The Remaining 2018 MLB Postseason Schedule

Here is the 2018 MLB Postseason schedule, a little late… but better late than never. I hope.

AL Division Series: Boston vs. N.Y. Yankees

·   Game 4: Tuesday, at N.Y. Yankees, TBS, 8:07

·   Game 5: *Oct. 11, Thursday, at Boston, TBS, 7:40

AL Championship Series 

·   Game 1: Oct. 13, Saturday, TBS

·   Game 2: Oct. 14, Sunday, TBS

·   Game 3: Oct. 16, Tuesday, TBS

·   Game 4: Oct. 17, Wednesday, TBS

·   Game 5: *Oct. 18, Thursday, TBS

·   Game 6: *Oct. 20, Saturday, TBS

·   Game 7: *Oct. 21, Sunday, TBS

NL Championship Series 

·   Game 1: Oct. 12, Friday, TBA vs. Milwaukee, FOX or FS1

·   Game 2: Oct. 13, Saturday, TBA vs. Milwaukee, FOX or FS1

·   Game 3: Oct. 15, Monday, Milwaukee vs. TBA, FOX or FS1

·   Game 4: Oct. 16, Tuesday, Milwaukee vs. TBA, FOX or FS1

·   Game 5: *Oct. 17, Wednesday, Milwaukee vs. TBA, FOX or FS1

·   Game 6: *Oct. 19, Friday, TBA vs. Milwaukee, FOX or FS1

·   Game 7: *Oct. 20, TBA vs. Milwaukee, FOX or FS1

World Series 

·   Game 1: Oct. 23, Tuesday, FOX

·   Game 2: Oct. 24, Wednesday, FOX

·   Game 3: Oct. 26, Friday, FOX

·   Game 4: Oct. 27, Saturday, FOX

·   Game 5: *Oct. 28, Sunday, FOX

·   Game 6: *Oct. 30, Tuesday, FOX

·   Game 7: *Oct. 31, Wednesday, FOX

Schedule courtesy of the USA Today. Thanks to them.

This Day In New York Yankees History 10/2: Don Mattingly The Hit Man

Don Mattingly was the one bright spot for the New York Yankees in the 1980's and early 1990's and on this day in 1986 set a new team record for hits in a season with 232. Mattingly passed Earl Combs team record which was set in 1927 and would finish the season with a league leading 238 hits.


The reigning and defending World Series champion New York Yankees played the Boston Red Sox in a one game playoff on this day in 1978 in Fenway Park. We all know what happened, Bucky F'in Dent happened.


The Yankees are known for winning World Series championships but many fans forget that New York had plenty of years where things didn’t exactly go as planned. On this day in 1966 the Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 but would still finish a half game behind the Boston Red Sox for last place in the American League. New York finished with a 70-89 record and fell 26.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles. This was the first Yankees club to finish in last place in the American League since 1912.


Speaking of winning World Series on this day in 1936 the Yankees would beat the Giants in Game 2 of the World Series by the score of 18-4. That was then and still is now the largest lopsided victory in the history of the Fall Classic.


Finally on this day in 1932 and on this day in Yankees World Series history the team won their 12th consecutive World Series game as they swept the Chicago Cubs. This would mark the third consecutive World Series sweep the Bombers would achieve.

Predicting the Wild Card Game Starter

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is being pretty secretive on who will start the American League Wild Card Game for the New York Yankees on October 3^rd, but I think I figured out who will start the game and I am prepared to share my prediction with you this morning on the blog.

The game is played on Wednesday, October 3^rd and the game will more than likely take place in the Bronx at this point with New York holding a slim lead and the potential tiebreaker advantage over the Oakland Athletics. With that said the game is officially seven days away.

Luis Severino pitched on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays which all but counts him out of the running to start the Wild Card game. I guess the Yankees could pitch him on seven days rest, but it seems like the team is more than likely banking on a Wild Card Game victory and having Severino come back in the ALDS after essentially skipping a turn through the rotation.

JA Happ last pitched on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, meaning his next turn through the rotation (including the bullpen game on Monday) would be Saturday the 29^th against the Boston Red Sox. Without much maneuvering that would leave Happ available on just three days of rest for the Wild Card Game in the Bronx, presumably. Not ideal, and probably not going to happen.

