 177 (Tied for No. 8 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- RF Curtis Granderson
- 3B David Wright
- 2B David Murphy
- CF Yoenis Cespedes
- 1B Lucas Duda
- C Travis d'Arnaud
- LF Michael Conforto
- SS Ruben Tejada
- Pitcher
Projected Postseason Bench
- C Kevin Plawecki
- OF Michael Cuddyer
- OF Juan Lagares
- INF/OF Kelly Johnson
- INF Wilmer Flores
- OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis
Lineup Overview
Through the first four months of 2015, the Mets offense was on its way to a third straight season of irrelevance. Between April and July, the club's OPS was under .700 every month.
And then it pulled off an all-time turnaround, posting an .816 OPS in August and a .774 OPS in September. Yoenis Cespedes and his .942 OPS and 17 homers after coming to the club in a July deadline deal were a huge factor, but also playing well down the stretch were Curtis Granderson, Lucas Duda, Travis d'Arnaud and, eventually, David Wright.
As such, where there was once an anemic offense is now quite a dangerous one. And this is without even getting into what the Mets have on their bench. Michael Cuddyer was a batting champion just two years ago, and Kelly Johnson and Wilmer Flores are good platoon bats.
This leaves but one concern: Is the Mets' offensive resurgence too good to be true? After all, New York did have perhaps the easiest schedule in MLB down the stretch. Such cushy competition is something that most certainly does not await them in October.
No. 3 Offense: Kansas City Royals
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.47 (No. 7 in MLB)
- Team BA: .269 (Tied for No. 2 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .734 (No. 10 in MLB)
- Team HR: 139 (No. 24 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- SS Alcides Escobar
- 2B Ben Zobrist
- CF Lorenzo Cain
- 1B Eric Hosmer
- DH Kendrys Morales
- 3B Mike Moustakas
- LF Alex Gordon
- C Salvador Perez
- RF Alex Rios
Projected Postseason Bench
- OF Jarrod Dyson
- OF Paulo Orlando
- C Drew Butera
- INF Christian Colon
- OF Terrance Gore
Lineup Overview
Relative to 2014, the Royals were a significantly more consistent offensive team in 2015. That had much to do with how they maintained their excellent contact habit (MLB-low 15.9 K%) while adding in more power, as the club's slugging percentage surged from .376 to .412.
The addition of Kendrys Morales was a factor, but the Royals also got more power from incumbents like Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas. And with Ben Zobrist now at second base in place of Omar Infante, the Royals have a stronger power/contact dynamic than they did earlier in 2015.
That, indeed, is part of the reason why the Royals are heading into October off their best offensive month since April, having posted a strong .754 OPS in September and October. It's not the most dangerous offensive team in the hunt, but the slump that plagued Kansas City in the middle of the year is gone.
And once again, the Royals should have some useful depth to play with. Jarrod Dyson is a defensive specialist extraordinaire. Paulo Orlando was a hot hitter in September and October. Then there's Terrance Gore, who is among the fastest baserunners in all of MLB.
No. 2 Offense: Houston Astros
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 4.50 (No. 6 in MLB)
- Team BA: .250 (Tied for No. 19 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .752 (No. 2 in MLB)
- Team HR: 230 (No. 2 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- 2B Jose Altuve
- RF George Springer
- SS Carlos Correa
- DH Evan Gattis
- CF Carlos Gomez
- 3B Luis Valbuena
- 1B Chris Carter
- LF Preston Tucker
- C Jason Castro
Projected Postseason Bench
- OF Jake Marisnick
- OF Colby Rasmus
- INF Jed Lowrie
- INF/OF Marwin Gonzalez
- C Hank Conger
Lineup Overview
The Astros front office took an unconventional route to building the team's current offense. The club's subpar collective batting average stands out, and that has much to do with its collective strikeout habit. At 22.9 percent, the Astros finished with the AL's highest strikeout rate.
But though the Astros may lack the ability to string hits together, they're not lacking in explosiveness. Houston claimed the majors' best combination of power (230 homers) and speed (121 stolen bases, No. 3 overall), and they have a strong collection of players who can offer both in the likes of George Springer, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and Carlos Gomez, who is reportedly on the mend.
True, the Astros offense did seem to disappear at times throughout the year. But it's coming into October hot, having posted a season-best .849 OPS in September and early October.
Speaking of which, one wonders if the Astros might be tempted to put the hot-hitting Jonathan Villar on the roster and go with a six-man bench. But they'll have plenty of depth even without him, so expect a five-man bench and an 11-man pitching staff.
