The four MLB division series games are beginning, two of which had Game 1 on Monday. In this strange year for pro sports, the games will all be played at neutral sites.
Yankees and Rays
The Yankees and Rays will battle it out at Petco Park in San Diego. The top two in the AL East will fight for a spot in the championship series.
The Rays are coming in as the one seed, but the fifth seed Yankees were the favorites going into Game 1. They finally have a healthy lineup, and this team can put up some runs.
After Gerrit Cole, the Yankees do struggle on the mound. They probably have the best starting pitcher in baseball, but the rest of the rotation is mediocre at best
Tampa Bay, on the other hand, has arguably the best pitching staff of any playoff team. They will all have to pitch well to slow down the Bronx Bombers.
A’s and Astros
The A’s and the Astros will be playing at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Astros are trying to put things together, as they have struggled to hit the ball this season.
Many fans are protesting outside of the park in LA to make sure the Astros team knows that Dodgers fans haven’t forgotten about the sign stealing scandal. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman were big names last season, but they continue to have a hard time in the batter’s box.
The A’s will be relying on one of the best bullpen’s in baseball to keep them in this series. There has already been some bad blood between these two this year, so this series might get interesting.
Dodgers and Padres
This is arguably the best series of the divisional round. The Dodgers will be facing the Padres at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX.
Pressure is on the Dodgers to win the World Series this year. They have the best lineup, and have been the team to beat so far. Mookie Betts has proven to be worth the money, as he remains one of the top talents in the game.
This is the best team that the Padres have put together in a long time. Their offense is exciting to watch, and Fernando Tatis Jr. is going to be a huge star. If they can get through their pitching injuries, this team will have a chance to beat the top-seeded Dodgers.
Braves and Marlins
The Braves and Marlins are playing at Minute Maid Park in Houston. The Marlins have been the surprise team of the postseason after beating the Cubs in the Wild Card series.
The Braves are the favorites here, and have a team that can make a run. Their offense can put up some runs with guys like Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, and Ronald Acuna Jr. hitting the ball well.
Pressure will be on Atlanta not to mess around with the Marlins. This should be the most lopsided series of them all. Atlanta shouldn’t struggle, even away from home.