Masahiro Tanaka pitched last night and could pitch the game on Wednesday with six days of rest, something he has done exceptionally well throughout his career. Tanaka knows the bright lights of Yankee Stadium and knows what it is like to pitch a game in the Bronx in the postseason and specifically in the Wild Card “win-or-go-home” type atmosphere. To me it makes the most sense for him to make the start on October 3^rd for the Yankees, so he is my prediction. It explains the Yankees bullpen game on Monday and it puts New York not only in the best position to win the Wild Card round, but to compete and win the ALDS against the Boston Red Sox as well.

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: The World Series

Here is a quick look at my predictions for the 2018 World Series!

The field is set. 162 games are in the books. Three rounds of the postseason are done and over with. Two teams remain. This is the World Series. This is the Fall Classic. Let’s do this. Prediction Season continues here on The Greedy Pinstripes as we take the next step towards our yearly predictions by predicting the World Series. I have laid out the division winners, the Wild Card winners, and even went as far as to predict every win/loss record for all 30 MLB teams. I then went one step further and predicted the entire postseason for both the American League and the National League, and it has all come down to this. The 2018 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals.  

Can you imagine the ratings on FOX that we are going to see for this potentially epic series? The Yankees head into Washington as the road team for Game One since the Nationals will have home-field advantage throughout the World Series garnering all the attention that the young Baby Bombers should. Aaron Judge can be seen answering questions by reporters out in right field, Giancarlo Stanton can be seen doing the same in the dugout as we prepare for a game without a designated hitter. Luis Severino is out in the bullpen throwing to Gary Sanchez, while Didi Gregorius is signing autographs out by the third base visitor’s dugout. The stage is set. Bryce Harper is in the Nationals dugout being asked more questions about his plans for his impending free agency and whether he wants to play for the Yankees than he is the World Series at hand, but Bryce is answering those questions with political correctness and a swag unmatched by any impending free agent before him. The stage is set.  

These two teams are surprisingly evenly matched up at every turn. The Yankees may have a slight edge in starting pitching, especially if the team goes out and acquires a great starter in July like many expect them to while the likes of Severino, Masahiro Tanaka and Sonny Gray pitch to the backs of their baseball cards, and in the bullpen, although when Brandon Kintzler is your 7th inning guy it goes to show you how deep the Washington bullpen can be, but the offenses can both potentially be spectacular. How will the Yankees fare playing four games in a National League park while having to leave one of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Greg Bird, Aaron Hicks or Brett Gardner on the bench? Just fine, that’s how they will fare.  

The Yankees lineup is deep, powerful and intimidating from top to bottom. This team was built from within and is deep as they come offensively. This offense does not center around just one or two men, the entire lineup from top to bottom can beat you on any single pitch in any single game. There is potentially a different hero every night, which brings goosebumps to the skin just thinking about the possibility and the similarities to the Dynasty Yankees from the 90’s and 2000’s. The Nationals are a good team, maybe even a great team, but this New York Yankees squad is just special. Period. Get off the tracks, the New York Yankees are coming. It may take all seven games, although I am leaning towards six games here to be honest, but the Yankees will be hoisting that World Series Championship trophy over their heads one more time, and that one more time is here in 2018.

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: The Playoffs

Here is a quick look at my predictions for the 2018 season and the grueling playoffs that follow!

Welcome back to Prediction Season here on The Greedy Pinstripes. With the standings, division winners and Wild Card winners now predicted here on the blog by yours truly it is time to move on to the postseason. Just as a reminder, not that I have to remind any of you reading because you are all dedicated and hardcore Yankees and MLB fans, the first Wild Card winner will host the second Wild Card winner in a one-game playoff. The winner of that game heads out on the road to face off with the team with the best record from their respective league, who has a “bye” in the first round of the postseason. ALDS and NLDS series are best-of-five while the ALCS, NLCS and the World Series are of course best-of-seven. Let’s get to it!

American League Wild Card Round

Seattle Mariners @ Boston Red Sox

The first time in what feels like forever that the Seattle Mariners make the postseason. Is this 1995 all over again? Honestly, I don’t think so, but I went with it anyway… because to hell with the Red Sox. Anything can happen in a one-game playoff. Anything. Even the Mariners taking down the might, mighty Red Sox. Dave Dombrowski should be fired at the end of the game, but he won’t be which is great news for Yankees fans.

National League Wild Card Round

San Francisco Giants @ Chicago Cubs

These two foes have matched up time-and-time again it feels like in the postseason, so what is one more time for old times sake, right? The Chicago Cubs will, in my opinion, take a step back in 2018 in terms of production from their previous two seasons, which will suit the Giants just fine. The Giants have potentially a strong starting staff and enough veteran leadership to get them over the hump in Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen and I truly think they will find a way in the later innings to take down the Cubs. Chicago goes home, San Francisco moves on in an even-numbered year. Both road teams winning the Wild Card Round? That has to be unheard of, oh well.

