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An exciting start to the 2016 MLB postseason should have fans ready for even more in the coming days.

The Toronto Blue Jays became the first big winner of October when Edwin Encarnacion hit a walk-off home run to seal a 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Wild Card Game. It took 11 innings to decide the one-game battle, with plenty of drama on both sides.

Still, the playoffs are just getting started, with a handful of battles likely to go down to the wire. Here is a look at some of the upcoming matchups to watch as the postseason continues.

National League Wild Card

San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets

The second winner-take-all game of the week, the NL Wild Card Game is even more heavily anticipated thanks to the pitching matchup.

Noah Syndergaard gets the ball for the New York Mets after an outstanding year in which he ranked in the top five in the NL in ERA (2.60) and strikeouts (218). Of course, San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner also accomplished that feat with a 2.74 ERA and 251 strikeouts. He also pitched 43 more innings than his upcoming opponent.

While Syndergaard performed well in his first taste of the playoffs last year, he can’t even approach what Bumgarner has done in his career, tallying a 2.14 career postseason ERA in 14 appearances. He already has three World Series titles in his career, winning MVP in 2014.

John Buccigross of ESPN noted how good the southpaw has been on the road:

He also isn’t planning on holding back in the one-game series:

Bumgarner pitched a complete-game shutout in his last start in this round, so the Mets should be afraid.

Relying on lefties in the lineup such as Curtis Granderson, Jay Bruce and James Loney also won’t make it easy for New York to get runs against Bumgarner.

On the other side, Denard Span might have the biggest role on the team as a table-setter on top of the Giants lineup. If he can get on base, he can take advantage of Syndergaard‘s struggles at holding runners, quickly moving into scoring position.

This pitcher’s duel will likely come down to a handful of timely hits for either side, and San Francisco seemingly has a better chance to earn those big plays.

Game Prediction: Giants 2, Mets 1

American League Division Series

Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians

While pitching is the theme in the National League, the American League games will be decided by the hitters. This is bad news for the Cleveland Indians.

The Boston Red Sox had the top offense in baseball this season, averaging 5.4 runs per game while leading the majors with a .282 team batting average and .810 on-base plus slugging percentage.

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal noted just how dominant the lineup was this season:

The depth has truly been incredible, with David Ortiz, Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Jackie Bradley Jr. and others always being a threat to carry the offense on a given night.

Cleveland had a quality rotation during the season, but injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar create question marks. Corey Kluber is the only trustworthy option, and even he is coming off a quad injury.

It will be a real challenge for the Indians pitchers to keep the Red Sox from lighting up the scoreboard no matter who is on the mound.

Although Cleveland should feel more confident about its lineup than its pitching heading into the playoffs, even that group has been quiet as of late. With the exception of Carlos Santana, the offense has been quiet in September with just a .249 batting average as a team.

There are still major threats in the lineup, but not enough to frighten opposing pitchers. If Rick Porcello and David Price can get over their past struggles in the postseason, the Red Sox will win this series.

Series Prediction: Red Sox 3, Indians 1

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers

The fans from both teams likely wanted this rematch.

Last year’s ALDS got ugly with fights, bat flips and plenty of drama, but the series will be decided by which team plays the best on the field.

We knew there would be a lot of home run threats no matter who won the AL Wild Card Game. Both the Orioles and the Blue Jays are heavily reliant on the long ball, and Toronto showed it by using a home run to pull out the win.

The question is whether the Texas Rangers can keep the ball in the park. Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish are as talented a one-two combo as any pitching staff in baseball, but both have struggled down the stretch. Hamels had a 5.86 ERA in September while allowing five home runs in five starts. Darvish had a 4.40 ERA in the final month thanks mostly to seven earned runs allowed in a start against the Oakland Athletics.

With the Blue Jays’ middle of the order featuring Josh Donaldson, Encarnacion and Jose Bautista, it will be difficult to avoid giving up at least some runs.

Adding in just enough pitching to hold off a strong Rangers offense, Toronto has what it takes to pull off the upset.

This will be an emotional series with a lot of back-and-forth play and a whole bunch of runs, but the Blue Jays are built for a deep run in these playoffs.

Series Prediction: Blue Jays 3, Rangers 2

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter.

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If Tuesday’s drama-filled American League Wild Card Game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles was an indication of what’s to come in the 2016 MLB playoffs, baseball fans are in for a treat.

