In the American League, the Oakland A's will host the Tampa Bay Rays in the wild card game, with the winner then taking on the Houston Astros, who had the best record (107-55) in baseball this season, in the division series. The New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins (both also 100-plus win teams) will go at it in the other A.L. division series.
In the National League, the wild card game will be in Washington with the host Nationals facing the Milwaukee Brewers. The winner will play the Los Angeles Dodgers, who finished 106-56 this season, in the divisional series. The St. Louis Cardinals will play the Atlanta Braves in the other divisional series.
The final weekend offered some drama as the Cardinals blew out the Chicago Cubs, 9-0 in St. Louis in the final game of the season to finally clinch the National League Central division. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Brewers couldn't take advantage of the Cubs beating the Cards in the first two games of the three-game set as they were swept in Colorado.
The Brewers finished two games back of the Red Birds and will be in the wild card game on Tuesday night in D.C. In the American League, the A's did their part as they won at Seattle to get the "home field advantage" against the Rays on Wednesday evening.
It was a record setting season for home runs as the Minnesota Twins set a new MLB record by hitting 307 dingers this year. The New York Yankees held the old record (set in 2017) and they also surpassed 300 homers by hitting 306 this season. Speaking of home runs, Jorge Soler (Kansas City Royals) led the American League with 48 bombs. New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso set a new record for rookies and led the National League and all of baseball with 53 home runs.
There are already some managerial changes as the season ends. The Chicago Cubs parted ways with Joe Maddon after five seasons, which included the Cubs first World Series championship in 108 years back in the 2016 season. The Pittsburgh Pirates fired Clint Hurdle and just today, the Los Angeles Angels said goodbye to Brad Ausmus after just one season as their skipper.
Also, two World Series winning managers retired as Ned Yost of the Kansas City Royals (World Series winners in 2015) said goodbye and Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants (three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014) is also leaving the game. Best wishes to both of them.
What a season it has been.
The Final Standings for the 2019 MLB season
AL STANDINGS NL STANDINGS
East East
x-New York 103-59 x-Atlanta 97-65
y-Tampa Bay 96-66 y-Washington 93-69
Boston 84-78 New York 86-76
Toronto 67-95 Philadelphia 81-81
Baltimore 54-108 Miami 57-105
Central Central
x-Minnesota 101-61 x-St. Louis 91-71
Cleveland 93-69 y-Milwaukee 89-73
Chicago 72-89 Chicago 84-78
Kansas City 59-103 Cincinnati 75-87
Detroit 47-114 Pittsburgh 69-93
West West
x-Houston 107-55 x-LA Dodgers 106-56
y-Oakland 97-65 Arizona 85-77
Texas 78-84 San Francisco 77-85
LA Angels 72-90 Colorado 71-91
Seattle 68-94 San Diego 70-92
x - clinched division title
y - clinched playoff spot
Now it's on to the post-season and the Houston Astros with their power pitching rotation of Justin Verlander, Gerritt Cole and Zack Greinke along with a power laden lineup, should be enough to outlast the powerful Yankees and Twins lineups. Likewise, the L.A. Dodgers (with pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Walker Buehler) should have enough to hold off their challengers, including the red hot Washington Nationals, who won eight straight games to finish the season.
So, here goes nothing with the Heftyinfo predictions for the 2019 MLB Post Season . . . .
National League
Wild Card Game - Washington over Milwaukee
NLDS - Atlanta over St. Louis (3-1); LA Dodgers over Washington (3-2)
NLCS - LA Dodgers over Atlanta (4-3)
American League
Wild Card Game - Oakland over Tampa Bay
ALDS - Houston over Oakland (3-0); NY Yankees over Minnesota (3-2)
ALCS - Houston over NY Yankees (4-2)
WORLD SERIES
Houston Astros over Los Angeles Dodgers (4-2)
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