No. 1 Offense: Toronto Blue Jays
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Team Stats
- Team RPG: 5.50 (No. 1 in MLB)
- Team BA: .269 (Tied for No. 2 in MLB)
- Team OPS: .797 (No. 1 in MLB)
- Team HR: 232 (No. 1 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Lineup
- LF Ben Revere
- 3B Josh Donaldson
- RF Jose Bautista
- DH Edwin Encarnacion
- SS Troy Tulowitzki
- 1B Justin Smoak
- C Russell Martin
- CF Kevin Pillar
- 2B Ryan Goins
Projected Postseason Bench
- C Dioner Navarro
- 1B/OF Chris Colabello
- INF Cliff Pennington
- OF Ezequiel Carrera
- OF Dalton Pompey
Lineup Overview
The Blue Jays were the most dangerous offensive team in baseball in 2015, and it wasn't really close. And to make matters worse for their prospective opponents, they're hitting better now than they have been all season.
The Blue Jays offense racked up an .832 OPS in August and an .836 OPS in September, mainly thanks to the hot hitting of likely AL MVP Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. They represent the most dangerous trio of sluggers in the game, and pitchers aren't out of the woods once they get to Troy Tulowitzki, Justin Smoak and Russell Martin.
In theory, Toronto's only weakness on offense is how heavily its lineup leans to the right. But given that the Blue Jays' .790 OPS against right-handed pitching was the best in MLB, it's not as much a weakness in reality as it is in theory.
As such, all the Blue Jays have to do is stay healthy. If they can do that, their offense should continue to be a brutal matchup for all comers.
No. 8 Pitching Staff: Kansas City Royals
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.74 (No. 10 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 4.34 (No. 22 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 2.72 (No. 2 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- RHP Johnny Cueto
- RHP Edinson Volquez
- RHP Yordano Ventura
- RHP Kris Medlen
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Wade Davis
- RHP Kelvin Herrera
- RHP Ryan Madson
- LHP Franklin Morales
- RHP Luke Hochevar
- LHP Danny Duffy
- RHP Chris Young
Pitching Staff Overview
When the Royals got to the postseason last year, all they had to do was keep the game close through six innings. After that, they could turn to Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland and effectively shut down the opposing offense completely.
It won't be as easy for the Royals to do that this year. Holland is done for the season with an elbow injury, and Herrera's 3.58 post-break ERA is part of the reason why the Kansas City bullpen posted a modest 3.33 ERA in the second half. It's still a very good bullpen, to be sure. Just not as good.
Which is to say the Royals will need their starting pitching to deliver in a way that it didn't last year. That will require Johnny Cueto to get back on track after posting an ugly 4.76 ERA in 13 starts with the Royals. It would also be nice if Edinson Volquez and Yordano Ventura kept up the strong work they did in the second half.
Mind you, here's one reason for Royals fans to hope for the best: With home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs and one of the league's best defenses still in play, Kansas City's pitchers will continue to have a wide margin for error.
No. 7 Pitching Staff: Texas Rangers
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 4.25 (No. 23 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 4.32 (No. 21 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 4.12 (No. 24 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- LHP Cole Hamels
- RHP Yovani Gallardo
- RHP Colby Lewis
- LHP Derek Holland
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Shawn Tolleson
- RHP Keone Kela
- LHP Jake Diekman
- RHP Sam Dyson
- LHP Sam Freeman
- RHP Anthony Bass
- LHP Martin Perez
Pitching Staff Overview
Overall, the Rangers did not enjoy good pitching in 2015. What those overall numbers hide, however, is how much things improved when Texas needed them to.
After struggling in the first four months of the season, Rangers pitchers rebounded to post a 3.70 ERA in August and a 3.88 ERA in September and October. The addition of Cole Hamels (3.66 ERA in 12 starts) had much to do with this, but just as important is what happened in Texas' bullpen.
The relief corps posted a 3.79 ERA in the second half of the year, and that was a true collective effort. Shawn Tolleson, Sam Dyson, Keone Kela and Jake Diekman all authored fantastic performances.
The big question, though, is how much the Rangers can rely on what's between Hamels and their bullpen. Yovani Gallardo, Colby Lewis and Derek Holland and/or Martin Perez follow Hamels in the club's rotation, and none of them is a true No. 2 starter.
No. 6 Pitching Staff: St. Louis Cardinals
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 2.94 (No. 1 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 2.99 (No. 1 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 2.82 (No. 3 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- RHP John Lackey
- RHP Lance Lynn
- LHP Jaime Garcia
- RHP Michael Wacha
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Trevor Rosenthal
- LHP Kevin Siegrist
- RHP Seth Maness
- RHP Jonathan Broxton
- LHP Randy Choate
- RHP Steve Cishek
- RHP Adam Wainwright
Pitching Staff Overview
For much of the season, Cardinals pitchers led a charmed life. In fact, they posted sub-3.00 ERAs in five months out of six.