Edwin Encarnacion played the role of hero with a three-run walk-off homer in the 11th inning, propelling the Blue Jays past the Orioles 5-2 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto and pushing them to a date with the Texas Rangers in the American League Division Series.

MLB on Twitter shared video of Encarnacion’s long ball:

Mike Halford of NBC’s Pro Hockey Talk passed along an image of the Blue Jays celebrating:

While Encarnacion made headlines with his homer, the Toronto bullpen deserved plenty of credit. After starter Marcus Stroman pitched six solid innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out six, Brett Cecil, Joe Biagini, Jason Grilli, Roberto Osuna and Francisco Liriano shut down the Orioles, as Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com illustrated:

The Baltimore bullpen was also impressive until Ubaldo Jimenez allowed three hits on five pitches in the 11th, including the home run to Encarnacion. Starter Chris Tillman tossed 4.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four.

Mychal Givens, Donnie Hart, Brad Brach, Darren O’Day and Brian Duensing then combined for six innings of two-hit relief with seven strikeouts. However, stud closer Zach Britton didn’t make an appearance.

“Either Britton is hurt or we just saw the worst managerial decision in my lifetime,” David Cameron of FanGraphs said.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter said there was nothing physically wrong with Britton and that he elected to use Jimenez instead because “No one has been pitching better for us than Ubaldo,” per Jayson Stark of ESPN.

Each starter threw a perfect first inning well before the bullpens took over, and Big League Stew wondered how the rest of the game could unfold:

The scoreless tie didn’t last long, as Jose Bautista drilled a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second inning. It was his fifth homer in 12 postseason games.

“This guy lives for the big moments,” Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com said.

While it was just one run, the deficit appeared more daunting with Stroman working quickly and effectively. He mowed through the first nine Orioles, leading Ryan Fagan of Sporting News to opine, “In Toronto’s Game 162, Aaron Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Stroman looks better tonight.”

He didn’t look better in the fourth when Mark Trumbo—who was 5-for-11 against the Blue Jays right-hander in the regular season—launched a frozen rope over the left field wall to give the Orioles a 2-1 advantage.

Toronto responded in the fifth. Michael Saunders and Kevin Pillar hit back-to-back doubles, though Saunders made a baserunning miscue and failed to score. He did, however, cross the plate on Ezequiel Carrera’s single, which drove Tillman from the game.

Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com bemoaned Michael Bourn’s failure to haul in Pillar’s double, which the right fielder seemed to have a bead on:

Givens limited the damage and maintained the tie by inducing a double play on his first pitch.

In the seventh, manager John Gibbons and the Blue Jays turned to the bullpen, and Biagini struck out both batters he faced after Cecil issued a one-out walk. Faizal Khamisa of Sportsnet shared a quote from the pitcher about pressure-packed moments:

The drama extended beyond the field in the bottom of the seventh when a fan threw a beer can at Baltimore left fielder Hyun Soo Kim as he tracked a fly ball. Adam Jones came over from center field to defend his teammate and angrily yelled into the crowd.

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated suggested a punishment for the perpetrator:

Grilli and Brach pitched scoreless frames in the eighth, and Osuna took over in the top of the ninth, retiring Manny Machado, Trumbo and Matt Wieters with a groundout and two swinging strikeouts.

Brach—and not Britton—faced the heart of the Blue Jays lineup in the bottom half, and Josh Donaldson led things off with a double. Brach then intentionally walked Encarnacion and struck out Bautista before handing the ball to O’Day, who delivered in the marquee moment by inducing a double-play ball off the bat of Russell Martin.

Jesse Spector of Sporting News reacted to the Orioles’ decision not to use Britton, who entered the game with a 0.54 ERA and 0.84 WHIP:

Osuna retired Chris Davis in the 10th but then left the game with a trainer, per Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star. That’s when Liriano entered the contest.

The left-hander gave the Blue Jays a reliever who could pitch a number of innings, and he got four ground-ball outs and a strikeout before Showalter used a similar strategy, inserting Jimenez for Duensing with one out in the 11th.

“Did Britton not get through customs?” Brian Kenny of MLB Network asked.

Retired pitcher Dan Haren also weighed in:

Jimenez promptly surrendered singles to Devon Travis and Donaldson before allowing the walk-off blast to Encarnacion. Khamisa reacted to the towering home run:

Daren Willman of MLB.com pointed out the location of the pitch:

All it took was that poorly placed offering, and the Orioles’ season came to a screeching halt.

What’s Next?

