Two Phillies writers make wild postseason predictions

The MLB wild-card games are finished and now it is time for the division series to begin. Matt Gelb and I chatted on Wednesday about how we see the first round playing out.

We picked the winners for Red Sox-Indians, Rangers-Blue Jays, Nationals-Dodgers, and Cubs-Giants.

Here's how it went:

Matt Gelb: Well, Breen, I'm sitting here in the Citi Field press box still thinking about Zach Britton and how I watched the game alone, while talking to my TV about leverage and bullpen usage. October is beautiful. I suppose Buck Showalter will have a chance at reliever redemption in 2019 when he manages the Phillies in the National League Wild Card game.

Speaking of bullpens, the most fascinating Division Series matchup to me is the Red Sox-Indians. Cleveland has, like, no pitchers left. They are starting Trevor Bauer and Corey Kluber and Josh Tomlin. Kluber is really good. The others? Not so much. But Terry Francona is at the forefront of smart bullpen usage, and I am envisioning these wild scenarios like Andrew Miller pitching the second, third and fourth innings if the game is in the balance. Boston's starting pitching is almost as suspect. So I like the chances for craziness in this series. I'll still go Boston in 4.

Matt Breen: That O's-Jays finish really was bizarre. Almost as bad as when Buck allowed the Yankees uniforms to be switched to cotton. So the Phils are going to the playoffs in 2019?

I also like the Red Sox, but I'm looking at a sweep. Better rotation, better lineup. David Price finally pitches like he should in a playoff game and then add in a homer or two from Big Papi. It's only fitting.

Who do you like in the other ALDS: Blue Jays-Rangers? I heard Texas has a pretty good lefthanded pitcher.

Matt Gelb: Yeah, Jake Diekman wasn't bad this year, but not as good as in 2015.

I love Texas this month. They're my (spoiler) pick to win it all. It's just time for Adrian Beltre and Carlos Beltran to shine. Neither has ever won a World Series, and they're two of the best hitters from their era. Their bullpen, from Diekman to Alex Claudio to Matt Bush to Sam Dyson, is just a real solid and deep unit. There's Cole Hamels. And Yu Darvish. Colby Lewis has some sort of deal with the devil. And Rougned Odor has a phenomenal right hook.

Plus, I feel like Toronto cashed in its karma with the lack of Britton in the one-game playoff and the idiot who wasted a tall boy by throwing it on the Rogers Centre turf. Rangers in 4.

Matt Breen: Good point about Beltran and Beltre. Especially with Beltre, I feel that's a guy who's been overlooked for most of his career. I guess that's what happens when you spend most of your career with Seattle and Texas. He's having an incredible year. 32 homers, 104 RBIs. And he's 37!? I like your pick for them to win it all. They have a potent lineup and a solid rotation plus that strong bullpen. Matt Bush is a pretty incredible story. It will be fun watching Cole Hamels in the playoffs.

I'm counting on Round 2 for Odor-Joey Bats. That's a pay-per-view super fight. I scored Round 1, 10-8, for Odor. Thought he controlled the ring and pushed the action. Give me Rangers in four.

What do you think about Dodgers-Nationals?

Matt Gelb: It's so hard to back the Nats right now, without Stephen Strasburg and Wilson Ramos and questions about Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper's health. If Clayton Kershaw is Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill is Rich Hill, how does Washington win three out of five? I'm just not seeing it. The Dodgers have that weird feel of a team that should not be where it is, given their ridiculous number of injuries during the season and inner turmoil caused by Yasiel Puig. But Puig is happy now. Yes, Kershaw is a huge "if." But I'm taking the Dodgers in five, with one big hit from Carlos Ruiz.

The Dodgers do struggle against lefties, which makes Gio Gonzalez' start a pivotal one. But that game could have little meaning if Nats lose to both Kershaw and Hill. Puig has been solid since he came back up. He's the kind of personality that could own the postseason.

Dave Roberts did a great job this season. He easily could win manager of the year. Wouldn't be surprised to see him pull the right strings in the playoffs. Kept this team together all year when the Dodgers easily could have fallen apart. I like the Dodgers, too. Give me them in four. Great minds think alike.

Last series: Cubs vs Giants?

Matt Gelb: Well, I just bought a few raffle tickets for a chance at one of the 89 Nike Air Mags that are being released later this month. I am a Back to the Future nerd, which makes me skeptical about the Cubs' run this season. They were supposed to win last season. That will not prevent them from a first-round series win -- the Giants are no Miami Gators. I hear the concerns about the Cubs not having played a meaningful game for weeks. That can have a real effect. But the Giants are lucky to even be at Wrigley Field. It's not an inspiring matchup. Chicago will encounter trouble later, but not in the Division Series. Cubs in 3.

Matt Breen: I love Back to the Future too, but those shoes are awful. I hope you win them and have to wear them to a Phillies game. I've bought a lot of dumb stuff, but probably draw the line at the Air Mags. I'll take a few bottles of Pepsi Perfect instead.

We're going to finally disagree. I'm going out on a limb here and taking the Giants in five. Think about this: They steal a game at Wrigley and then Bumgarner wins Game 3 at home. All of a sudden you have a series. Remember in 2008 when the Cubs clinched the division in like July and then got swept by the Dodgers. This reminds me of that.

I know the Cubs are really good. They finished the season with a run differential of plus-252. For comparison, the Phillies were minus-186. That's insane. Lester, Hendricks, and Arrieta form probably their best pitching staff since Stedman and Rowengartner led them to the pennant. But, I'm still going Giants. It's an even year, right?

Enjoy New York. It's been real. I'm going to go play some more Madden and marvel at my fantasy team. Is it spring training yet?

Matt Gelb: Did we just do this whole thing so you could drop yet another Rookie of the Year reference?

Matt Breen: Maybe.