The not-so-good news? The one exception happened in September/October, when the Cardinals only managed a 4.18 ERA. And things have indeed gotten interesting, as Carlos Martinez is done for the year with a right shoulder injury and Michael Wacha looked all out of sorts in posting a 7.88 ERA in the season's final month-plus.
And yet, the sky is not falling. John Lackey, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garcia give the Cardinals three strong starters to lean on, and Trevor Rosenthal's fiery right arm leads a well-rounded bullpen that should be capable of shortening games in October.
Also, let's not forget that the Cardinals have Adam Wainwright back. He's made only a handful of relief appearances since returning from a torn Achilles on Sept. 30, but it would surprise nobody if he went on to play a crucial role as a shutdown reliever or, perhaps later in the postseason, a spot starter.
No. 6 Pitching Staff: Houston Astros
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.57 (No. 6 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 3.71 (No. 8 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 3.27 (No. 6 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- LHP Dallas Keuchel
- RHP Collin McHugh
- LHP Scott Kazmir
- RHP Mike Fiers
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- Closer: RHP Luke Gregerson
- RHP Will Harris
- RHP Pat Neshek
- LHP Tony Sipp
- RHP Josh Fields
- RHP Lance McCullers Jr.
- LHP Joe Thatcher
Pitching Staff Overview
Houston's offense may have had its ups and downs in 2015, but strong pitching was one of the club's defining characteristics throughout the season. The Astros posted a 3.58 ERA in the first half, and a 3.56 ERA in the second half.
In the middle of it all is Dallas Keuchel, who may be the man to beat for the AL Cy Young after racking up a 2.48 ERA in 232 innings. He's not going to overpower anybody, but the way in which he locates and mixes and matches his pitches makes him as effective as any elite power pitcher.
It's harder to say the same of the arms that follow Keuchel in the Astros rotation, however. Collin McHugh and Mike Fiers are good-not-great starters, and Scott Kazmir only managed a 4.17 ERA in 13 starts in Houston.
Fortunately for the Astros, there's good depth in their bullpen. They basically don't have a weak link among their projected relievers, and their assorted abilities should continue to make it easy for skipper A.J. Hinch to play the matchup game.
No. 4 Pitching Staff: Toronto Blue Jays
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.80 (No. 12 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 3.96 (No. 12 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 3.50 (No. 12 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- LHP David Price
- RHP Marcus Stroman
- RHP Marco Estrada
- RHP R.A. Dickey
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Roberto Osuna
- RHP Aaron Sanchez
- RHP Liam Hendriks
- LHP Brett Cecil
- LHP Aaron Loup
- RHP Mark Lowe
- RHP Bo Schultz
Pitching Staff Overview
Because lots and lots of dingers equals lots and lots of fun, it's easy to get lost in what Toronto's offense did down the stretch in 2015. What Toronto's pitching staff did in that same time frame, however, is just as big a reason why the Blue Jays took off.
After struggling through the first half, Blue Jays pitchers recovered to post a 3.34 ERA in the second half. The arrival of David Price and his 2.30 ERA with Toronto had a lot to do with that, to be sure, but he didn't work alone.
Marco Estrada and R.A. Dickey also got hot in the second half, posting sub-3.00 ERAs in 15 starts each. And at the end of the year, young right-hander Marcus Stroman returned from a torn ACL and dazzled with a 1.67 ERA in four starts.
Meanwhile, don't overlook what Toronto has in its pen. Roberto Osuna and Aaron Sanchez give skipper John Gibbons a pair of power arms to turn to in the late innings, and they're backed by a strong supporting cast of relievers.
No. 3 Pitching Staff: Los Angeles Dodgers
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.44 (No. 5 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 3.24 (No. 2 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 3.91 (No. 19 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- LHP Clayton Kershaw
- RHP Zack Greinke
- LHP Brett Anderson
- LHP Alex Wood
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Kenley Jansen
- RHP Yimi Garcia
- RHP Pedro Baez
- LHP J.P. Howell
- RHP Chris Hatcher
- LHP Luis Avilan
- RHP Mike Bolsinger
Pitching Staff Overview
At the very least, the Dodgers know their pitching staff contains the best one-two punch in the postseason: Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.
Kershaw finished with 301 strikeouts and a 2.13 ERA, and Greinke finished with MLB's best ERA at 1.66. To boot, it's not like they got all of their good work out of the way early. Greinke posted a 1.99 ERA in the second half, and Kershaw did even better at 1.31.