The Blue Jays will face the Rangers in the American League Division Series in a rematch of last year’s five-game classic.

Texas won the first two contests, but Toronto came storming back with three straight wins that included Bautista’s memorable bat flip in Game 5. The Rangers, with the best record in the American League at 95-67, will look for revenge this time around.

Texas boasts a formidable lineup with Rougned Odor and Adrian Beltre and was fourth in the AL in runs scored and fifth in home runs.

Toronto will be playing from behind in the starting pitching department after using Stroman and Liriano, but it was 4-3 against the Rangers this season. Game 1 is set for 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

Postgame Reaction

Britton said he was fine and called watching the last inning “frustrating,” per Crasnick.

Jimenez described the final pitch, per MASNSports.com’s Steve Melewski: “Was trying to get a sinker down and get a double play. But it didn’t do anything. It stayed up.”

Jones commented on the fan who threw a beer at Kim, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun: “That’s just as pathetic as it gets. I hope they find the guy, and I hope they press charges.”

The Blue Jays shared their celebration on Twitter:

“That’s why I want to come back here—because that happened tonight,” said Encarnacion, who is set to be a free agent after the season, per Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

Scott MacArthur of TSN reported “Osuna told me he felt tired and a bit of a stretch in his shoulder. His self-prognosis is to be good for ALDS.”

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If you’re a fan of the long ball, then the American League Wild Card Game between the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays is right up your alley. Baltimore led baseball with 253 regular-season home runs, while Toronto finished fourth with 221 outfield fence-clearing blasts.

With more than 450 homers between the two clubs—and 57 combined bombs in the 19 regular-season games in which they faced off (28 for the Orioles, 29 for the Jays)—it’s entirely possible the AL Wild Card Game will more closely resemble a home run derby than playoff baseball.

Keep it here for updates and analysis of all the action as it unfolds from Rogers Centre in Toronto and chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below and on Twitter (@RickWeinerBR)!

Final: Toronto 5, Baltimore 2 (11 innings)

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The wild-card chase represented the only real drama during the stretch run of the MLB regular season with all six divisions getting wrapped up early. Now the four teams that survived the crowded battles are set for an immediate must-win game to keep their World Series hopes alive.

In the American League, the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays face off after a highly competitive season series that Toronto won 10-9. In the National League, the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets could be in for one of the postseason’s best pitchers’ duels.

So let’s check out all of the important viewing information for the playoff openers. That’s followed by a closer look at each game and a prediction for which teams will advance to the Division Series.

Wild Card Round Schedule

AL: Orioles at Blue Jays

The Blue Jays need a spark. They started September with a 76-57 record and a two-game lead in the AL East. They finished the regular season 89-73—a 13-16 mark over the final month and two days—and didn’t clinch a playoff berth until the last weekend.

So, while the team would have liked to win the division, playing in the Wild Card Game could end up being a blessing in disguise. A chance to play in front of a raucous crowd with a high-energy starter like Marcus Stroman, who feeds off that energy, could help the Jays break out of their funk.

The 25-year-old right-hander endured an up-and-down campaign that resulted in a mundane 4.37 ERA across 32 starts. Yet, Rosie DiManno of the Toronto Star noted the starter feels the postseason is exactly the type of environment where he can thrive.

“Yeah, absolutely,” Stroman said. “It’s my personality. It’s the type of individual I am. I pitch with a lot of emotion, a lot of energy. My teammates and everyone in the organization love it as well. They tell me to go out there and be myself.”

Another positive sign for Toronto is the recent play of Jose Bautista. The slugger battled injuries during the middle of the season, which limited him to six home runs from June through August, but he hit five homers and posted a .413 on-base percentage in September.

Meanwhile, the Orioles are a club that rely heavily on the long ball. They led baseball with 253 homers during the regular season, 28 more than the next-closest team, but they ranked just 12th in runs scored.

So if they aren’t hitting it out of the park, they struggle to score, and that’s a dangerous game to play in a one-game playoff situation. Being unable to manufacture single runs on a consistent basis will be a problem, even if Baltimore does survive Tuesday’s game.

Chris Tillman will start for the O’s. He bounced back from a dreadful August (6.60 ERA) with a solid September (3.79 ERA), which was right in line with his full-season performance (3.77 ERA).

ESPN Stats & Info noted he’s struggled in road games against the Blue Jays, though:

Ultimately, this game is about Stroman keeping the ball in the yard and the Jays finding the spark to ignite the proverbial flame. They have enough talent on the roster to make a serious run toward a championship, but there have been a lot of indifferent moments over the past month.