American League Division Series

Seattle Mariners @ New York Yankees (Yankees win series 3-1)

I am going to give the tie-breaker for home field advantage to the New York Yankees (a) because I am a homer that owns a Yankees blog, and (b) because of some head-to-head matchups or something like that. With the Mariners high off their “1995 all over again” victory of the Boston Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Round the New York Yankees are here to remind the Mariners of another playoff series they were both a part of, the 2001 American League Championship series where the 116-win Mariners came into the series the heavy favorites over the Dynasty Yankees. The Mariners lost, and sometimes history repeats itself. Sometimes it just takes 17 years to do so. Yankees win.

Cleveland Indians @ Houston Astros (Astros win series 3-2)

In a matchup of two titans, two powerhouse offenses and two dynamic pitching staffs this series has all the makings of being an instant classic that will undoubtedly go all five games. These kinds of series remind me of those games that come down to the last second with the winner being the last team who has the ball, the last team to take an at-bat, whatever the case may be. I truly think both teams will be amazing once again in 2018, but the pitching staff and the depth that the Astros have will prevail in the five-game series. Plus, I wanted a rematch of the 2017 ALCS between the Yankees and the Astros, I mean who doesn’t? Right? It is time for Justin Verlander to eat his preseason words regarding the Yankees.

National League Division Series

San Francisco Giants @ Washington Nationals (Nationals win series 3-1)

The window for the Washington Nationals to win is just about closed, hell it will be all but closed once the calendar turns to October of 2018, and the Nationals will play like it this postseason. The Giants are a great team but having to presumably burn Madison Bumgarner in the Wild Card Round will come back to bite them as the Nationals dominate the series on all sides of the game. The Nats will pitch better, they will hit better, they will defend better, and they will do the little things they have to do when it counts in order to win. Nats in 4.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Los Angeles Dodgers (Dodgers win series 3-2)

Here is a series we haven’t seen before in recent memory, a playoff matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals are younger than ever, and subsequently hungrier than ever, in the ever-changing aspect that is Major League Baseball. This is truly a David v. Goliath type situation, but in this one I think the Cardinals, like the Yankees from 2017, have one more year to wait before they can knock off the big boys. The Cardinals will be back in 2019 with another year under the wings and a chip on their shoulder, but this year it will be the Dodgers once again moving on after a hard-fought five-game series.

American League Championship Series

Houston Astros @ New York Yankees (Yankees win series 4-2)

Here we go again, so much for parity in Major League Baseball, huh Commissioner Manfred? In a rematch of the 2017 American League Championship Series the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees will once again square off head-to-head. This time around the Yankees will have homefield advantage, and this time New York will have Giancarlo Stanton and a slew of others at their disposal that they did not have last time around. The young, inexperienced Yankees took the Astros to an eventual Game 7 before falling to the reigning World Series Champions, but that was last season. This is 2018 and the New York Yankees are on a collision course with a certain team from the National League, and not even Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander or some dude with a long beard could stop them. Call me a homer, call me an optimist, just don’t call me late to the Canyon of Heroes. Yankees in six.

National League Championship Series

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Washington Nationals (Nationals win series 4-3)

Remember how I said the Cardinals and Dodgers series was a David v. Goliath type series? Well if that is the case then this series is a Goliath vs. Goliath type series as both teams here matched or exceeded the 95-win plateau during the 2018 regular season. This will be a hard-fought battle that will go all seven games, but one man in particular will be the difference maker in my opinion. Bryce Harper knows what he is playing for. Bryce is playing for a chance at a World Series ring, his legacy as a part of the Washington Nationals and his next free agent contract after the season ends, and for that reason I think we will see a version of Harper that we have never seen before. We will see a focused, yet unruly, and disciplined, yet unyielding, version of himself both at the plate and in the field that will go unmatched by anyone wearing a Dodgers uniform this series. It won’t be easy, but it will be fun to watch as the Washington Nationals shock the World and head to the World Series to face off with the New York Yankees.

BOLDED teams are predicted as the winner in each respective series.

The 2018 World Series, folks. The New York Yankees and the Washington. Let us keep in mind that the last two seasons I didn’t have the Yankees making the World Series, but I did have them winning a second Wild Card in both, so my predictions, albeit biased, are usually pretty spot on with them. “Haters gonna hate” though, am I right?