In addition to those two, the Dodgers also have one of the game's top closers in cutter specialist Kenley Jansen. He's not immune to home runs, but he mostly throws strikes and blows away hitters.
And now for the bad news: Pretty much everything in between Kershaw, Greinke and Jansen is a question mark. If even one of the three of them isn't on their game, the Dodgers' stay in the postseason could be short.
No. 2 Pitching Staff: New York Mets
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.43 (No. 4 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 3.44 (No. 4 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 3.48 (No. 11 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- RHP Jacob deGrom
- RHP Noah Syndergaard
- RHP Matt Harvey
- LHP Steven Matz
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Jeurys Familia
- RHP Tyler Clippard
- RHP Addison Reed
- LHP Sean Gilmartin
- RHP Hansel Robles
- RHP Bartolo Colon
- RHP Erik Goeddel
Pitching Staff Overview
On paper, the Mets pitching staff is a nightmare of a matchup—maybe even more so than the overall numbers indicate, for that matter.
In Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey, the Mets have three right-handers with big-time arms and big-time stuff. And though he's not as experienced as the three of them, young lefty Steven Matz has a big arm and big stuff in his own right.
Meanwhile, at the back of the bullpen, there's Jeurys Familia. He posted great numbers in saving 43 games with a 1.85 ERA, and he did it with one of the nastiest fastballs and nastiest splitters in existence.
If there's a catch, it's that we might have already seen the best this Mets pitching staff has to offer. Specifically, deGrom and Syndergaard were human in the second half, and Harvey may only have so many innings left in his arm.
No. 1 Pitching Staff: Chicago Cubs
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Team Stats
- Team ERA: 3.36 (No. 3 in MLB)
- SP ERA: 3.36 (No. 3 in MLB)
- RP ERA: 3.38 (No. 8 in MLB)
Projected Postseason Rotation
- RHP Jake Arrieta
- LHP Jon Lester
- RHP Kyle Hendricks
- RHP Jason Hammel
Projected Postseason Bullpen
- CL: RHP Hector Rondon
- RHP Pedro Strop
- RHP Justin Grimm
- LHP Travis Wood
- LHP Clayton Richard
- RHP Fernando Rodney
- RHP Neil Ramirez
Pitching Staff Overview
Unlike their offense, the Cubs didn't need their pitching staff to come alive at the end of 2015. It was quite good throughout the year.
Of course, this is mainly thanks to Chicago's duo of Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. Arrieta posted the best second-half ERA in MLB history on his way to finishing with a 1.77 overall ERA. And after a bumpy start, Lester posted a 2.99 ERA over his final 28 outings.
Relative to these two, the rest of the Cubs pitching staff looks decidedly pedestrian. But there is indeed good depth to be found beyond Arrieta and Lester. Kyle Hendricks is better than his 3.95 ERA says he is. And as for the Cubs bullpen, it has two dominant arms in Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop, and solid depth leading up to them.
To be sure, a potential World Series run hinges on the Arrieta and Lester Show, but they shouldn't have to do it alone.
Managers
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Manager Rankings
| 1 | Joe Maddon | Cubs | 878-794 | .525 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Joe Girardi | Yankees | 813-645 | .558 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | Terry Collins | Mets | 838-850 | .496 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Mike Matheny | Cardinals | 375-273 | .579 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Clint Hurdle | Pirates | 965-1004 | .490 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Ned Yost | Royals | 925-971 | .488 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | Don Mattingly | Dodgers | 446-363 | .551 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | A.J. Hinch | Astros | 175-199 | .468 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Jeff Banister | Rangers | 88-74 | .543 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | John Gibbons | Blue Jays | 555-541 | .506 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
*Including 2015.
The overall disclaimer here is that putting exact science into ranking managers is virtually impossible, but Cubs skipper Joe Maddon is a good candidate to be atop a ranking of skippers regardless of the context. Though he doesn't have a World Series title to his name, there may be no manager in the big leagues who balances leadership skills with a tactical mind quite like he does.
After him, you have to hand it to the two New York managers. Joe Girardi is the only skipper left standing who's actually won a World Series. Besides that, he doesn't get enough credit for how well he handles adversity.
On that same note, Terry Collins deserves a higher ranking than his record suggests due to how well he juggled so many different lineups and kept his young pitching staff intact. He's a fine choice for NL Manager of the Year.
Elsewhere, Mike Matheny, Clint Hurdle and Ned Yost had the benefit of working with a ton of talent throughout 2015, effectively allowing them to take a year off from past criticisms. Don Mattingly had it tougher and should thus arguably be ranked ahead of them, but his assorted tactical blunders in the last two postseasons leave him with much to prove heading into this one.