The Orioles must try to take advantage of Toronto’s recent struggles by jumping ahead early. A couple quick home runs could send the home team into a tailspin. But that homer-or-bust mentality at the plate may come back to haunt them in the end.

Prediction: 6-3 Toronto

NL: Giants at Mets

Madison Bumgarner against Noah Syndergaard in a must-win game is the best argument for the current playoff structure. Getting a chance to see two of the best pitchers in the league with that amount of pressure on their shoulders is a rare treat for baseball fans.

James Wagner of the New York Times further highlighted the marquee pitching matchup:

So it’s safe to assume runs will come at a premium Wednesday night. The managers will be doing everything they can to grind out a quick run or two, knowing that might be enough.

Both teams have separate reasons for optimism heading into the postseason, too.

The Giants have made a habit of winning the World Series in even-numbered years. They won the title in 2010, 2012 and 2014, while missing the playoffs in 2011, 2013 and 2015. It’s a trend they would love to continue by matching their run two years ago, when they won the Wild Card Game in Pittsburgh to start the run.

On the flip side, the Mets are the reigning champions in the NL after making the playoffs last year for the first time since 2006. Though they haven’t generated quite as much hype this year, their 87 wins were just three less than their 2015 total.

Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News pointed out last year’s success is one reason star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes opted against celebrating after the team clinched a playoff berth.

“Yes, Wednesday will be a big day when we keep going forward,” Cespedes said.

All told, given the strength of both clubs on the mound, the game will likely get decided by whichever offense is able to come up with the one or two clutch hits.

The recent play of both sides suggests New York should have the edge if that’s the case. The Mets ranked fifth in baseball in runs scored in September. The Giants were a distant 22rd.

Prediction: 3-1 New York

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The 2016 MLB playoffs get underway later Tuesday with the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles kicking off the first of two Wild Card games.

The AL East compatriots each clinched their spots without trouble, winning their regular-season finales Sunday to set up the head-to-head. Their series over the 162-game slog could not have been any closer. Toronto earned a 10-9 advantage and the right to host Tuesday night’s game.

“When you get to the point where there’s three or four or five, six teams in the race, it’s like every game is crucial,” Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin said, per Scott Mitchell of the Toronto Sun. “Everybody’s been in that playoff mindset for a while now, so we’ve just gotta keep moving forward.

“It felt like almost the last six or seven days we’ve been playing wild-card games all the way through, so, I think, that we’re ready for the next step. The next step’s a big game and we’re bringing it back to The 6 in front of our home fans. Hopefully, it’s going to be magical for us.”

The Jays appear to have the edge in most categories. They rank ninth in runs scored and sixth in on-base percentage, while Baltimore has perhaps the shakiest rotation of any playoff team. The Orioles have subsisted most of the season on their bullpen holding close games. Only the Rangers have a worse run differential among playoff teams.

Manager Buck Showalter noted he was proud of his team for making the playoffs despite being predicted by some to be the AL East’s worst team.

“Life is too short to have those emotions. Thank goodness people make predictions and think things like that,” Showalter said, per Jon Meoli and Carrie Wells of the Baltimore Sun. “We’ve used them very well. It’s kind of who we are, and the way we have to do it. There’s a real identity not only with our team, but with the city and everything.

“There’s just so much you can do with emotion. You have to have some skills and sometimes that gets overlooked with our guys. These are some talented guys, and they’re talented in their ability to be consistent.”

In a one-game format, though, all the Orioles need to do is crack an early lead and get it to the sixth inning. If they can do that, this unlikely bunch could continue its run despite being at a talent disadvantage and playing on the road.

The New York Mets and San Francisco Giants appear much closer to providing a nail-biting matchup. Both have built their playoff rosters around pitching. The Mets rank third in team ERA, the Giants are fourth. The Mets have 87 quality starts, the Giants 85. San Francisco is a better offensive team and has a 30-run advantage in differential, though, and came away with four straight wins to clinch a wild card spot.

“This is when our team plays best, when we have a sense of urgency, with our backs against the wall,’’ left fielder Angel Pagan said, per Jorge L. Ortiz of USA Today. “We’re ready. We have good momentum going into the playoffs. I’ve got a good feeling, man.’’

“As a group, going through the ups and downs, it really is a trial,” reliever Sergio Romo said. “That grittiness, that willingness to fight, we just let it all hang. We wanted this bad. Now we get a chance to dance, and we like our chances.’’

