2017 ALDS Preview

Now the fun really begins. The dust has settled on the regular season and wild card games and we get into divisional round play. Its the American League Divisional Round and we have four teams left standing. After a year of setting such high benchmarks, the Cleveland Indians start their mission in defense of the American League Pennant. They've got some pretty tough competition this year, in the form of not only the New York Yankees, but Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox as well. All four teams are now fighting for the right to represent the American League in the biggest stage in all of baseball. The march begins today. Lets not waste any more time and get right down to business. Here's a preview of the ALDS!

First up, we have the American League Central winners the Cleveland Indians playing host to the Wild Card Winning New York Yankees. The Yankees come into this series after finishing 2nd in the American League East with a 91-71 record, and having beat the Minnesota Twins in the Wild Card Game. This marks the first appearance for the Yankees in the Divisional Round since 2012.  As a matter of fact, since 1995 the Yankees have failed to make it to the divisional round only five times. New York is 223-155 lifetime in the playoffs and are starting the drive for their 28th World Championship. As for the Cleveland Indians, they are the defending American League Champions. They got to the playoffs this year by winning the American League Central for the 2nd year in a row, finishing this season with a 102-60 record. This marks the 13th playoff appearance in Indians history and just the 8th appearance in the ALDS. Cleveland is 10-10 lifetime in the playoffs. this marks just the 4th meeting all time in the playoffs between the two teams, with Cleveland winning two of the last three meetings. During the regular season, Cleveland won five of the seven meetings.

Here are the dates and times for every game in this series:
October 5 New York Yankees @ Cleveland Indians Progressive Field 7:30 PM
October 6 New York Yankees @ Cleveland Indians Progressive Field 5:00 PM
October 8 Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees Yankee Stadium 7:30 PM
October 9† Cleveland Indians @ New York Yankees Yankee Stadium -
October 11† New York Yankees @ Cleveland Indians Progressive Field -

There's a lot riding on the Indians shoulders going into this series. They are coming off a year in which they won 102 games, only the 3rd time in the history of the franchise they've won over 100 games in a year. The last two times resulted in World Series trips, a 1954 loss to the Giants and a 1995 loss to the Braves. This could be the year the Tribe make the turn. And it starts with this series against the Yankees. this year, Cleveland scored 254 more runs then they allowed, which should go to prove that winning 102 games was no fluke. when it comes to pitching, the Indians are loaded at the top, being led by Corey Kluber and Carlos Carrasco, who are arguably the AL's two best starters in the second half. If dealing with them two wasn't bad enough, you also have to worry about Trevor Bauer, who's no slouch in his own right. Lets not forget about the Tribe's offense, which has some pretty good boppers in their lineup. Jay Bruce had a solid season split between the Mets and the Tribe, managing to club 36 home runs and drive in 101 runs. Edwin Encarnacion lead the club with 38 homers and 104 RBI. Francisco Lindor, Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana, they all have good numbers this year and all have the experience from being with this club last year and knowing what a deep playoff run is like. They want to get back to having another run this year.

Lets face facts, the opponents for the Tribe are no slouch in the New York Yankees. This is a club that blasted more home runs then any other team in baseball, led by the 52 from Aaron Judge. They also got major contribution from Gary Sanchez who belted 33 homers, the only other Bronx Bomber to hit more than 30. Shortstop Didi Gregorius also contributed, driving in 87 runs, the only other Yankee, along with Sanchez and Judge, to drive in more then 80 runs. This offense has some experience mixed in with this youth group. Brett Gardner has been here before with this team and knows what it takes to get the job done in the playoffs. So too does Jacoby Ellsbury and Todd Fraiser. have the same experiences. Plus they have a pretty good pitching staff to contend with. You have solid starters the first two games with Sony Grey and CC Sabathia, but there's nothing announced yet for game three of the series. What the Yankees do have going for them is one of the very best bullpens in all of baseball, which was put on full display Tuesday night against Minnesota. Once the Yankees get a lead in a game its almost lights out when they turn things over to the Pen.

Pick:
Solly: Cleveland Indians
Steve: Cleveland Indians
3rd Mic Dan: Cleveland Indians

The other matchup in the American League pits the American League West winning Houston Astros going up against the American League East winning Boston Red Sox. Boston has won the American League East for the 2nd year in a row and 3rd time in the last five years, finishing the regular season with a 93-69 record, the same exact record they had a season ago. this now marks the 23rd playoff appearance for the Sox, having won eight World Series. Boston is 90-80 all time in the playoffs. As for the Astros, they won the American League West with a 101-61 record, giving them their 8th total division title, 4th in the Western Division (all prior titles had been won in the National League). This marks the 11th playoff appearance for the Astros, a team who has won four total playoff series and lost in their lone World Series in 2005. Houston is 4-10 lifetime in the post season. This marks the first ever playoff meeting between the two clubs.  The two teams split the two meetings

Here are the dates and times for every game in this series:
October 5 Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 4:00 PM
October 6 Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park 2:00 PM
October 8 Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox Fenway Park 2:30 PM
October 9† Houston Astros @ Boston Red Sox Fenway Park
October 11† Boston Red Sox @ Houston Astros Minute Maid Park

This is going to be a bit of a change of pace for the Red Sox going into this series. Last year, nothing went right for Boston as they were swept right out of the playoffs by the Indians. This year, the Sox had to rely on speed and clutch hitting. Rookie Andrew Benintendi had himself a fine year, driving in 90 runs. Mookie Betts lead the way with 24 homers and 102 RBI. Both of those guys had over 20 steals on the year. The one thing though, that seems to be hanging around the Red Sox is they are missing that one big weapon. They had it last year in David Ortiz, but he's now retired. Starting pitching in Boston has more then held up its end of the bargin in the regular season. Drew Pomeranz, Rick Porcello and Chris Sale all hit double digits in wins and Sale looks to be a front runner for the Cy Young in the American League this season.

Going up against them is the best hitting team in the American League, led by Jose Altuve. He had a fantastic year, collecting 204 hits, 24 home runs and 81 RBI. Then you got Marwin González who lead the team in home runs and RBI. George Springer lead the team with 34 Homers. It was a very balanced attack in Houston, which is why they won over 100 games and finished with the 2nd best record in the American League. Then we have the Astros pitching staff. Manager A J Hinch may favor fly-ball heavy options like Collin McHugh and Brad Peacock for the latter games of the series over grounder-inducing choices Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton. And when you have a guy like Just Verlander at the top of the rotation for the playoffs and Dallas Keuchel right behind him. This Houston team is very balanced.

The Red Sox aren't equipped to win an offensive shootout with Houston. While the Astros bullpen comes with questions, they have the starters to ensure one never breaks out. The Justin Verlander-Dallas Keuchel duo is just as good as Sale-Pomeranz. If not better. Boston will make it a good series, but at the end of the day, the better team comes out on top.

Pick: 
Solly: Houston Astros
Steve: Houston Astros
3rd Mic Dan: Houston Astros

(All Predictions made BEFORE start of Series)