The AL Wild Card game is behind us. Now we turn our focus to the NL Wild Card Game.
It’s a classic matchup between two of the best pitchers in the league. We’ve got the Cardinals and the Dodgers, Adam Wainwright vs. Max Scherzer with everything on the line.
The Cardinals come in red-hot after a 17-game win streak took them from hovering around .500 to October baseball. The Dodgers are hot as well, riding a seven-game win streak into the postseason, and having the most regular season wins for a Wild Card team ever.
This game figures to be a pitcher’s duel. The season’s on the line for both squads, and both pitchers have a ton of postseason experience and success under their belts.
Below, we’ll make a case for each team to win the Wild Card game, outlining their strengths and weaknesses and what could play into tonight’s game.
The Case For The Dodgers
They’ve got Mad Max. He’s got the second best ERA in the National League and you know he’s ready to dominate. They’re also at home and are coming in hot, breaking the record for most regular season wins for a Wild Card.
They won the season series against St. Louis, with Scherzer dominating them on Labor Day. On paper, they’ve got the best team in all of baseball, and they are defending World Series champions after all.
The Case For The Cardinals
The obvious answer? Games aren’t won on paper.
The Cards come into this game following a historic 17-game win streak. Oh, and they have Adam Wainwright on the hill tonight. You know, the guy who’s pitching like a Cy Young candidate at the age of 40? And he’s got plenty of postseason experience, having closed out the 2006 NLCS and World Series, and thrown a complete game in the 2013 NLDS to knock out the Pirates.
The Dodgers are also going to be without Max Muncy for likely the entire postseason, which plays into St. Louis’ favor. It’s a bad time for the Dodgers to lose him, especially now since they’re going up against the team nobody wants to face.
Conclusion
We’re in for a treat tonight. Is anyone else getting Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS vibes? Two premier pitchers going at it with the season on the line?
Runs will be at a premium, for sure, and this game could honestly go either way. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
For more MLB coverage, click here.
