Colorado Rockies – Eric Gray
The Colorado Rockies will get the chance to avenge last year’s wild card loss, and I believe they have the talent to do it. The powerful bats and ace pitching staff in the Rockies organization will become important during the final stretch of the season and will propel them into this year’s playoffs.
At the plate, the Rockies have big hitters including Nolan Arenado, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story and Ian Desmond. Arenado is currently tied for second place in the National League in home runs with 34, Trevor Story is tied for fifth (and hit a 505-foot home run) and Charlie Blackmon is ranked seventh in total hits. While Story has been struggling with a recent injury, he is expected to return to finish out the season.
As a team, the Rockies rank in the top five in the National League in hits, triples, home runs, total bases, batting average and slugging percentage. Those statistics speak for themselves and create problems for the opposing pitchers.
On the mound, the Rockies have ace Kyle Freeland, who is tied for fourth in total wins and fourth in ERA. If one of the Rockies’ starters has a bad performance or needs help finishing out a game, they can call in closer Wade Davis, who leads the NL in saves with 41. Having a closer who can finish out games out is crucial in the postseason, and Davis will prove his worth in the final games.
The Rockies finish their season with a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals. The Rockies have gone 3-1 against the Nationals so far this year and are expected to have their top of the rotation pitchers to end the season.
The Cardinals, who are the main competitor with the Rockies for the last wild-card spot, have a tough end to their season with a three-game road series against the playoff-bound Chicago Cubs. If the Rockies can get through Bryce Harper and the Nationals, expect to see them battling it out in the NL wild-card game on Oct. 2.
St. Louis Cardinals – Anthony Cullotta
My pick to claim the final National League Wild Card spot is the St. Louis Cardinals. As of right now, the Cardinals hold a close lead in the three-team race and control their own destiny.
The Cardinals have power in their bats and their pitching arms. They have a deep lineup featuring superstar Matt Carpenter, five tool outfielder Marcel Ozuna, the always-consistent catcher Yadier Molina and late-bloomer Jose Martinez. The pitching staff is underrated with Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Carlos Martinez and former Peoria Chief flamethrower Jordan Hicks racking up strikeouts and keeping runners off base.
The Cardinals can put all of their focus on just simply winning games instead of getting healthy. It is difficult when a team is constantly scoreboard watching to see what the team ahead of them has done around the country. It can be devastating to see the team ahead winning and there will be no adjustment in the standings regardless of their game’s outcome.
However, it can also put pressure on that team behind to win because they have a chance to move up with a win. The Cardinals can play stress-free baseball and focus on winning games. The Rockies have lost five of their last six games and are really struggling to score runs. The Cardinals were able to go on a three game winning streak to jump ahead in the standings.
Trevor Story, one of the Rockies’ best players, is missing time, and could possibly miss the rest of the season with an elbow injury. Losing a player of his caliber is a huge loss for a team during the final stretch run and I do not think that the Rockies will have enough offensive firepower to catch the Cardinals even with Ian Desmond, Nolan Arenado and bearded Charlie Blackmon.
I pick the Cardinals to take the final NL wild card spot because it is in their full control. All they have to do is win. They are not concerned about catching up to anyone or having to shuffle up lineups because of injured players.