The Mets have scraped together a playoff team despite losing third baseman David Wright and slapping together an everyday lineup that typically borders on abysmal. Their best midseason move on the field was a reunion with former star Jose Reyes, which drew critics following his MLB suspension. 

“With the talent we have, one thing, we never give up,” Reyes said, per Matt Ehalt of USA Today. “All the credit has to go to Terry to keep this team together. After all the injuries, what happened to us, we are still in this situation. This is unbelievable. We never doubted with the talent we had in this locker room.”

Odds are, this will come down to who can get one or two runs across the board first. The Mets will rely on ace Noah Syndergaard, who was 1-1 against the Giants during the regular season. He shut them out over eight innings in San Francisco during an August trip. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner won both of his starts against the Mets during the regular season.

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The Major League Baseball postseason is something that’s supposed to build to a crescendo, with the most memorable note being sounded in the seventh game of the World Series.

The National League Wild Card Game is anything but a warm-up or an appetizer. It is a full-fledged marquee matchup between the San Francisco Giants and New York Mets, featuring two of the best pitchers in the league: Madison Bumgarner vs. Noah Syndergaard.

Bumgarner has a magnificent postseason legacy, having been the Most Valuable Player in the Giants’ 2014 World Series run. He has a 5-1 record in his last eight postseason games with a 0.91 ERA. Bumgarner was 15-9 with a 2.74 ERA during the 2016 regular season.

Syndergaard won Game 3 of the 2015 World Series against the Kansas City Royals, and that was the only game the Mets won in last year’s Fall Classic. He had a 2-1 record in last year’s postseason with a 3.32 ERA.

Syndergaard was 14-9 in 2016 with a 2.60 ERA while striking out 218 batters and walking 43.

The two teams will play Wednesday night at Citi Field in New York, and the game will be televised by ESPN. The game will be live-streamed at WatchESPN, but it will not be available at MLB.tv.

Bumgarner has also been at his best when pitching at Citi Field. He has a 4-0 record and an impressive 0.62 ERA.

Mets manager Terry Collins knows his team has a tough assignment, but the Mets beat Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s National League Division Series and have come through under difficult circumstances

“It’s the big leagues and you are going to face great pitching in the postseason,” Collins told Mike Puma of the New York Post. “I know [the Giants] are in their clubhouse and saying, ‘Wow, we’ve got to face Syndergaard,’ so it should be a great game.”

The Mets are going to have to find out a way to scratch out a run or two against Bumgarner and hope that Syndergaard is on top of his game.

They showed quite a bit of power this season and are led by outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, who had 31 home runs and 86 RBI this year. Additionally, Curtis Granderson belted 30 homers, while Asdrubal Cabrera added 23 long balls. Jay Bruce hit 33 home runs in 2016, but 25 of those home runs were hit with the Cincinnati Reds before he was acquired by the Mets in a trade.

Neil Walker also hit 23 home runs, but he underwent season-ending lumbar surgery in September.

The Giants do not hit the long ball. Brandon Belt led the team with 17 home runs, and that was the lowest figure to lead any team in either the American or National League.

Third baseman Eduardo Nunez hit 16 home runs and drove in 67 runs on the season, while former postseason hero Buster Posey suffered a power downturn as he hit just 14 home runs while driving in 80.

While the Giants struggled badly in the second half of the season, they have a history of excelling in the postseason. They won the World Series in 2010, 2012 as well as 2014, and manager Bruce Bochy has shown that he knows how to get the most out of his team when it matters most.

If the Giants are going to survive and advance this year, they will need their ace to outduel the Mets’ best pitcher in a game that could be remembered as a postseason classic.

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Two familiar foes will square off Tuesday in the American League Wild Card Game, when the Toronto Blue Jays host the Baltimore Orioles as -150 home favorites (bet $150 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark.

The teams just played each other last week at the Rogers Centre, with Baltimore winning two of three but losing 10 of 19 meetings overall this year to surrender home-field advantage.

The Blue Jays will send Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA) to the mound as the starting pitcher on Tuesday, even though he struggled versus the Orioles during the regular season. Stroman went 1-2 in four starts against Baltimore with a 7.04 ERA, and he went 4-3 in 16 home starts with a 4.59 ERA.

Toronto has lost five of its last six games with Stroman on the hill overall, as he has failed to earn a win since beating the Houston Astros at home back on August 14.