Two million strong and counting folks! I can’t say it enough. Leave your thoughts, comments and predictions down below in the comments section, or drop us a line on Twitter @GreedyStripes. Another day closer to Opening Day, can you smell the fresh cut grass yet? Because I can…

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: The Standings

Here is a quick look at my predictions for the 2018 season and the overall standings for all 30 teams!

As we count down the days until Opening Day 2018 I wanted to take the opportunity to say this, it is Prediction Season here on The Greedy Pinstripes. Every season I make a series of predictions, sometimes bold and sometimes not so much, before the season, and then I look back on them at season’s end to see how in tune I really was with my wizardry. Spoiler alert, I usually don’t do well in these predictions, but I put them and myself out there nonetheless for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy, and leave any constructive criticism in the comments below, or hit us on Twitter by tagging @GreedyStripes. Two million strong and counting folks!!

American League East

New York Yankees (X)                       94-68

Boston Red Sox (Y)                           90 -72

Baltimore Orioles                               80 - 82

Toronto Blue Jays                               76 - 86

Tampa Bay Rays                                 72 - 90

American League Central

Cleveland Indians (X)                        93-69

Minnesota Twins                                84-78

Kansas City Royals                            83-79

Chicago White Sox                            73 - 89

Detroit Tigers                                     64-98

American League West

Houston Astros (X)                           94-68

Seattle Mariners (Z)                          88-74

Texas Rangers                                   85-77

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim      83-79

Oakland Athletics                             75-87

National League East

Washington Nationals (X)                 96-66

Philadelphia Phillies                          84-78

New York Mets                                  82-80

Atlanta Braves                                   71-91

Miami Marlins                                   62-100

National League Central

St. Louis Cardinals (X)                       92-70

Chicago Cubs (Y)                               89-67

Milwaukee Brewers                            86-76

Pittsburgh Pirates                                74-88

Cincinnati Reds                                  70-92

National League West

Los Angeles Dodgers (X)                 95-67

San Francisco Giants (Z)                  87-75

Colorado Rockies                             85-77

Arizona Diamondbacks                    83-79

San Diego Padres                             70-92

(X) denotes Division Winner

(Y) denotes Wild Card 1 Winner

(Z) denoted Wild Card 2 Winner

Yes, I went bold in the American League West. I don’t have a real and true reason why I feel like the Seattle Mariners will have a great season, but I just do. They have a younger team with a few key guys in key positions that are hungry, and I just have a hunch. This will be one I will likely regret when we look back at the end of the 2018 season, but oh well. For now, the Seattle Robinson Cano’s are in as the 2nd Wild Card team in the American League while the Texas Rangers are selling off pieces in July. Another bold prediction in the National League East as I have the young Fightin’ Phils in second place behind the big right-arm of Jake Arrieta. It isn’t so much that I feel like the Phillies are ready to compete, although they have a young core and nucleus that could easily sneak up on people this summer, but I feel like the NL East is just going to be that bad this season. I truly wanted to put the Atlanta Braves a little higher, but with Philadelphia (and the rest of the NL East) facing off with the Braves and Marlins around 40 times a season each we should see some inflated win numbers out of that division in my opinion. I truly think the most competitive division in all of Major League Baseball this season will be the National League West who will have four potential teams that could make the postseason, with the exception being the San Diego Padres. I like all their teams, and I think it could be fun to watch all summer long out West this season.

Again, leave your predictions in the comments section below or hit us op on Twitter, @GreedyStripes.

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: MVP Award

Here is a quick look back at my 2018 predictions for the American League and National League Most Valuable Player Award winners! 

And for my grand finale, the American League and National League Most Valuable Player Awards!!!! But really, in all seriousness the MVP Awards in both leagues are the big one, the award that every player wants and the award that only a select few get to obtain during their Major League tenures. We all grew up pretending to be the batting champion, the World Series MVP that came up with the big hit in Game 7, and the perennial MVP and that feeling undoubtedly doesn’t change as you grow older and your dreams begin to come to fruition. The childhood dreams of being the league’s MVP is about to come true for these two men. 

