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District On Deck’s First Round AL Predictions

By Max Rayman |
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Adam Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals holds the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Adam Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals holds the Commissioners Trophy after defeating the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game Seven to win the 2019 World Series in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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The 2020 regular season has come to a close and playoff baseball kicks off tomorrow with the American League up first.

With the playoffs starting tomorrow, now is the perfect time for us here at District On Deck to give our predictions for each first-round matchup. We will begin with the American League first.

1) Tampa Bay Rays V. 8) Toronto Blue Jays

A year after winning 96 games and taking the Houston Astros to a game five in the American League Division Series, the Rays are back in the playoffs. This time they were able to overtake the Evil Empire (The New York Yankees) and were crowned American League East champs. Tampa is led by their starting rotation’s big three of Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Charlie Morton. Despite Snell and Glasnow taking a bit to get going, and Morton struggling mightily compared to 2019, the Rays rotation is still their bread and butter. Behind the rotation, is one of the best bullpens in baseball. With Tampa being so pitcher heavy, it takes a lot of pressure off of the offense. Tampa’s offense will be without their stud outfielder, Austin Meadows who was recently placed on the IL. It is unclear when he could return. While his absence hurts, Tampa’s offense still has Brandon Lowe leading the way. He led the team with 14 homers and has emerged as a legitimate power threat.

Toronto was able to take advantage of the extended playoffs and snagged the eighth and final spot. The young Jays are led by their core of Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Vladamir Guerrero Jr., and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., while veteran Hyun Jin-Ryu leads the rotation. In the best of three series, Toronto has a legitimate chance of advancing but is facing an uphill battle.

Prediction: Tampa’s rotation will be too much for the Blue Jays to handle. Rays in 3

2) Oakland Athletics V. 7) Chicago White Sox

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 06: Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito #27 of the Chicago White Sox delivers the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 06: Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito #27 of the Chicago White Sox delivers the ball in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 06, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /

The Oakland Athletics are back in the playoffs for the third straight year, but this time, they finally overtook the Houston Astros and won the American League West. Oakland will be without the face of the franchise Matt Champan who is out for the season after he underwent surgery for a hip injury. Without him, the offense is led by Matt Olsen, Marcus Semien, Mark Canha, and Khris Davis. While they still have some significant pop in the lineup, Champman’s absence hurts. Oakland’s offense finished the 2020 season 25th in batting average (.225), 18th in homers (71), 15th in RBIs, (264),15th in wRC+ (101),15th in on-base percentage (OBP, .322), and 18th in OPS (.716). Overall they are a middle of the pack offense.

Oakland has been successful this season thanks to their starting rotation and bullpen. Chris Bassitt, Sean Manaea, and Jesus Luzardo will most likely be the team’s starting pitchers for the three-game series. Closer, Liam Hendricks has established himself as one of the best relievers in the game. This year he posted a 1.78 ERA and a 1.14 FIP, while going 14 for 15 in save opportunities. If the Athletics are able to hand him the ball with a lead, more than not he will close out the game.

The Chicago White Sox have finally arrived. After starting a full rebuild in December of 2016, the White Sox have risen from the basement to a legitimate threat. Lucas Giolito who was acquired in a trade with the Nationals is the team’s ace. Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez who are key parts of the offense were acquired in trades with the Red Sox and Cubs respectively. Rookie Luis Roberts was an international free agent who has made a flawless transition to the big leagues. Throw in stud shortstop Tim Anderson and long time White Sox Jose Abreu, and Chicago has a fascinating core. In the off-season, they brought in Yasmani Grandal, Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Gonzalez, and Dallas Keuchel all on free-agent deals.

It is important to note that the White Sox floundered down the stretch, losing nine of their last twelve, which cost them the American League Central title. However, in a best of three series, having Keuchel and Giolito on the mound gives them as a good a chance as anyone else. Throw in either Dylan Cease or Dane Dunning for game three, and the White Sox have an elite rotation for a short series.

Prediction: Without Matt Champman, Lucas Giolito and Dallas Kuechel will prove too much for Oakland’s offense to handle. White Sox in 2.

