MLB · 1 year ago

AL Playoffs Bracket Prediction: Yankees’ Pennant to Lose?

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

ALCS: No. 1 New York Yankees OVER No. 6 Detroit Tigers in 6
As much as I want to pick the Detroit Tigers to win the pennant and head to the World Series, I don’t know if I can follow through. To set the scene, I would expect the Tigers to split the first two games with the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium, thanks to a Tarik Skubal gem, but heading back to Detroit for Games 3 through 5, I’m counting on the Yankees' depth to prevail, exploiting the backend of the Tigers’ starting rotation that won’t be tested against either the Astros or Guardians in prior rounds. As much as people want to make a point of the Yankees' recent postseason struggles, eventually, it all has to work out in my mind, at least enough to overcome a young pitching staff in an intimidating ALCS environment. This series will head back to the Bronx for Game 6, with the Yankees holding a 3-2 advantage, and the Yankees will finish the job before Skubal becomes available for Game 7.

The Yankees are finally heading back to the World Series.

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Wild Card: No. 4 Baltimore Orioles OVER No. 5 Kansas City Royals in 3
I was looking to fade the Baltimore Orioles in the first round with absolute if they should have matched up with the Detroit Tigers, but now that the Kansas City Royals have fallen into their lap, I’m a bit unsure about it. No team in the postseason is as streaky as the Royals, but they're hard to beat when they're on. However, they’ve struggled to string together wins on the road all season and now enter what should be a fantastic Camden Yards atmosphere. Listen, the Orioles have been average for the past few months, and I like what starters the Royals could throw on the mound to combat the Orioles’ bats. Still, nothing about the Royals' body of work across all 162 games leads me to trust them on the road in a challenging environment. As much as I want to pick the upset, I can’t pull the trigger.

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Wild Card: No. 6 Detroit Tigers OVER No. 3 Houston Astros in 3
The Houston Astros deserve plenty of respect for all the postseason success they’ve had in recent years. Still, they find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory as they have to participate in the Wild Card round for the first time under the MLB’s new postseason format. After starting the season off miserable, the Astros bounced back and won the AL East, but watching this club, the vibes they have had in recent years aren’t there, mainly due to their pitching struggles in the starting rotation and the bullpen. On the other end, the Detroit Tigers enter the postseason with all the momentum in the world as their offense is humming, the bullpen has been lights out, and Tarik Skubal remains arguably the best pitcher in baseball. I expect the Tigers to take game one with Skubal on the mound since it’s impossible to bet against him in my eyes, and if they pull out the win, I don’t see them dropping the next two games, given how strong their bullpen has been. The postseason is about who is the hottest, and no MLB team is hotter than the Detroit Tigers.
ALDS: No. 1 New York Yankees OVER No. 4 Balitmore Orioles in 4
Many are waiting for the chance to fade the New York Yankees in the playoffs since they have been known playoff underperformers these past two seasons, but the Baltimore Orioles are not the team to do it against. I don’t find the Orioles overly impressive, and while they can get hot for a game or two, nothing over these past few months has given me the confidence that they can string together a week-long hot streak. It’s almost like they don’t have it in them anymore. I’d be surprised if this game went back to the Bronx for a Game 5, but even if it does, I trust the Yankees to find a way to finish the job.
ALDS: No. 6 Detroit Tigers OVER No. 2 Cleveland Guardians in 5
In the AL, the Cleveland Guardians have been the surprise of the regular season, but given their makeup, this week off leading into the ALDS will hurt them. To combat the week off, you would need a sure-fire starting rotation to provide you with an ace-level starting pitching at home in Games 1 and 2, which the Guardians do not have, as well as an offense that can get hot in a hurry, which the Guardians are missing. This is an easy fade spot for me because I expect the Detroit Tigers to roll into Cleveland full of confidence after defeating the Houston Astros on the road, with Tarik Skubal likely to start either of the first two games in Cleveland. Nothing about the Guardians’ starting pitching staff scares me either, giving me the confidence that the Tigers bats will be fine. Detroit will finish off the Guardians in four games, not giving the Guardians a chance to get back to Cleveland for a Game 5.
ALCS: No. 1 New York Yankees OVER No. 6 Detroit Tigers in 6
As much as I want to pick the Detroit Tigers to win the pennant and head to the World Series, I don’t know if I can follow through. To set the scene, I would expect the Tigers to split the first two games with the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium, thanks to a Tarik Skubal gem, but heading back to Detroit for Games 3 through 5, I’m counting on the Yankees' depth to prevail, exploiting the backend of the Tigers’ starting rotation that won’t be tested against either the Astros or Guardians in prior rounds. As much as people want to make a point of the Yankees' recent postseason struggles, eventually, it all has to work out in my mind, at least enough to overcome a young pitching staff in an intimidating ALCS environment. This series will head back to the Bronx for Game 6, with the Yankees holding a 3-2 advantage, and the Yankees will finish the job before Skubal becomes available for Game 7.

The Yankees are finally heading back to the World Series.

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Wild Card: No. 4 Baltimore Orioles OVER No. 5 Kansas City Royals in 3
I was looking to fade the Baltimore Orioles in the first round with absolute if they should have matched up with the Detroit Tigers, but now that the Kansas City Royals have fallen into their lap, I’m a bit unsure about it. No team in the postseason is as streaky as the Royals, but they're hard to beat when they're on. However, they’ve struggled to string together wins on the road all season and now enter what should be a fantastic Camden Yards atmosphere. Listen, the Orioles have been average for the past few months, and I like what starters the Royals could throw on the mound to combat the Orioles’ bats. Still, nothing about the Royals' body of work across all 162 games leads me to trust them on the road in a challenging environment. As much as I want to pick the upset, I can’t pull the trigger.

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AL Playoffs Bracket Prediction: Yankees’ Pennant to Lose?

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