Predictions For The Final Stretch

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 Written By: Matt Ferreira

Image Via: Katelyn Mulcahy/ Getty Images



 With the end of the season coming near, bold takes begin to come out. While many award races can be seen as all locked up, and playoff spots seem set in stone, there are always sleeper teams and players who come out of nowhere to make a push and make a name for themselves.



My Award Predictions:


American League MVP: Shohei Ohtani. Is there even a question here? Only one player leads the league in homers and is putting up a sub 3 ERA. The only thing that any player could do to take away Ohtani’s MVP honor is Vlad Guerrero Jr., and he would have to get the triple crown.

Others considered: Vlad Guerrero Jr.


National League MVP: While an easy pick could have been Fernando Tatis Jr. I do not think he has played enough games to get himself into the MVP conversion, especially on a team that may not make the playoffs. The best player in the national league this year is Trea Turner. Turner has a .320/.365/.511 slash line and with 21 homers and 26 steals he is one of the most complete players in the league. Turner has above average defense at shortstop, and even though he has had some struggles switching to second base for the Dodgers he has been the best player for the Dodgers since joining the club. While Turner did get traded to the Dodgers at the trade deadline, he stayed in the National League so it should not affect his MVP status. 

Others considered: Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto


American League Cy Young: The leader of WAR amongst pitchers, 2.60 ERA, .994 WHIP, and 11.5 K/9, Robbie Ray is your American League Cy Young. Ray leads the American League in innings pitched and H/9 while helping the Blue Jays chase a wild card spot. 

Others considered: Lance Lynn, Gerrit Cole


National League Cy Young: One of the most underrated pitchers in the league and the ace of one of the best staffs, Walker Buehler will take home the National League Cy Young. Out of all the races this is definitely the closest, Corbin Burnes, Zach Wheeler, and Max Scherzer all could be named winner at the end of the year depending on each pitcher’s last few starts, but Buehler sticks out. With a 2.31 ERA, 184 strikeouts in 179 innings, and a 5.5 WAR Buehler has been dominant. In his 28 starts this year Buehler has allowed four or more runs only three times out. 




American League Manager Of The Year: From 24-36 to (currently) 80-62, Alex Cora has made a huge contribution to the Boston Red Sox off the field. Cora seemed to get the best out of his players in 2018 and is doing it again in 2021. Cora has managed the lineup and bullpen very well this season and continues to improve on his case for Manager of the Year.

Others considered: Kevin Cash, Dusty Baker, Tony La Russa


National League Manager Of The Year: My lock out of all these picks, Gabe Kapler for National League Manager of the Year. In a division with the two of the best rosters in the league, Gabe Kapler has shown names mean nothing. In a year where everyone expected Padres- Dodgers to be the games of the year, the Giants have managed to be the best team in the entirety of Major League Baseball and shown that you can teach an old dog (Buster Posey, Evan Longoria, Brandon Crawford, etc.) new tricks.

Others Considered: N/A 


Playoff Predictions:


American League: For division leaders I think they will stay the same, but the Wild Card seems very interesting. In my wild card game I have the Boston Red Sox taking on the Toronto Blue Jays in Boston. The Blue Jays have caught fire lately winning seven in a row and have leap-frogged the A’s and the Mariners in the wild card standings and look to keep gaining ground behind Vlad, Semien, and the rest of their offense. The Yankees have just fallen apart after their 13 game win streak and the additions of Joey Gallo and Anthony Rizzo have fallen short of expectations, Gerrit Cole left his last start with a hamstring injury and one can only imagine he spends some time on the injured list, and I just do not see the Yankees pitching staff being able to hold other team’s offenses. 



National League: In the National League there could be more movement than expected. I have the Dodgers, Brewers, and Phillies winning their divisions. The Dodgers have been playing some great baseball and I still believe that their pitching staff will get them more wins than the Giants for the rest of the year. The Brewers have had the division on lock since the All Star Break, and finally the surprise pick here is the Phillies. The Phillies have to have one of the easiest schedules for the rest of the year facing the Rockies, Cubs, Mets, Orioles, Pirates, Braves, and Marlins. I believe they will make up for those two games easily on Atlanta and eventually surpass them. For my wild card I have the San Francisco Giants taking on the Cincinnati Reds, once again just due to how easy the Reds upcoming schedule is. With 9 more games against the (currently) 50-90 Pittsburgh Pirates there are some easy wins for the Reds that will help them beat out the Padres for the final wildcard spot.


World Series: For the World Series I have had my National League pick made up for weeks in the Milwaukee Brewers. Yet the American League is more of a challenge.



 While Tampa Bay has been great all year, the White Sox have a sneaky chance as they have fought injuries all year, with Eloy Jiminez and Luis Robert back from injury that adds more bats to an already potent offense. I believe that the Toronto Blue Jays will be going to the World Series for the American League. As I mentioned earlier the Blue Jays have caught fire and with an offense that has five players with 20+ homers, they are the scariest offense in the American League. Robbie Ray has been great pitching wise, Alek Manoah has had an amazing rookie season, Ryu has the playoff experience, and Jose Berrios was one of the best additions at the deadline. Matz will be a great long reliever in the postseason, and as long as Jordan Romero keeps closing the door the Blue Jays will win games. At the end of the October Classic, the Milwaukee Brewers will be holding the commissioner's atrophy as the three headed monster of Burners, Woodruff, and Peralta will vault them over the top. Avisail Garcia and Willy Adames have been the big bats in the lineup this year, but Jackie Bradley Jr. and Lorenzo Cain have shown in the past they can step up their game in the playoffs, Omar Narvaez has had surprising season, Eduardo Escobar is a great bat with the ability to play anywhere, and DO NOT forget about the 2019 MVP Christian Yelich. 

 
Location: Boston, MA, USA

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