Opposing Stroman for the Orioles will be Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77), who is just 2-6 with a 7.01 ERA in his career when pitching at the Rogers Centre. Tillman walked away with a no-decision there last time out against the Blue Jays on Wednesday after allowing one earned run and six hits in 5.2 innings of an eventual 3-2 victory.

Tillman has gone 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA in four starts versus Toronto this season and owns an 8-3 mark and 2.97 ERA in 14 outings away from home overall.

While many bettors might expect to see a high-scoring affair between the two AL East teams, their recent series history has shown quite the opposite results. The under has cashed in each of the past seven meetings, four of which were played in Toronto.

Before that, though, six of the previous seven games finished over the total, with four of those also played at the Rogers Centre.

However, the last four starts for both Tillman and Stroman have also gone under, according to the Odds Shark MLB Database. In fact, 11 of Tillman’s previous 13 outings have all dipped below the total, 10 of which have seen eight runs or less scored.

The Blue Jays are listed at +1000 on the odds to win the World Series heading into Tuesday’s game, with the Orioles sitting at +2200. Toronto has a 56.9 percent chance of winning Tuesday’s game, according to website PredictionMachine.com.

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Major League Baseball‘s postseason predictions are a lot like blind dates: We’ve all tried them at some point, but man, they rarely goes right.

But that doesn’t stop us from trying, right? So below, I’ve attempted to predict the entire 2016 postseason, knowing fully well that I’ll probably get everything all wrong. The MLB postseason is funny like that, but hey, maybe this is the year it all goes according to plan.

Maybe. Possibly. Hopefully. …

National League

If there is one thing I’ve learned since 2010, it is this: You do not bet against Madison Bumgarner in the postseason.

Maybe it’s his 7-3 record in the playoffs with a 2.14 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 77 strikeouts in 88.1 innings pitched. Or his three World Series titles. Or the fact that in the 2014 World Series, he started and won Games 1 and 5 (with a shutout in Game 5) and promptly returned in Game 7 to throw a remarkable five innings of shutout relief. 

In the postseason, there simply isn’t a pitcher you would want over Bumgarner. Not even Noah Syndergaard.

“You’re going to face great pitching in the postseason,” Mets manager Terry Collins told James Wagner of the New York Times, discussing the matchup against Bumgarner.

“We’ve got our hands full,” Kelly Johnson added.

But Yoenis Cespedes was undaunted.

“Everyone knows the quality of pitcher Bumgarner is, but the field has the last word,” he told Wagner.

Maybe. But more times than not in the postseason, when Bumgarner is on the field, the Giants win. It’s really that simple.

That being said, I’m not betting against the Chicago Cubs after the season they just had. The Cubs have a fantastic pitching staff, one of the best closers in the game in Aroldis Chapman, a talented lineup led by several superstars (take your pick of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell, to name a few) and incredible depth.

Joe Maddon is a mad scientist, meanwhile, and the Cubs will have home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs.

Or we could go the statistical route. The Cubs scored the second-most runs in the National League this year, were fifth in home runs and sixth in batting average. They also had the NL’s best ERA and batting average against, the most quality starts and were tied for first in shutouts.

No matter who they come up against—and I think they’ll face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will benefit from not having to face Stephen Strasburg in the NLDS, in the NLCS—I think the Cubs are going to end their long title drought this season.

American League

While I feel confident in my National League pick, the American League is a bit more baffling. 

Let’s start with the Wild Card Round.

The Toronto Blue Jays won the season series against the Baltimore Orioles, though by the narrow margin of 10-9. They’ll have the home-field advantage in the win-or-go home contest, and the Orioles won’t be able to trot out their most consistent pitcher this year, Kevin Gausman.

On the flip side, the Orioles led the American League in home runs and have the game’s best closer this season, Zach Britton, who was perfect in 47 save attempts this year. 

If this game feels like a crapshoot, well, it probably is. In a completely non-analytical prediction—seriously, I’m totally guessing here and I’m not going to pretend otherwise—look for Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion to come up with some postseason magic in what could be their final postseasons with the Jays.

I’m not sure it will matter which team wins and faces the Texas Rangers, however. The Rangers posted solid stats across the board on offense, finishing third in batting average, fourth in runs scored and fifth in home runs. The team’s pitching was far less consistent, though Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish give the team an excellent one-two punch while Sam Dyson has locked down the ninth inning.

The Rangers have also been excellent in close games, though that doesn’t necessarily mean postseason success is on the horizon for the team. 

