relies more on command

#1 von elaine95 , 31.01.2019 09:33

The two sets of Wild Card Game participants took different paths to reach the first two games of the Major League Baseball postseason.The Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs suffered defeats in divisional tiebreakers Monday to set up a winner-takes-all game at Wrigley Field Tuesday.In the American League Zack Greinke Jersey , the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics put together tremendous seasons, but neither team came close to challenging Boston and Houston for their respective divisional crowns.The winner of Tuesday's National LeagueWild Card Game begins the NLDS Thursday against Milwaukee, while Wednesday's victorious side in the American League heads to Boston to begin the ALDS Friday.Wild Card Game ScheduleTuesday, October 2Colorado at Chicago Cubs (8 p.m. ET, ESPN, live stream on WatchESPN or ESPN app)Wednesday, October 3Oakland at New York Yankees (8 p.m. ET, TBS, live stream on Watch TBS app)Rockies, Cubs Face Difficult TurnaroundThe Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs enter Tuesday's NLWild Card Gamein less-than-ideal positions.Both teams lost in divisional tiebreak games Monday to force them to play for their respective playoff lives Tuesday at Wrigley.The Rockies appear to be in a worse situation than the Cubs because they had to travel to Los Angeles Monday for the NL West tiebreaker with the Dodgers and then hop on a plane east to Chicago after their loss.The Rockies and Cubs split their six-game series, but it's hard to use those games as indicators for what will occur Tuesday since they were played in April and May.In addition to holding home-field advantage, the Cubs possess the upper hand in the pitching matchup on paper, as Jon Lester is set to make his 22nd postseason start, while Rockies starter Kyle Freeland will make his first-ever postseason appearance.Chris Coduto/Getty ImagesWhile Freeland isn't as experienced as Lester, he enters the NLWild Card Game with victories in six of his last seven starts.During that stretch, Freeland has allowed fewer than seven hits in six starts, with the outlier coming Friday in a 5-2 win over the Washington Nationals.Although he's one of the most experienced players entering the 2018 postseason, Lester hasn't gotten past the sixth inning in his last four postseason starts.The Cubs might ask Lester to get them through the seventh inning against the Rockies since six relievers appeared in Monday's NL Central tiebreaker.Nick Wass/Associated PressConversely, four Rockies relievers trotted out to the mound after starter German Marquez in Monday's loss to the Dodgers, but with a day off for the winner ahead of the NLDS Paul Goldschmidt Jersey , every measure will be taken by each coaching staff to have the right pitchers on the mound in certain moments.The X-factor at the plate for the Rockies could be outfielder Matt Holliday, who is 10-for-27 in his career against Lester.Even though he'll be facing a left-handed starter, Anthony Rizzo will be the X-factor for the Cubs, as he's recorded seven hits in his last four games and has nine multihit games in September.Yankees Looking To Set Up Heated ALDS With Red SoxThe 100-win New York Yankees weren't good enough to beat out the 108-win Boston Red Sox for the AL East title, but they do have a chance to set up a best-of-five series with their rival.Michael Dwyer/Associated PressIn order for that to occur, the Yankees must conquer the one-game challenge presented by the Oakland Athletics.The Yankees captured three of their last four regular-season games, with two of those wins coming against the Red Sox.On the other hand, the Athletics alternated between a win and loss in their final seven games and fell in their regular-season finale to the Seattle Mariners.With two days between the end of the regular season and the AL Wild Card Game, both teams are taking their time naming a starting pitcher.Regardless of who starts on the mound for the Yankees and A's, they'll face a difficult test against each batter.The Yankees led the majors in home runs with 267, while Oakland ranked third with 227.Five different Yankees hit 27 or more home runs, with Giancarlo Stanton leading the way with 38 dingers. Oakland had five players reach 23 home runs, led by major league leader Khris Davis' 48.Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated PressSince both teams will be well-rested, almost every player on the two rosters will be available in some capacity, with the potential ALDS Game 1 starters being the only exception.The Yankees have a slight edge because of their home-field advantage and experience from winning the ALWild Card Game over Minnesota a year ago, but that's about all that separates the two ballclubs from each other.Follow Joe on Twitter, JTansey90. 