MLB Wild Card Game Picks

(H/T B-FLO 360)

Well, we’ve just about reached an epic part of the sports season. The NFL and NCAA football are in full swing, the NBA and NCAA basketball are looming, and unfortunately, the NHL is locked out. But, the good news is that the MLB Postseason is going to be starting today. The Wild Card games will kick off the 2012 playoffs, and who doesn’t love win-or-go home implications in baseball? It’s produced some of the best moments in recent baseball memory, and even going back to Bucky Dent, it’s given some of the best of all time. There will be two hotly contested games tomorrow with everything on the line, for one individual a career also. With that said, here’s how I see the Wild Card Games going.

vs. 

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves

5:07 PM ET | TBS | ESPN Radio

Commentators: Brian Anderson, Ron Darling, Joe Simpson, Tom Verducci (TBS)

Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser (ESPN Radio)

Well, well, well. Sweet justice, eh? Last year the Atlanta Braves conceded the Wild Card to the St. Louis Cardinals after an embarrassing collapse in the final month of the season. A year later, and after a World Series victory, the Cardinals had to fend off all challengers and outlast the LA Dodgers on Game 161 to even have a chance to vie for a playoff berth. The Braves on the other hand have been in the first Wild Card spot for what seems like forever, and have enjoyed it.

The Braves gotten great contributions from Craig Kimbrel and Jason Heyward, who has had an under-the-radar yet spectacular season after a sophomore slump in 2011. While he only hit .269, he had a .319 BABIP, a .351 wOBA, 27 HR with a stellar .210 ISO. Add that in with a league-leading 22.9 UZR and you have all the makings of a great season. Don’t forget Chipper Jones, who is potentially playing in his final game as an Atlanta Brave. The star third baseman announced he’d be retiring at season’s end, and Braves fans do not want that to be this afternoon. Kris Medlen will be on the hill for the Braves, and the club has won 23 of the last 23 games that he’s started. Pretty damn good.

That’s not to say the Cardinals aren’t threats, either. Matt Holliday has put up some gaudy numbers, Carlos Beltran has been solid even though he had a rough second half. Don’t forget about Yadier Molina; Yadi’ might be having his best season yet as a Major Leaguer. Molina’s clip of .315/.373/.501 and wRC+ of 140 are all career-bests, and his defense behind the plate has been atypical. Kyle Lohse is getting the start in this win-or-go home game, and he’s been fantastic this year. He boasts a 2.81 ERA, 3.51 FIP, 143 K, a 1.09 WHIP and hitters are only averaging .234 against him. He’s arguably the best pitcher on the roster for the Redbirds, so it’s no surprise that they brought him onto the hill for this high-implications contest.

Pick: It will be a hotly contested affair, I think, but at the end of the day I think that the Atlanta Braves are a much better team than the St. Louis Cardinals and when it comes to that, on one day, I think that is the way I’m going to take it. The Cardinals will be a tough out. There’s no doubt, but I like the Braves with Kris Medlen on the hill and an incredible bullpen. Look for Jason Heyward to have a great night to cap off a big bounce-back year for him.

Result: St. Louis 2 Atlanta 4

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vs.

Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers

8:37 PM ET | TBS | ESPN Radio

Commentators: Ernie Johnson, Cal Ripken Jr., John Smoltz, Craig Sager (TBS)

Jon Sciambi, Chris Singleton (ESPN Radio)

Well if you thought that these two teams would be matching up in the Wild Card Game, you’d be crazy. For one, nobody really thought that the Baltimore Orioles would even sniff this game, much less the Postseason. And secondly, who would have thought that the Texas Rangers would be fighting for their playoff lives? Not me, that’s for sure, especially with how they played in the regular season. Nonetheless, the Oakland A’s are now the AL West Champions which a much larger percent probably missed out on, and so we have this winner takes all primetime matchup from Arlington, Texas.

The Baltimore Orioles are one of the biggest stories of the entire season. They’ve been great in late-game situations, gotten contributions from outcasts like Nate McLouth and Lew Ford, and not a single player hitting above .300 either. They have gone through pitchers like socks, with multiple starters all year. The team is led, in my opinion, by Adam Jones who really had a breakout year this season. I see him having a pivotal role and keeping his great season going, where he hit 32 HR and scored 103 runs with a .313 BABIP and a .505 SLG. The ever-inconsistent Joe Saunders will be on the hill, but if he eats even 6 innings of relatively good baseball, their strong bullpen will take over and do a good job of it as well.

Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers? Seriously? After being in first place for damn near the entire season, they gaffed in the final week of the season and subsequently lost the AL West Division Title to the Oakland Athletics. Now, they’re fighting for their life to keep control of the American League pennant. Adrian Beltre has been the team MVP in my opinion and I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a huge night. He plays the best 3rd base out of anybody in baseball in my view, and he can hit the damn ball pretty hard as well. Don’t forget about that guy Josh Hamilton either. Yu Darvish, who I personally think did better than I thought he would, is getting the start for Texas. Why not? He’s been their best pitcher this year, but in actuality, that’s probably not saying too much. 

Pick: The Texas Rangers are the better team, probably. But they haven’t exactly looked like it. They’ve been in a nosedive and gave up ground to the Oakland A’s; five games in the division in nine games played, and Wednesday’s epic collapse in Game 162 gives me no indication for them to go any farther. I’m sorry, but I don’t see how a team can rebound after seemingly giving up, even if they’re at home. Give me the stingy Orioles in a late-inning affair that gives the Rangers a deft blow that might be the damndest of the last three years.

Result: Baltimore 3 Texas 2