As David Schoenfield of ESPN wrote:

Rangers fans are convinced that the team’s 36-11 record in one-run games speaks to some kind of chemistry or clutch factor that bodes well for the postseason. Well, I can tell you that none of the teams that had the best record in one-run games in the past 10 seasons won the World Series.

Of course, it’s certainly better than being 11-36 in one-run games. I think the Rangers will beat either the Blue Jays or Orioles in the ALDS. I like their balance. But I also think that, regardless of the opponent, it will take all five games.

I feel more confident picking the Boston Red Sox to get past the Cleveland Indians and, ultimately, to reach the World Series. Part of that is Boston’s excellent offense, which leads the American League in runs and batting average. Part is a pitching staff that is third in batting average against and fourth in ERA and strikeouts.

But another major factor is that the Cleveland Indians have been decimated by injuries. A healthy Indians club might be able to topple David Ortiz and the mighty Red Sox. But I don’t see the Indians, as constructed, pulling off the feat.

Nor do I see Texas knocking off Boston. The Red Sox have the one-two punch of David Price and Rick Porcello to combat Texas’ Hamels and Darvish. Koji Uehara and Craig Kimbrel are a nice combination in the last two innings, and the Sox come at opposing pitchers with waves of talented hitters, from Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia to Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez.

One other sneaky stat about the Red Sox: They are a solid 46-35 on the road. Texas’ home-field advantage won’t bother Boston. 

World Series

Look, I know the Cubs are the boring pick. Anybody can pick the club with the best record. But there are plenty of reasons to think that the Cubs may be the best team and still won’t win the World Series.

And yes, the “curse” looms large.

As one anonymous executive told Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Cubs will be facing far more pressure this offseason than any other team:

In the postseason, the pressure on both teams to win is usually about 50-50. But in this case… the pressure is on the Cubs every game, because of how well they’ve played, because of their record and, most of all, because of the expectations, especially in that city. If they lose one of the first two games at Wrigley, the pressure will be incredible.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, boast the game’s best offense. That will certainly play a factor.

“Their lineup is so deep and so good,” one AL executive told Stark. “The way they work counts, foul balls off, wear down pitchers, they’re just so good. And they hit good pitching.”

Another general manager told Stark:  “Boston’s offense is the singular best strength of all the teams.”

Fair enough. But Chicago’s hitting isn’t exactly chopped liver, and the team’s rotation is better. Chapman has been the far steadier closer down the stretch than Kimbrel and, honestly, the Cubs haven’t done anything on the field to suggest that they shouldn’t be the favorites to win the World Series. 

All season long, they’ve answered every question presented to them. Yeah, it’s the boring pick. But maybe, just maybe, it’s also the smart one.

Prediction: Cubs

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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With the 2016 MLB regular season officially wrapped up and the 10-team playoff field now set, this week’s power rankings are going to be a little bit different than what you may be used to.

Looking at last week’s performance is not necessarily the best indicator of which direction each of these teams is headed, as some of them clinched prior to last week and were resting guys and setting up their playoff rotation, while others were battling just to make it in.

As a result, the criteria for this week’s rankings has changed and is more projection- and outlook-based than recent-performance-based.

The following factors were taken into account this time around:

• Postseason Outlook: How a team is lining up for playoff success was the No. 1 factor in these rankings, so things like projected postseason rotation and overall team health played a much bigger role than normal.

• Wild Card Round Disadvantage: Having to play in a one-game, do-or-die situation is a clear disadvantage to the four teams that will be playing in the Wild Card Round. As a result, you’ll see they occupy the No. 7-10 spots in the rankings. That doesn’t mean those are the four worst teams of the 10 playoff participants, but the odds are stacked against them from the get-go.

• Final Month Performance: While last week’s record may not be a good indicator, how a team has played in the past month (or in its last 30 games, in this case) can give a good idea of what direction it is trending.

Along with a postseason outlook for each team, a full breakdown of team leaders in notable stat categories was included for a quick overview of the top performers of 2016.

So here is a pre-postseason look at where this year’s 10 playoff-bound teams stand as we get set for what should be another exciting October.

Note: Season leaders reflect players who had at least 400 plate appearances for BA and OPS or 100 innings pitched in the case of ERA and WHIP.

Begin Slideshow

For all their successes in recent seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals enter their National League Division Series matchup as relative strangers. They have not met in the postseason despite combining for seven division championships in the past five seasons.