20. RP Andrew Miller (Age: 33)Miller is one of the riskier options on this year's market after he missed time with injuries to his left hamstring, right knee and left shoulder in 2018. That said, he's also one of the best relievers the game has ever seen when he's at his best. From 2014 to 2017, he posted a 1.72 ERA http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-patrick-corbin-jersey , 0.79 WHIP and 14.50 K/9 with 51 saves and 74 holds in 260 games. Upside will be enough to get him a lucrative multi-year deal. 19. SP Hyun-Jin Ryu (Age: 32)Despite not topping 150 innings since 2014, Ryu is among the top available second-tier starter options. He made just 15 starts in 2018, but he impressed while going 7-3 with a 1.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 89 strikeouts in 82.1 innings. The Dodgers extended him a qualifying offer, so that will have an impact on his market. Still, he's capable of serving as a quality No. 3 starter on a contender if he stays healthy.18. 2B Jed Lowrie (Age: 34)Lowrie followed up a surprisingly good 2017 with an even better 2018, posting a 120 OPS+ with 37 doubles, 23 home runs and 99 RBI to earn his first All-Star nod while serving as one of the veteran leaders on a young Oakland team. His age will give teams reason for pause when it comes to offering up anything beyond a two-year deal, but it's hard to ignore his production over the past two seasons. 17. SP J.A. Happ (Age: 36)Happ turned 11 strong starts following a trade to the Pirates in 2015 into a three-year, $36 million deal last time he reached free agency. He's built up a strong track record as a middle-of-the-rotation option in the three years since, but it could again be an excellent post-trade performance that greatly increases his stock. In 11 starts after joining the Yankees this past summer, he went 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Another three-year deal and a slight raise seem reasonable.16. CF A.J. Pollock (Age: 31)Injuries have been an issue for Pollock throughout his career, and that makes him one of the riskiest players on the market. That said, he's also the best center fielder available, and his mix of power and speed makes him an appealing buy-low addition if the price is right. At his best, he's a dynamic offensive force, and he showed that in 2015 with a 130 OPS+, 65 extra-base hits, 39 steals and a7.2 WAR. The potential for that level of production is still in there.No. 15-114 of 6Wilson RamosRich Schultz/Getty Images15. RF Andrew McCutchen (Age: 32)McCutchen is no longer a perennial MVP candidate. He's also not a center fielder anymore. But he is a solid on-base threat with the power and speed to turn in a 20/20 season and the experience to serve as a valuable leader in the clubhouse. His .368 on-base percentage and 20 home runs should be enough to attractmore than a few teams in search of corner outfield help. 14. SP Yusei Kikuchi (Age: 27)With Kikuchiset to be posted by the Seibu Lions, all signs point to the left-hander making his way stateside in 2019. "Multiple MLB scouts believe Kikuchi's ceiling is as a No. 2 starter in the Major Leagues Randy Johnson Jersey ," Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.comwrotein August. While he didn't quite match his brilliant 2017 numbers (16-6, 1.97 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 10.4 K/9), he was still one of Japan's top pitchers and should generate a ton of interest.13. C Wilson Ramos (Age: 31)It looks like Ramos is 100 percent recovered from the knee injury that cost him a good chunk of change when he first hit the free-agent market two years ago. Splitting his season between Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, he hit .306/.358/.487 with 22 doubles, 15 home runs and 70 RBI. He did miss time with a hamstring injury, but he returned to hit .337/.396/.483 in 101 plate appearances after he was traded to the Phillies.12. SP Charlie Morton (Age: 35)The Astros did not extend a qualifying offer to Morton, which should help expand the field of teams vying for his services. He's taken his game to another level in his two seasons in Houston, going 29-10 with a 3.36 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 364 strikeouts in 313.2 innings. Playing closer to his wife's family in Delaware has been mentioned as a priority, so expect the Yankees and Red Sox to be involved if he does move on. 11. C Yasmani Grandal (Age: 30)Brutal postseason aside, Grandal was one of the game's best catchers in 2018. He hit 20 home runs for the third straight season, posting a 121 OPS+ with 23 doubles, 24 homers, 68 RBI and a career-high 3.3 WAR. He also graded out as one of the game's best pitch-framers once again while throwing out runners at a league-average 28 percent clip. He received a qualifying offer, so teams might prefer Ramos, but Grandal is the better long-term play.No. 10-65 of 6Nathan EovaldiBob Levey/Getty Images10. RP Adam Ottavino (Age: 33)Ottavino might be a surprise among the top 10 free agents. But he was next-level good in 2018. In 75 appearances, he posted a 2.43 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 112 strikeouts in 77.2 innings. His lethal sinker/slider combination led to a 36.3 percent strikeout rate that ranked eighth among all qualified relievers, and he has the stuff to close if given the chance. Otherwise http://www.diamondbacksfanproshop.com/authentic-a.