MLB Playoff Takeaways: Wild Card Round

Photo by David Berding from Getty Images

I like the new MLB playoff strategy with the Wild Card round, but boy it sure was done early this year.

So, let’s dive into one quick round.

Rangers sweep Rays 2-0

The Rangers had the AL West in the palm of their hands, before going on a horrid run in August that let the Astros and Mariners catch up.

It wasn’t enough to hold onto the division, but they did go 15-8 down the stretch and hit the ball really well, before shelling the Rays in both games in the Wild Card round.

Pitching is a question, and that O’s lineup should put up some good numbers, but these bats are red hot right now.

Watch out for the Rangers…

Twins sweep Blue Jays 2-0

Last year, the Blue Jays got swept in the Wild Card round by the Mariners.

Here is what I wrote after that series where the Jays blew game 2.

Managers matter.

I’m not going to go crazy about John Schneider. He’s the interim manager. I’m not sure if he’s the long term answer or not.

But the Blue Jays led 8-2 in the 6th inning of game 2 with Kevin Gausman pitching fairly well.

And with two men on and two outs, Schneider decided to pull Gausman.

The Jays bring in Tim Mayza, he gives up a 3 run home run to Carlos Santana and the Mariners comeback gets underway, as they would come all the way back to win 10-9.

Gausman didn’t have his best stuff Saturday, but surely you have to trust your starter to get one out in an 8-2 ball game.

Schneider didn’t, and it cost the Blue Jays their season.

Fast forward to 2023. John Schneider is still the Blue Jays manager.

And in game 2, with Jose Berrios only at 47 pitches and zero hard hit balls so far, Schneider pulls him out of the game.

The result? The Twins scored twice and went on to win 2-0.

I don’t know if Berrios would have gotten out unscathed, but you have to give him the chance to.

Schneider didn’t, again.

It cost the Jays their season, again.

Managers matter.

Diamondbacks sweep Brewers 2-0

Over the last 10 years, the Brewers have made the playoffs 5 times and have won one series.

Sometimes, they lost in excruciating fashion, if anyone remembers the disastrous collapse in D.C. in 2019.

The Brewers are fun, and it’s good to see a small market team have good success.

But they just refuse to get it done come October.

Phillies sweep Marlins 2-0

Yeah. I don’t really have much to say here.

The Phillies are far better than the Marlins are.

Now, the Phillies go on to face the top seeded Braves as underdogs.

Just like they did last year when they pulled off the upset.

That is going to be the must watch series of the postseason.