The Astros and the 2015 MLB Playoffs

Can we all just take a second and think about the Houston Astros being in the playoffs? Yes, those Astros that lost 111 games and had only four players put up a WAR (wins above replacement) of 2.0 in 2013. Those Astros that lost 22 games more than they won last season, and considered that a huge success... those Astros. They are in the playoffs.

It may seem like a shock that they almost didn't even make the playoffs thanks to an abysmal road record and late surges by the Rangers and Angels, but the fact of the matter is that no one pegged them to be contenders until maybe next year. As a homer, and with a completely biased opinion, I imagined them playing somewhere around .500 ball with a shot at the wild card and absolutely no shot at the division with the Mariners having lofty expectations, the Angels having the best record in baseball last year, and the Rangers one of the top payrolls in all of baseball. 

But no. These Astros wanted to compete this year. And here they are... in the playoffs.

As I look at previous World Series champs in recent years, there is one thing that they all have in common: they had someone that either when they stepped up to the plate or got on the mound you knew that the momentum was all of a sudden theirs. Because in order to win 11 games (12 if you're a wild card team) against the best teams baseball has to offer, you need momentum. The Giants had Madison Bumgarner last year and Pablo Sandoval in 2012. The Cardinals had Chris Carpenter and David Freese of all people (sorry Ranger fans) in 2011. The Red Sox will always be a threat in the playoffs because David Ortiz is the epitome of game changers. Just ask the Yankees. 

I say this to try and predict who will win this year's World Series. Off the top of my head, the biggest momentum shifters in the playoffs this year are (in no particular order) Clayton Kershaw, Jake Arrieta, Andrew McCutchen, Yoenis Cespedes, Dallas Keuchel, Adrian Beltre, David Price and basically anyone who picks up a bat for the Blue Jays. 

I may have already given away my prediction with that last phrase but the Toronto Blue Jays lead the MLB in home runs this year and can change any game with one swing of the bat. On top of that, they have two of the hottest starting pitchers in the American League in David Price and a health Marcus Stroman. In fact, their starting pitching has been so good over the past month, they are planning on leaving Mark Buehrle off the playoff roster and he had a 3.81 ERA this season. I like their chances to win the World Series in their first playoff appearance since they last made the playoffs 20 years ago and went #BackToBack. Plus Drake's releasing Views From the 6 soon, so that's got to have some sort of good karma, right?

The National League will be all about who's bats show up. The league has dominant pitchers all over the place. Obviously the Dodgers have Kershaw and Zack Greinke, the Cubs have Arrieta and Jon Lester, but it's much deeper than that. The Mets have elite, young pitching oozing throughout their organization and the Cardinals and Pirates were numbers one and two in ERA this season. Basically, first to score a run wins. 

I know it's kind of a cop out if -> then situation, but if somehow the Pirates can figure out Arrieta in the wild card game, then I like them to come out of the NL. They have a whole team willing to do whatever is needed of them to win games and I see them scrapping out enough wins to make it to the World Series. However, if Jake Arrieta can continue his historic second half of the season and the Pirates can't get passed him, then I think the Dodgers have spent just enough money to win the pennant. The duo of Kershaw and Greinke is just terrifying and that combo alone is worth four wins in a seven game series. On top of that, Corey Seager has provided the spark to their offense that they were expecting when they called up the top prospect. 

October is the reason why I love baseball. Nothing comes close to pennant races. Now it's here and my favorite team is participating for the first time in 10 years. Let's get this show on the road.