-j.-pollock-jersey , he's a dominant eighth-inning option.9. DH Nelson Cruz (Age: 38)Cruz is not a fast man, but that hasn't stopped him from outrunning Father Time. Over the past five seasons, he's averaged 41 home runs and 104 RBI while posting a 145 OPS+. He absolutely demolishes left-handed pitching with a .927 OPS for his career against southpaws. So even if he starts to slow, he'd still be a valuable weapon in a platoon role. The price has to be right, but there's no reason to bet against him. 8. 3B Josh Donaldson (Age: 33)Donaldson is the biggest wild card of this free-agent class. He's been plagued by a nagging calf injury for the past two seasons, and he played just 52 games in his contract year. Then again, he's still managed to post a 139 OPS+ with 41 home runs in 165 gamesover the past two seasons when he has managed to take the field, and he was extremely durable in the years prior. Signing him is a risk, but it's one that could pay off handsomely. 7. RP Craig Kimbrel (Age: 30)Kimbrel is the active saves leader (333) and one of the most dominant relievers in MLB history. He's stayed remarkably healthy鈥攁side from a knee injury that cost him a month in 2016鈥攁veraging 65 appearances over the past eight seasons. He looked human during the postseason (10.2 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 7 ER), but that won't stop him from cashing in. Expect something in line with the record-breaking contracts handed to Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis in recent offseasons. 6. SP Nathan Eovaldi (Age: 29)No one boosted their stock more in 2018 than Eovaldi. After missing the entire 2017 season with Tommy John surgery, he showed enough during the first half with the Rays to make himself a hot commodity on the trade market. He eventually landed in Boston, where his 1.61 ERA over 22.1 postseason innings helped the team win a title. The development of a nasty cutter to back his triple-digits fastball has taken his game to another level, and it's vaulted him into the top tier of free-agent starters.No. 5-16 of 6Manny MachadoSean M. Haffey/Getty Images5. LF Michael Brantley (Age: 31)After playing just 11 games in 2016 and 90 games in 2017, Brantley was finally able to stay healthy this past season. As a result, he was once more among the most productive outfielders in the league. He hit .309/.364/.468 with 36 doubles, 17 home runs and 76 RBI while playing in 143 games and tallying 631 plate appearances. Brantley stands to benefit as much as anyone from not receiving a qualifying offer Yasmany Tomas Jersey , and a lucrative four-year deal could be coming his way. 4. SP Dallas Keuchel (Age: 31)Keuchel will probably never return to his Cy Young form from 2015, when he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 232 innings. That said, he's more than capable of posting a sub-3.50 ERA while eating up 200 innings, and that's worth plenty on the open market. As a pitcher who relies more on command than velocity, he should age well, making him the safest bet for a long-term deal among this year's available starting pitchers. 3. SP Patrick Corbin (Age: 29)Corbin broke out at the perfect time, going 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and an impressive 246 strikeouts in 200 innings during his walk year. He's also on the younger side for a free agent鈥攈e won't turn 30 untilJuly 19鈥攕o that helps his case for a long-term deal. The spike in his strikeout rate (8.4 to 11.1 K/9) stemmed from an improved slider, so there's reason to believe it's for real. He shouldget at least five years and nine figures. 2. RF Bryce Harper (Age: 26)1. SS/3B Manny Machado (Age: 26)Machado over Harper?Yep.Harper has shown the higher peak, and he probably has the higher ceiling going forward as well, but consistency is the name of the game when it comes to a potential record-breaking deal.Machado has a higher average WAR (4.8 to 3.9) and the only time he's posted a WAR below 2.0 was his rookie year, when he only played 55 games. Harper, on the other hand, has three sub-2.0 WAR seasons in the past five years, including a 1.3 WAR campaign in 2018.Both players are legitimate superstars and franchise-altering additions for any team. Both players are going to make more than $30 million annually on whatever deal they wind up signing.But when it comes to the debate of who belongs in the No. 1 spot, Machado has to be the choice on the strength of his consistency and greater impact on the defensive side. All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted.

elaine95  
elaine95
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No. 2, it is important to just go
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