(CBS DETROIT) – It used to be a wild weekend for Major League Baseball, as its first-ever Wild Card Series wrapped up Sunday evening.
New this 12 months used to be the addition of 2 extra groups, permitting 12 groups to go into the playoff box. In years previous, the 2 wild card groups from each and every league would face off towards each and every different in a win-or-go-home recreation. This season offered 4 best-of-three collection between six of the highest groups within the American and National League.
The new structure lived as much as the hype, leading to some unexpected groups transferring directly to the Division Series.
Starting in Cleveland, the Guardians swept its collection towards Tampa Bay, after outfielder Oscar Gonzalez ripped a walk-off solo domestic run towards Corey Kluber within the fifteenth inning. The close to five-hour lengthy recreation used to be the longest 0-0 recreation in baseball historical past (a laugh reality: over the length of this recreation I drove to and from the golfing route for a complete of 40 mins, performed 18 holes, and the sport used to be nonetheless being performed after I were given domestic).
A complete of 4 runs have been scored between the 2 video games within the collection, (beneath betters, have fun). This collection used to be the epitome of excellent pitching and protection, which in most cases wins ballgames. However, when each groups are racking up the strikeouts and placing the protection on show, the primary workforce to get a run at the board in most cases has the benefit. In this example, benefit Cleveland.
The Guardians head to New York Tuesday to stand the Yankees. Yikes.
David Dermer / AP
Prediction: Yankees in 4.
Across the border, the Toronto Blue Jays blew an 8-1 lead towards the Seattle Mariners, permitting Seattle to attain 5 unanswered runs and a travel to the ALDS.
The Mariners, who reached the postseason for the primary time in additional than twenty years, are one of the crucial thrilling groups to observe this postseason. A 3-run domestic run off the bat of Carlos Santana introduced the Mariners to inside of 3 runs within the 6th inning.
It wasn’t till a bloop double off the bat of J.P. Crawford within the 8th inning that driven throughout 3 runs for the Mariners which tied the sport. It used to be a bittersweet second, alternatively, as George Springer collided with Bo Bichette as they each made diving makes an attempt against the ball. Springer sooner or later used to be ready to stand up, however used to be carted off the sector. It used to be a brutal second, because the Blue Jays misplaced each the lead and one in all its ideally suited avid gamers multi functional play.
Seattle now heads to Houston to stand off towards the Astros. This one must be a laugh.
Prediction: Houston in 5.
After coming again to attain six runs within the 9th inning towards the St. Louis Cardinals Friday and closing them out Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies are again within the NLDS for the primary time since 2011.
This used to be a tricky blow for the Cardinals, who regarded neatly on their method to creating a deep run this postseason. Instead, they have been shutout of their ultimate recreation. Paul Goldschmidt did not report a unmarried hit, and struck out thrice for the cherry on best in Game 2. Nolan Arenado additionally struggled, racking up the strikeouts whilst leaving more than one runners on base.
The Phillies have been led by means of robust beginning pitching because of Aaron Nola, who completed the ultimate complete month of the common season with eye-popping numbers. In 5 video games, Nola used to be 1-2 with a 2.93 ERA, struck out 36 batters, and allowed warring parties to a .212 batting moderate.
The Phillies head to Atlanta to stand the previous World Series champs.
Prediction: Braves in 4.
Arguably the most important wonder of the weekend used to be the New York Mets getting shutout because of dominant pitching from San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove. The Mets may handiest muster one hit of their ultimate recreation, and not gave the impression of themselves this entire collection.
Max Scherzer gave up 4 domestic runs, the Mets offense went chilly, and Edwin Diaz by no means were given his second within the solar to near out the sport along the track of his trumpets.
On the opposite hand, the Padres offense used to be relentless. Heck, Trent Grisham took Scherzer and DeGrom deep in back-to-back nights. All of a unexpected, the mix of Bell, Soto and Machado appears bad for the primary time because the industry cut-off date.
It’s laborious to imagine the Mets fell as laborious as they did. It wasn’t till the Braves swept them right through the ultimate week of the common season, and took over first position within the NL East that the cave in turned into alarming. It’s going to be a protracted iciness for Mets enthusiasts.
The Padres head to Los Angeles to stand off towards the Dodgers. In case you did not know, the Dodgers completed 14-5 towards San Diego this season. Oh, they usually received 111 video games.
Prediction: Dodgers in 5.