The chase for October has ended, and the chase for the World Series title gets underway. This year, Major League Baseball introduced the Wild Card playoff, where two Wild Card qualifiers in each league play in a one-game elimination tournament to determine who will face the top-seeded team in the division series. The introduction of this round enables a more exciting finish to the season, and most importantly, a greater chance of qualifying for the postseason. However, the new format also lessens the chance of a Wild Card team winning the World Series, as they have to win 12 games instead of the 11 given to the division winners. Still, the addition of an extra playoff round adds revenue to the league and gives fans something to cheer for.
AL Wild Card Playoff
Texas Rangers vs. Baltimore Orioles
Season Series: Rangers won 5-2
The Rangers collapsed down the stretch to lose the AL West lead and eventually down to the Wild Card game, while the Orioles couldn't put away the Rays when it mattered most, losing out on their first division title since 1997. Now a date with the Yankees is on the line on this one game, and if either team is to win, offense will be the key.
Texas has the heart of the order in play, led by Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Nelson Cruz and Mike Napoli, while Baltimore counters with Adam Jones, Chris Davis, Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds. Yu Darvish and Joe Saunders are expected to start in this game. The pitching of either Darvish or Saunders will decide the winner of this winner-take-all game, even as the offense takes center stage.
NL Wild Card Playoff
Atlanta Braves vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Season Series: Braves won 5-1
The Braves played consistently well, but not consistently enough to win the NL East. Still, making it to the Wild Card game was an achievement. As for the Cardinals, they were only lucky to have reached this playoff even as they played baseball on its highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Unlike in the AL, the NL is a pitcher's game, and 'small ball', a traditional tactic for both teams, is a key to victory.
The Braves only hope that a Kris Medlen start will be their key to victory, considering that they have won 23 straight Medlen starts. Leading the way offensively are retiring legend Chipper Jones, young bats Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward, and veteran Dan Uggla. The Cardinals, despite the loss of Albert Pujols, still have Matt Holliday, David Freese, Allen Craig, Yadier Molina and new addition Carlos Beltran to lead the offense. Starting for them pitching-wise is Kyle Lohse. Expect a pitching battle between Medlen and Lohse, as they look to book a ticket to D.C. and the top-seed Washington Nationals in the NLDS.
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