Will Aaron Judge get robbed again? Will he get robbed by one of his own teammates in Giancarlo Stanton or Gary Sanchez? Will Judge truly get robbed by someone who can’t even see over the counter at McDonalds? In all seriousness, no he won’t in my opinion. That doesn’t mean I think he will win it either, although I do foresee a special kind of productive season for him once again here in 2018. No, I like to go bold and a little bit against the grain in these decisions. With that in mind I am going to go with Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays as your 2018 AL MVP. Now I know what you are thinking, Dan… MVP’s generally don’t go to a player on a losing team. No, they don’t. But Donaldson is in the final year of a contract with a team that doesn’t look likely to contend even for a Wild Card here in 2018, which means there is a huge possibility that the Blue Jays third baseman will be traded at or before the July 31st trading deadline. If Donaldson were to be traded to an American League team where his stats don’t have to be started over I truly think the Toronto right-hander will win the award and head into free agency fresh off a huge statistical season. 

Remember when Miguel Ozuna hit over .300 and smashed 37 home runs in a season? It feels like it was forever ago, but it was just last season with the Miami Marlins. Now that Ozuna has some protection in the lineup and is on a team in the St. Louis Cardinals that is expected to contend here in 2018 I think a lot more people will start to know and recognize the name, and just what he brings to the table. Ozuna could easily surpass 40 home runs here in 2018 with an average around .285. Sprinkle in 100+ RBI and a nice OBP and SLG percentage and ladies and gentlemen, we have an MVP in the making. It is a bold prediction, mainly because it isn’t Bryce Harper or Paul Goldschmidt, but that’s what I do. Bold predictions, and sometimes they come true. Stay tuned. 

That’s it. Prediction Season is over here on The Greedy Pinstripes. I hope you enjoyed, and we will see you after the season concludes to check in on some of these predictions to see how well I did. Until then, ciao and enjoy your day. 

Remembering My 2018 Predictions: Cy Young Award

Here is a quick look back at my 2018 predictions for the American League and National League Cy Young Award winners! 

Cue the music, it is time for the big awards to be predicted and subsequently handed out as just two major awards remain here in Predictions Season. The AL and NL MVP Awards, which we will cover at a later date, and the hardware we will be handing out today for the American League and National League Cy Young Awards. The AL and NL Cy Young Awards go out to the best pitcher in each respective league and, again I am not saying this to incite a riot or really spark a debate, for that reason it is these awards that should, but don’t, disqualify a pitcher from winning either the AL or NL MVP Award. If a hitter could win the Cy Young Award, then sure. If not, then it just shouldn’t be allowed. My opinion only, just like these predictions are my opinion only as well. Leave your thoughts, comments, debate, banter and opinions in the comments section below or shoot us a line on Twitter by tweeting @GreedyStripes. Thanks in advance! 

Will it finally be time for Luis Severino to shine? Will Masahiro Tanaka regain his dominance despite a lackluster spring? Is Sonny Gray finally going to get some run support here in the Bronx? Not likely. Not with the amazing bullpen that these young men have behind them and the undoubtedly short leash that they will all be on with new manager Aaron Boone presumably wanting to make a statement in his first season as an MLB manager. Boone will want as many wins as possible, and that in turn may mess with the win/loss records and peripherals of the Yankees starters much like it did under former manager Joe Girardi. With that said a New York Yankees pitcher will not win the 2018 American League Cy Young Award in 2018, but I truly believe that a member of the *pukes* Boston Red Sox will in Chris Sale. Sale had a down season in 2017 by many standards including a year where he did not record a victory against the New York Yankees. With the power of JD Martinez backing him in his starts and a few key bullpen pieces coming back from injuries and such for Boston I do not expect the Red Sox to go down quietly here this season, and I expect a much better campaign out of Sale. Unfortunately. 

I wanted to go with Max Scherzer in the National League, I mean I do have his team heading to the World Series and all in these set of predictions, but I wanted to go a little outside of the box with my predictions. With that in mind I am going to go with a member of those Philadelphia Phillies I predicted to do so well this season. No, I am not going with Aaron Nola. I said I wanted to go outside of the box. Instead, I am going to go with Jake Arrieta. Arrieta’s velocity is down and his peripherals are not trending in the right direction, but a change of scenery and a change into a more pitcher-friendly ballpark should only help the right-hander. Plus, in a simple world anyway, Arrieta should draw some easier matchups on paper with Nola being the “ace” of the staff, but really this is just a gut feeling I am having. Go with your gut, win a prestigious award, and look like a wizard in the making. 

