2021 AL Wild Card Preview - Yankees vs. Oakland
Jul 10, 2019 8:47:47 GMT -5
Commissioner Erick likes this
Post by Grubs - Philly on Jul 10, 2019 8:47:47 GMT -5
New York Yankees (97-65) vs. Oakland Athletics (96-66)
With two teams notching more than 100 wins and four squads collecting 100 losses, the American League doesn't have the parity of the Senior Circuit, but it took an awful lot of victories to make the playoffs. The Yankees host the A's, with the winner getting a shot at the 1,000-run White Sox. The defending World Series champs, Cleveland, hung on until the middle of September, but went 6-13 in their final 19 games to fall well short of a Wild Card berth. New York took the season series, winning five of seven against Oakland.
New York bats vs. Oakland arms
The Yankees reintroduced the baseball world to the Bronx Bombers this year, crushing a league-high 296 home runs. Led by the tandem of Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier, who each hit 45 homers, the Yanks had five players with more than 30 long balls. None of them were named Aaron Judge (28 in 125 games). The Yankees have a balanced right-left attack, which served them well as they don't suffer much against southpaws. In their five wins against the A's this season, they've scored at least six runs, with the last victory in May producing a 15-run breakout.
Oakland's wins versus the Yankees this season have come when they can shut down the offense. It'll likely be up to either Jose Berrios or A.J. Puk to face the big bats of the Yankees. Puk has been the better pitcher this year, but Berrios is still the staff ace and might be the kind of guy who steps up. Both have pitched well in prior postseason action. The A's bullpen is weak in middle and long relief, but has been good in the late innings. The ideal scenario has the starter going at least six innings.
Oakland bats vs. New York arms
Buoyed by a stunning .324 team BABIP, the A's actually scored more runs this year than New York. They have a balanced attack with no player hitting more than 30 home runs (mid-season pickup Miguel Sano, acquired from habitual trading partner Minnesota). The A's get on base and move runners around. They steal more than the Yankees, but aren't necessarily better at it. It's just a bigger part of their game. There's no real weak spot here, as even the catching tandem of Nick Thurman and Bruce Maxwell has been terrific. Franklin Barreto bats either second or eighth, but he's driven in 100+ runs for the second straight year. This is a sneaky good lineup.
Luis Severino seems the probable starter. A strikeout artist who sits down more than a batter per inning, he's been a workhorse for the Yankees this year, as they turned back the clock with a four-man rotation after losing both Masahiro Tanaka and Nate Eovaldi to UCL tears. New York has only one lefty on their staff, closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman hasn't been all-world this year, blowing a career-high five saves. But when he's on, he's matchup proof. Oakland is clearly better against righties, and they'll have their shots against this bullpen if Severino falters.
Storylines
The Yankees are a modern team, with a high homer total, strikeout rate and walk rate. It's worked for them so far, but when it's off, it's off. The A's have relied on successful contact to drive their offense, with lower strikeout and walk rates, but a team batting average that's 24 points higher than New York. If one of the starters is on his game, it will make the difference. Neither bullpen is invincible, but both are solid.
Questions
Oakland, are you looking ahead to the White Sox to determine your starter against the Yanks? Could both Berrios and Puk pitch?
Do either of you plan to shuffle the lineup for this game?
Prediction
These teams don't really play close games, but this is the Wild Card. The home field advantage pays off for the Yankees, who win 8-5.
With two teams notching more than 100 wins and four squads collecting 100 losses, the American League doesn't have the parity of the Senior Circuit, but it took an awful lot of victories to make the playoffs. The Yankees host the A's, with the winner getting a shot at the 1,000-run White Sox. The defending World Series champs, Cleveland, hung on until the middle of September, but went 6-13 in their final 19 games to fall well short of a Wild Card berth. New York took the season series, winning five of seven against Oakland.
New York bats vs. Oakland arms
The Yankees reintroduced the baseball world to the Bronx Bombers this year, crushing a league-high 296 home runs. Led by the tandem of Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier, who each hit 45 homers, the Yanks had five players with more than 30 long balls. None of them were named Aaron Judge (28 in 125 games). The Yankees have a balanced right-left attack, which served them well as they don't suffer much against southpaws. In their five wins against the A's this season, they've scored at least six runs, with the last victory in May producing a 15-run breakout.
Oakland's wins versus the Yankees this season have come when they can shut down the offense. It'll likely be up to either Jose Berrios or A.J. Puk to face the big bats of the Yankees. Puk has been the better pitcher this year, but Berrios is still the staff ace and might be the kind of guy who steps up. Both have pitched well in prior postseason action. The A's bullpen is weak in middle and long relief, but has been good in the late innings. The ideal scenario has the starter going at least six innings.
Oakland bats vs. New York arms
Buoyed by a stunning .324 team BABIP, the A's actually scored more runs this year than New York. They have a balanced attack with no player hitting more than 30 home runs (mid-season pickup Miguel Sano, acquired from habitual trading partner Minnesota). The A's get on base and move runners around. They steal more than the Yankees, but aren't necessarily better at it. It's just a bigger part of their game. There's no real weak spot here, as even the catching tandem of Nick Thurman and Bruce Maxwell has been terrific. Franklin Barreto bats either second or eighth, but he's driven in 100+ runs for the second straight year. This is a sneaky good lineup.
Luis Severino seems the probable starter. A strikeout artist who sits down more than a batter per inning, he's been a workhorse for the Yankees this year, as they turned back the clock with a four-man rotation after losing both Masahiro Tanaka and Nate Eovaldi to UCL tears. New York has only one lefty on their staff, closer Aroldis Chapman. Chapman hasn't been all-world this year, blowing a career-high five saves. But when he's on, he's matchup proof. Oakland is clearly better against righties, and they'll have their shots against this bullpen if Severino falters.
Storylines
The Yankees are a modern team, with a high homer total, strikeout rate and walk rate. It's worked for them so far, but when it's off, it's off. The A's have relied on successful contact to drive their offense, with lower strikeout and walk rates, but a team batting average that's 24 points higher than New York. If one of the starters is on his game, it will make the difference. Neither bullpen is invincible, but both are solid.
Questions
Oakland, are you looking ahead to the White Sox to determine your starter against the Yanks? Could both Berrios and Puk pitch?
Do either of you plan to shuffle the lineup for this game?
Prediction
These teams don't really play close games, but this is the Wild Card. The home field advantage pays off for the Yankees, who win 8-5.