3) Minnesota Twins V. 6) Houston Astros

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 25: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Three of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Semansky – Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 25: Zack Greinke #21 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Three of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park on October 25, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Semansky – Pool/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Twins are back in the playoffs and for once do not have to open against the New York Yankees. The Twins have lost their last 16 playoff games, with 13 of them coming against the Yankees, dating back to 2006. With that hurdle out of the way, for now, Minnesota can focus on Houston. Minnesota’s offense has taken a step back from last year but is still dangerous. Father time has continued to ignore Nelson Cruz who is still raking. This year, the 40-year old hit .303, with 16 homers, 33 RBIs, and an OPS of .992. Cruz is the engine that drives the Twins offense, but he is not alone. Joining him is Josh Donaldson, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, and Jorge Polanco.

Kenta Maeda and Jose Berrios will be the starting pitchers for the first two games. Maeda has been a godsend for the Twins while Berrios has taken a step back. After being used as a back of the rotation pitcher with the Dodgers, Maeda has emerged as an ace. This year, he is 6-1, with a 2.70 ERA, and 80 strikeouts in 66.2 innings pitched. Due to underperforming this season, Berrios is the team’s wildcard. The Twins will need the 26-year-old to deliver a signature moment in order to advance.

After rocking MLB with their cheating scandal, the Astros are back in the playoffs. However, when it comes to the starting rotation, this is a completely different team than the one that was a win away from winning the 2019 World Series. Gerrit Cole joined the Yankees in free agency and ace Justin Verlander is out for the season. That leaves veteran Zack Greinke to front the rotation. Unfortunately, Greinke is having a down year. He is 3-3, with a 4.03 ERA, and 67 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. The rest of the Astros rotation hasn’t fared much better, finishing 15th in the league in ERA (4.39).

The offense has struggled for the Astros which should come to no surprise. What is surprising, is the fact that Jose Altuve is hitting .219, with five homers, 18 RBIs, and an OPS of .629. To put it in perspective, last season Altuve hit .298, with 31 homers, and 71 RBIs. It is uncertain, how much of Altuve’s bad year can be attributed to no longer knowing what pitch is coming. As a whole, the Astros offense finished 2020 20th in batting average (.240), 17th in wRC+ (100), 23rd in OBP (.312), 16th in slugging percentage (.408), 16th in OPS (.720), and 20th in offensive fWAR (5.7). The offensive core of Altuve, George Springer, Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, and Yuli Gurriel will be attempting to prove to the world that they can still produce without cheating.

Prediction: Houston’s starting rotation will doom them. Twins in 3.

4) Cleveland Indians V. 5) New York Yankees

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 24: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the first inning during the spring training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Steinbrenner Field on February 24, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

My how the mighty have fallen. After signing Gerrit Cole to a monster deal in the off-season, the Yankees were the favorites to represent the American League in the World Series. And then the Yankees’ injury problems continued to pop up. Before the season started it was announced co-ace Luis Severino would undergo Tommy John surgery while both bash brothers Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge spent long stints on the IL. Throw in James Paxton, D.J. LeMahieu, Gleybor Torres, Zack Britton, and Tommy Kahnle, and the majority of the Yankees core was hurt at some point. With an injured Yankees offense facing a Cleveland Indians starting rotation that finished first in ERA, all of the pressure in the world will be on Gerrit Cole and the rest of the Yankees rotation. In his first season with the Yankees, Cole went 7-2, with a 2.84 ERA, and 94 strikeouts in 73 innings pitched. However, he will be facing off against Shane Bieber in Game One and will need to be at his best.

This might be the Indians last best chance at winning a title with their current core. Fransisco Lindor is getting ever so close to free agency and the team will more than likely trade him away. But in the meantime, the Indians are back in the playoffs after barely missing making it in 2019. After a down 2019 season, Jose Ramirez is having himself an MVP caliber year. He is hitting .292, with 17 homers, 46 RBIs, and an OPS of .993.

The Indians will go as far as their starting rotation will carry them. Ace Shane Bieber just won the pitching triple crown (led the AL in ERA, strikeouts, and wins) and is a lock to win the American League Cy Young. The breakout star went 9-1, with a ridiculous 1.63 ERA, and 122 strikeouts in 77.1 innings pitched. Joining Bieber in the playoff rotation is Carlos Carrasco and Zach Plesac. That’s a dangerous trio.

Prediction: The Indian’s rotation will cruise through the Yankees lineup. Indians in 2.

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