MLB Playoff Schedule 2010: Ranking the Matchups
The playoffs are here yet again boys and girls and that means raucous crowds, high pressure situations, and games that start after my bedtime.
The divisional series crank up Wednesday night with three exciting games on tap to fill your hearts with joy.
So sit back, relax, and let the wave of playoff baseball rush over you, here is what you can expect in terms of each match-up in the divisional round of these 2010 playoffs.
4. Atlanta Braves Vs. San Francisco Giants
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This match-up, slated to start on Thursday, is one of the two good hitting vs. good pitching match-ups in the National League that will be interesting to see unfold.
The Giants can put together the best four-man rotation in all of baseball with Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito. They even have a fifth guy in Madison Bumgarner, who has been absolutely electric over the past month who can fill in if needed.
The Braves counter with their wealth of good hitters.
Omar Infante and Martin Prado can poke and slap the ball around to get on base at will, while sluggers Jason Heyword and Brian McCann are waiting to bring them around.
The Bravos also have the recently reactivated Troy Glaus and midseason acquisition Derrek Lee, two veterans who have shown that they are more than capable in the postseason if given the opportunity.
The Braves throw out Derek Lowe in Game 1 against Lincecum. Lincecum has a 1.94 ERA in the last month, while Lowe boasts an impressive 1.17 ERA in his previous five starts.
This should be an interesting one to watch unfold.
3. Tampa Bay Rays Vs. Texas Rangers
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Both teams have been hobbled down the stretch as both Josh Hamilton and Evan Longoria were hampered with injuries in the last month. Longoria hasn't played since September 23rd with a strained left quad and Hamilton's bruised ribs have held him out of the lineup since September 5th. Hamilton returned for the Rangers' final series with the Angels.
Their return to their team's lineups alone make for an interesting storyline going into the first game.
Tampa is an interesting team, with only Carl Crawford (.307) and Longoria (.297) batting above .260, but they have the speed, defense and effective pitching to win a series against any team.
While Rays are a clean and efficient team, who have excellent defense and a wealth of speedy players, the Rangers can flat out hit.
Texas has three regulars hitting at or above .300 with three more above .285. If there is a team that can counter the Rays starting and relieving pitchers with a monsoon of good hitters, it is Texas.
Game 1 Wednesday afternoon has each team starting Cy Young quality pitchers in Cliff Lee and David Price.
2. Cincinnati Reds Vs. Philadelphia Phillies
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At first glance, this looks like a cake walk for the Phillies.
Their three starters in Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels should make short work of the overachieving Cincinnati Reds, a team with a sub .500 record against teams with winning records.
Not so fast my friends.
The Reds rank first in the National League in home runs, batting average, OPS, and are one of the scrappiest teams in the majors.
This is a team that has played hard in every single game this year, while racking up huge numbers of comeback and last at-bat wins.
Just take a look at the last series they played, the Phillies won all four games, but the games were as close as any game can be.
The first two games were comeback wins by the Phillies, the third saw Travis Wood take a perfect game into the ninth inning, only to have the Reds lose that game and the next game 1-0.
Game 1 boasts a duo of playoff premiers on the bump, with Halladay making his debut against Edinson Volquez.
Their last series alone should have you geared up to watch the war of attrition between the teams, and if you're not, just wait until you see Aroldis Chapman crank out a 105mph fastball.
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1. New York Yankees Vs. Minnesota Twins
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This is your cream of the crop series folks.
You have last season's champs versus one of the hottest teams in baseball.
Both teams have their fair share of good hitters and good pitchers. Both teams have their questions in the starting rotation. Both teams are capable of playing excellent ball.
This series is filled with storylines.
For the Yankees question on what to do with A.J. Burnett, whether Derek Jeter will be able to bounce back from a terrible (for him anyway) regular season, if Alex Rodriguez can duplicate last year's playoff performance, and how will Andy Pettitte's elbow hold up.
For the Twins it will be which Francisco Liriano shows up when he is due to start, can Carl Pavano and his mustache be as consistent as they were all year, is their momentum dead after finishing 2-7 against sub-par teams, and can Joe Mauer carry his hometown club past the Bronx Bombers.
With Game 1 slated for primetime Wednesday night, the teams will pit Liriano and CC Sabathia against each other.
October is here again, it's time for playoffs.
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