Welcome to October
Exciting season transforms into the hunt for World Series title
By Colin Watts
sion winners. The Chicago Cubs and
Chieftain Staff
Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central co-
An exciting 2018 MLB Season ended as
champs) and the Los Angeles Dodg-
it should have: exciting.
ers and Colorado Rockies (NL West)
Between JD Martinez fl irting with the
ended up tied after the regular season,
Triple Crown, to the Braves clinching the
setting up one-game showdowns for
NL East for the fi rst time since 2013, base-
the divison titles.
ball fans have been blessed with another
The Cubs, who have been in the
great season. As October opens, that
postseason
the last three years, know
Chieftain Postseason Awards
means it’s time to separate the good from
this moment. They are led by MVP
AL MVP: Mookie Betts, Red Sox
the bad and start the postseason.
candidate Javy Baez, and the recent
The MLB postseason is unlike any other
additions of Cole Hamels and Daniel
NL MVP: Christian Yelich, Brewers
professional sport. From the excitement
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Astros Murphy, as well as call-up David Bote,
of games starting during the school day
have proven to be key.
NL Cy Young: Jacob deGrom, Mets
to the crazy crowds, it is truly one of a
MVP favorite Christian Yelich and
kind. This year, the MLB will welcome
Jesus
Aguilar have carried the Brew-
Backed by former Tiger and Cy Young
some new teams to the party.
ers.
The
past few seasons of add-
candidate Justin Verlander, Alex Breg-
The Oakland Athletics clinched a play- man, Jose Altuve, and George Springer,
ing pieces here and there has really
off spot for the fi rst time in fi ve years.
paid off for Milwaukee. The winner
the Astros won 103 games and are ready
Finishing second in the AL West, the A’s
of Game 163 between the Cubs and
to rumble. Houston will sweep the Indi-
came out of nowhere, behind big con-
Brewers will win the National League.
ans and set up a date with the Red Sox in
tributions from relievers Blake Treinen
The up-and-coming Rockies had a
the ALCS.
and Brett Lowrie, along with home run
great season behind Nolan Arenado,
champ Khris Davis.
Charlie Blackmon, and
The A’s will have
Rice grad DJ Lemahieu
their hands full in the
’07. This high-fl ying,
postseason, going up
heavy-hitting lineup is
against the New York
ready to take the NL
Yankees. The Yankees,
West crown.
who set a record for
Standing in their way
most home runs by a
are the Dodgers, who
team in 2018, are the
always seem to be in
scariest wild card team
the mix at the end of the
in this year’s postsea-
year. Justin Turner and
son. Led by Aaron
Manny Machado head-
Judge, Giancarlo
line, and Yasiel Puig is
Stanton, and super
still one of the most elec-
rookie Glyber Torres,
tric players in baseball.
the Bronx Bombers are
Kenley Jansen anchors
ready.
the bullpen, behind ace
Cubs hopes for another championship revolve around MVP candidate Javy Baez
The other teams in
Clayton Kershaw.
the AL playoff picture are the Boston
Finally,
the
biggest newcomer to the
The last team to represent the AL is the
Red Sox, Houston Astros, and Cleveland Red Sox, by far the best team in baseball.
postseason, the Braves, led by Dansby
Indians. The Indians are probably the
Swanson, Freddie Freeman, and Nick
Martinez, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley
worst of those, representing the AL Cen-
Markakis, have a solid lineup. Starting
Jr., and Xander Bogaerts headline a killer
tral -- the worst division in baseball. Their lineup. Chris Sale and David Price head
pitcher Mike Foltynewicz also had a
infi eld of Jose Rameriz, Francisco Lindor, the starting rotation, and the always-
nice season with 13 wins.
Jason Kipnis, and Edwin Encarnación
I love the Braves’ story, but I just
scary Craig Kimbrel is the closer. First-
is great but, overall, this team is weaker
don’t
see them competing with the
year manager Alex Cora’s Sox will win
than it’s been in the past.
other
NL
teams. They will get bounced
their fi rst pennant since 2013.
Don’t expect them to make any noise
in
the
NLDS.
The National League has been very
against the Astros. The reigning World
World Series Prediction: Brewers
even all year. So even that we needed
Champs are back and loaded again.
over
the Red Sox in 7
two Game No. 163’s to fi gure out divi-
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
P AGE 7
O C T O B E R 2018