The Dodgers’ two NLDS battles against NL East champions came during the two campaigns (2013 and 2015) where Washington was sitting at home.

Both rosters enter the playoffs with their regular seasons defined by pitching excellence and injuries.

The Nationals rank in the top five in nearly every major pitching category, boasting perhaps baseball’s best and one of its most expensive pitching rotations. Per Odds Shark, Max Scherzer is the odds-on favorite to take home the NL Cy Young Award after posting a 20-7 record and striking out a career-high 284 batters. He’s the rare free-agent pitching acquisition who has actually gotten better since getting the money.

Washington has also gotten an excellent season from Tanner Roark, who has taken on Jordan Zimmermann’s old role of being the awesome guy no one talks about. Joe Ross has also been solid for most of the season and would have a legit claim to the third starter role likely occupied by Gio Gonzalez.

Missing? Stephen Strasburg, who has already been ruled out for the NLDS.

“Well, you won’t see [Strasburg] in the first series, and I don’t even know if you’ll see him, you know, maybe in the second series,” manager Dusty Baker said on McNabb & Custer on ESPN Radio (via ESPN.com). “You might see him in the World Series.”

Strasburg, himself heading toward a potential 20-win season, has not pitched since Sept. 7. He’s been dealing with a strained flexor mass in his right arm and has thrown just 2.1 innings since mid-August. His effectiveness had taken a steep decline over his final four starts, with Strasburg losing his last three decisions and upping his ERA by nearly a full run after beginning 15-1.

The Dodgers spent a chunk of their regular season dealing with injuries to ace Clayton Kershaw. The former Cy Young winner sat out more than two months with a back injury before returning in September. He’s been his typically brilliant self in working back into shape since, giving up four total runs in five appearances.

“It looked bleak there for a little bit. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it to this point,” Kershaw said, per Matthew Moreno of Dodger Blue. “Now that it’s here it’s exciting. But it’s only exciting if we win, so I’ll try to win Friday.”

Kershaw faced Washington once in the regular season, giving up one run and striking out eight in a June 20 win. He finished 2016 with an ERA of 1.69, the third time in four years he’s been under 2.00.

Co-anchoring the staff will be midseason acquisition Rich Hill, who has basically been put in playoff bubble wrap since coming over from the Oakland Athletics. He’s made just six starts since the trade, none of the last three going for longer than 5.1 innings. Hill has been dealing with finger blister issues for months, and the Dodgers have taken every precaution to ensure he’ll be available in October.

But L.A.’s real strength comes after the starters leave the mound. No team in baseball posted a better bullpen ERA, atoning for the Dodgers ranking 29th in quality starts.

Kenley Jansen is poised for a huge payday this offseason after setting a career high with 47 saves and striking out 104 batters in 68.2 innings. Joe Blanton has enjoyed a sudden return to form at age 35 as a setup man, fanning 80 batters in as many innings to lead the team in holds.

The Nationals are nonetheless sitting right behind the Dodgers in bullpen ERA. Mark Melancon was one of the sport’s best midseason acquisitions and might wind up a top-10 Cy Young finisher despite splitting his season with two teams. Blake Treinen and Shawn Kelley have been good in the back end despite not making many headlines.

The series will likely come down to which of these two questionable lineups can catch a little fire. The Dodgers won the season series 5-1. 

“We played fairly well against the Nationals in the regular season, and playoff baseball is a whole different animal,” Chase Utley said, per Doug Padilla of ESPN.com. “We’re going to do what we can to prepare for them and put a game plan together and we’ll see what happens.”

That success hasn’t carried over of late, with the Dodgers losing five of their last six regular-season games. The rival San Francisco Giants can thank their three-game sweep of L.A. over the weekend for their Wild Card berth. The Dodgers scored three runs or fewer in four of their last six games and ranked 14th in runs scored overall.

“We as hitters…I think everybody else is the ones that are talking about it,” said Howie Kendrick, per Padilla. “As far as us as players, you just do your best every day, whether it’s a lefty or a righty. I don’t think we go up and try to [think] any differently against a lefty or a righty, we just haven’t hit them this year for whatever reason. Whether that’s good or bad, we can’t really focus on that going into the postseason.”

The Nationals were a much more consistent eighth in runs scored, but they were 17th in batting average and struggled for extended stretches against good pitching. Their staff being better from a righty standpoint also fares well for the Dodgers, who have struggled all season against left-handed pitching.

Essentially, this series is as close to a push as you can get. 

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