Two teams looking for their first-ever World Series title will host two of the game’s more popular teams when the National League wild card series open Tuesday night.
NL Central champion Milwaukee, looking for its first title, will host the New York Mets in one wild-card series, while top wild-card San Diego, also looking for its first title, will host the Atlanta Braves.
Milwaukee, despite losing its manager (to rival Chicago) and trading its best pitcher (Corbin Burnes to Baltimore) before the season, cruised to the Central title. The Padres 93 wins were third best in the NL and fourth best in the league, but San Diego finished five games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the powerful NL West. The winner of this series will face the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves and Mets took it one day past the scheduled end of the regular season with a doubleheader in Atlanta, Monday, to decide the final two wild-card spots. The teams split the twinbill earning each a spot in the postseason and eliminating the defending NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks. The winner of this one gets to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Here’s a look at each of the best-of-three series.
New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers
Game 1, Tuesday, 5:30, ESPN
Game 2, Wednesday, 7:30, ESPN
Game 3 (if necessary), 8:30, ESPN
Key Players
Mets: SS Francisco Lindor (.273 BA, 107 runs, 91 RBI, 29 SB), 1B Pete Alonzo (34 HR), 3B Mark Vientas (27 HR, .266 BA, .838 OPS), LF Brandon Nimmo (23 HR, 90 RBI), SP Sean Manea (12-6, 3.47 ERA)
Brewers: C William Contreras (.281 BA, 99 Runs), SS Willy Adames (32 HR, 112 RBI), 2B Brice Turang (50 SB), 1B Rhys Hoskins (26 HR), SP Freddy Peralta (3.68 ERA).
Overview: The Brewers won five of the six regular-season games between the two teams so they get the edge there. The playoffs are a different animal. The Mets, after a dreadful start to the season, got hot at the right time and are coming into the postseason with confidence and more importantly good starting pitching. Milwaukee was better all season, and has a better lineup top to bottom. Should be a good series.
Prediction: Mets in 3. Go with the hot team and better pitching.
Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres
Game 1, Tuesday, 8:30, ESPN
Game 2, Wednesday, 8:30, ESPN 2
Game 3, Thursday, 7, ESPN
Key Players
Braves: DH Marcell Ozuna (.302 BA, 96 Runs, 39 HR, 104 RBI), 1B Matt Olson (29 HR, 98 RBI), CF Michael Harris (16 HR, .264 BA), SP Max Fried (11-10, 3.25 ERA), SP Reynaldo Lopez (8-5, 1.99 ERA)
Padres: 3B Manny Machado (29 HR, 105 RBI), CF Jackson Profar (24 HR, 85 RBI, .839 OPS), 2B Jake Croneworth (17 HR, 83 RBI), RF Fernando Tatis (21 HR, .832 OPS), DH Luis Arraez (.318 BA).
Overview: No team showed more resilience than the Braves, who lost its best pitcher and best player early in the season. All told, six of the Braves opening-day starters missed two months or more of the season. The Padres are a dangerous opponent and might have the best lineup to bottom of any playoff team.
Prediction: Padres in 2. San Diego is just the better team.