Can't Predict Baseball: A First in Major League History w/ Just 23 Fans in Attendance to Tell About it

When you think of the greatest games in Major League history and all the greatest feats in the game you think of jam packed stadiums and crowds rocking and the stadium going wild, right? Not so much on this day in 1916 when the Philadelphia Athletic's switch hitter Wally Schang became the first player in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game. This feat would not be accomplished again until 1940.

What made this especially special was there was only 23 fans attending the game due to rain. This was the smallest crowd in American League history and for such a historic feat to happen really goes to show you, you just cannot predict baseball Suzyn.

ICYMI: 2018 MLB All Star Game Rosters & Final Vote

American League Starters

C Wilson Ramos, Rays
Reserve: Salvador Perez, Royals 

1B Jose Abreu, White Sox
Reserve: Mitch Moreland, Red Sox 

2B Jose Altuve, Astros
Reserve: Gleyber Torres, Yankees 

3B Jose Ramirez, Indians
Reserve: Alex Bregman, Astros 

SS Manny Machado, Orioles
Reserve: Francisco Lindor, Indians 

OF Mookie Betts, Red Sox
OF Mike Trout, Angels
OF Aaron Judge, Yankees

Reserves: Michael Brantley, Indians; Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers; Mitch Haniger, Mariners; George Springer, Astros.

DH J.D. Martinez, Red Sox
Reserve: Nelson Cruz, Mariners.

AL Pitchers

Starters: Trevor Bauer, Indians; Jose Berrios, Twins; Gerrit Cole, Astros, J.A. Happ, Blue Jays; Corey Kluber, Indians; Chris Sale, Red Sox; Luis Severino, Yankees; Justin Verlander, Astros (inactive). 

Relievers: Aroldis Chapman, Yankees; Edwin Diaz, Mariners; Joe Jimenez, Tigers; Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox; Blake Treinen, Athletics.

AL Final Vote

Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox; Eddie Rosario, OF, Twins; Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Yankees; Jean Segura, SS, Mariners; Andrelton Simmons, SS, Angels. 

National League Starters

C Willson Contreras, Cubs
Reserves: Buster Posey, Giants, J.T. Realmuto, Marlins

1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
Reserve: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks, Joey Votto, Reds 

2B Javier Baez, Cubs
Reserves: Ozzie Albies, Braves, Scooter Gennett, Reds

3B Nolan Arenado, Rockies
Reserve: Eugenio Suarez, Reds 

SS Brandon Crawford, Giants
Reserve: Trevor Story, Rockies 

OF Nick Markakis, Braves
OF Bryce Harper, Nationals

OF Matt Kemp, Dodgers

Reserves: Charlie Blackmon, Rockies; Lorenzo Cain, Brewers; Christian Yelich, Brewers.

NL Pitchers

Starters: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks; Jacob deGrom, Mets; Mike Foltyniewicz, Braves; Jon Lester, Cubs; Miles Mikolas, Cardinals; Aaron Nola, Phillies; Max Scherzer, Nationals.

Relievers: Sean Doolittle, Nationals; Josh Hader, Brewers; Brad Hand, Padres; Kenley Jansen, Dodgers; Felipe Vazquez, Pirates.

NL Final Vote

Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Brewers; Brandon Belt, 1B, Giants; Matt Carpenter, INF, Cardinals; INF/OF Max Muncy, Dodgers; Trea Turner, SS, Nationals.

The game will take place on July 17 inside Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals.

Hello… Pitchers Having to Hit RANT

Good morning everyone and welcome back to Interleague Play. I know I probably make this rant every single year, but it is only because I feel so strongly about it. I can appreciate the fact that there is diversity in Major League Baseball between the American League and the National League, and I very much appreciate the differences in the leagues, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it when the Yankees head to a National League park. Why? Pitchers having to hit.

I can buy into the whole “strategy” and old-school feel of the game having a pitcher hit or bunt three-or-four times a night, the pinch-hitting aspects, moving runners over, and playing small ball… but, again, it doesn’t mean that I have to like it.

I cannot stand watching a pitcher that has no business swinging a bat, and a pitcher that likely hasn’t really swung a bat with any consistency since high school or college, having to go up at the Major League level and take swings. It is an injury risk, hello Chein-Ming Wang, and it just zaps any of the fun out of the inning in my opinion. I know it is just my opinion and some fans absolutely love seeing it, I just don’t personally.

So, to Masahiro Tanaka and especially to CC Sabathia this week in Washington… take it slow. Strike out or bunt if you have to, and for the love of everything good in this world make it out in one piece this week. Thanks in advance.

And to my Kari, 15 more days… I love you!!!