2017 MLB Postseason: Wild Card Round Predictions

Here are my predictions for the 2017 MLB Postseason Wild Card games.

- American League
10/3- (WC2) Minnesota Twins vs (WC1) New York Yankees- 8:00, ESPN: In the preseason predictions, pretty much nobody had either of these teams making the postseason but here we are. The Twins have been one of the better teams in baseball the last two months leading the league in homeruns and runs scored led by youngsters Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario, the injured Miguel Sano (who won't play in tonight's game), and veteran Joe Mauer. The Yankees on the other hand have been prolific offensively pretty much the entire season led by American League Rookie of the Year and perhaps MVP favorite Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez. Ervin Santana will get the nod for the Twins, who has been solid all season, but has been awful at the current Yankee Stadium throughout his career. Luis Severino will get the nod for the Yankees, who will finish in the top three in the American League Cy Young voting and has emerged as the ace of this Yankee pitching staff. The Twins bullpen was depleted during the season when they traded away former closer Brandon Kintzler to the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline thinking they were a seller. They'll likely use Taylor Rodgers or Matt Belisle to get big outs for them. The Yankees bullpen is the strength of their team led by Aroldis Chapman, David Robertson, Chad Greene, and Dellin Betances and they'll rely on them to get big outs in the later innings of the game. The Yankees are huge favorites to win this game and they should be because they're flat out the better team here and have all the advantages too.

Prediction: Yankees 5, Twins 2.

- National League
10/4- (WC2) Colorado Rockies vs (WC1) Arizona Diamondbacks- 8:00, TBS: This should be a fun game between two teams not many people picked to make the postseason either. The Rockies stumbled down the stretch but you got to give them credit for making it here. They have a prolific offense led by National League MVP candidates Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon. The Diamondbacks also have a prolific offense led by National League MVP candidate Paul Goldschmidt and trade acquisition JD Martinez. Jon Gray will take the mound for the Rockies, who is their ace and had a solid season for them. Zack Greinke will take the bump for the D-Backs, who's had a nice bounce back season after a somewhat disappointing first season with the team. The Rockies bullpen has been part of the reason for the teams downfall the last few weeks and closer Greg Holland has struggled of late, but they do have other guys that can get big outs like Pat Neshek and Chris Rusin. The D-Backs bullpen could be shaky, depending on which Fernando Rodney shows up and Archie Bradley has been tremendous out of the 'pen for them. This has the makings of a classic, but give me the D-Backs due to their lineup having more depth.
Prediction: Diamondbacks 6, Rockies 3.