With the first-time playoff managers, you can take your pick. But relative to A.J. Hinch and Jeff Banister, there's no question that John Gibbons' job only got easier in the stretch run as opposed to harder. His ability to push the right buttons will get its first real test in the days and (possibly) weeks to come.
ALDS/NLDS Predictions
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ALDS: (1) Kansas City Royals vs. (WC) Houston Astros
Because it's easier to have faith in Houston's pitching than it is to have faith in Kansas City's staff, one can indeed picture the Astros coming away as the victor in a series against the defending AL champs.
But there's a problem with that notion. Though the Astros should put up a fight, having to play as many as three games at power-suppressing Kauffman Stadium should scare them. They're not good away from home as it is, and that's not a stadium the Astros' power will play at.
Predicted Winner: Royals in five
ALDS: (2) Toronto Blue Jays vs. (3) Texas Rangers
There's a simple way to put this: The Blue Jays have more offense, more pitching and just as much momentum as the Rangers do, plus home-field advantage at a stadium (Rogers Centre) that can get as loud as a heavy-metal concert in which literal heavy metal is falling from the sky.
So, yeah.
Predicted Winner: Blue Jays in three
NLDS: (1) St. Louis Cardinals vs. (WC) Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are likely to be heavy underdogs in a series against the Cardinals, at least in part because they won't be able to throw Jake Arrieta at them right off the bat.
But given the way in which St. Louis' pitching has regressed recently, the pitching matchup could be at least even and arguably skew toward the Cubs. There's also the reality that as good as St. Louis' pitching is, it's not based around the kind of power that could exploit Chicago's strikeout habit.
The Cubs have won each of the last two regular-season series they've played against St. Louis. Look for them to make it three in a row in the NLDS.
Predicted Winner: Cubs in four
NLDS: (2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (3) New York Mets
This is a series that will be all about the arms, as it will be the best pitching duo in baseball going up against some of the best young power arms in the league.
The Mets will have the depth advantage, sure, but that only counts for so much in a best-of-five series. And indeed, it counts for even less in a series where they'll be seeing Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke in Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium.
And while it is true the Mets appear to have a better offense than the Dodgers...well, remember that concern we voiced about the new-look Mets offense only teeing off against weak competition?
Predicted Winner: Dodgers in three
ALCS/NLCS Predictions
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ALCS: (1) Kansas City Royals vs. (2) Toronto Blue Jays
The Royals would have the home-field advantage in a series against the Blue Jays, a fact that sounds vital in light of the aforementioned note about how much Kauffman Stadium suppresses power hitting.
But the Blue Jays could easily render that irrelevant. They have more than enough pitching to go toe-to-toe with the Royals, regardless of the venue. They could surely win at least one of the first two in Kansas City before heading back to Toronto.
And once there, the series could end quickly. It's going to take either superb pitching or elite firepower to beat the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, and the Royals don't boast either these days.
Predicted Winner: Blue Jays in five
NLCS: (2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (WC) Chicago Cubs
This series would be headlined by the pitching duos. It would be Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke against Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, an epic showdown worthy of a raucous Hans Zimmer score.
Between the two duos, the scales tip slightly in favor of the Dodgers. Kershaw is actually more than Arrieta's equal if you believe the geek-tastic metrics, and elevating Greinke over Lester based strictly on their 2015 performances is an easy call.
The big question would be whether the Dodgers' thin bullpen could match up against the Cubs' deep relief corps. While one is inclined to say "Yeah, right" to that, it is notable that the Dodgers' bullpen can at least handle strikeouts, which of course are Chicago's kryptonite.
This series would not be over quickly. But when the dust settles...
Predicted Winner: Dodgers in six
World Series Prediction
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Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' one-two punch of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke will have vanquished some serious challenges if they beat the Mets and Cubs. But if this series comes to fruition, those would be nothing compared to the next challenge:
The Blue Jays offense.
To this end, they say good pitching beats good hitting. But the catch in this series is that the Dodgers' work would not be done even if they were to prove that theory correct. In the likes of David Price, Marcus Stroman, Marco Estrada, R.A. Dickey and a deep bullpen, the Blue Jays would have enough firepower to pick up the slack for their offense if it were to falter.
Not that anyone should expect Toronto's offense to falter, mind you. The Blue Jays hit power pitching better than anyone in 2015, and having the home-field advantage certainly won't hurt.
For the Blue Jays, a championship. For the Dodgers, an excuse to go spend $400 million next year.
Predicted Winner: Blue Jays in six
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.
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