Houston Astros: The ideal playoff scenario to repeat as World Champions
By T.A. Mock
Wild Card and ALDS Matchups
Across the American League, as I mentioned earlier, the Red Sox have locked up their playoff spot and should lock up the division soon. The Cleveland Indians are on the cusp of locking up both. The two Wild Card slots come down to four teams, two from the AL East and two from the AL West. If the season ended today, the Yankees and A’s will occupy those slots.
If the Astros and A’s were to end the season with a tied record, they would face off in a one-game playoff for the division victory. Fortunately, both teams are likely to make the playoffs regardless and the Astros would have home-field advantage due to a season series victory. A one-game playoff should be a relatively simple victory because the Astros can field a far superior starter to the A’s.
This means that the Astros would have a divisional matchup with the Indians. The Red Sox would face off with the winner of the Yankees/A’s Wild Card matchup. This is the first step in the Houston Astros ideal playoff scenario, facing off with the Indians.
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The Astros are 4-3 against the Indians this year. At home, the Astros won two and lost one. On the road, they split it two and two. However, both at home and on the road, the Astros averaged more runs scored than the Indians, including a whopping 8.5 runs scored in Cleveland. Cleveland also hasn’t had to battle this entire month so that could have a negative effect on them.
Facing off against Cleveland in the division round gives Houston the best shot at advancing to the ALCS. Playing against the A’s also ensures home-field advantage. So, with the divisional round done, let’s jump to the other side of the AL bracket.
For the Astros, the team I’d rather not face from the Wild Card game is honestly the A’s right now, there’s still plenty of time for that to change but, they’re one of the three hottest teams in baseball right now. So, the Astros need to the Yankees to go ahead and take care of them in the Wild Card. Like the Astros, the Yankees can field a far superior arm than the A’s.
So, that leaves the Yankees facing off against their division rival, the Red Sox, in the ALDS. Now, let’s move on to the ideal ALCS scenario.