MLB Playoff Preview & Predictionsby Robby MadduxTigers vs. Yankees The Detroit Tigers were a pleasant surprise in '06 but the end is near. Sunday, the Tigers blew a golden opportunity to win the AL Central, blowing a six-run lead in a 10-8 loss to the Kansas City Royals in 12 innings. The loss left the Tigers holding onto the AL wildcard, meaning they lose home field advantage. The only thing concerning to New York is the Yankees' health, and defensively A-Rod and Gary Sheffield could be liabilities. But even if errors are committed, the New York bats are very experienced and should be able to pick them up. If the Yankees head to the ninth with the lead it's game over with Mariano Rivera closing. In Game 1, the Tigers send lefty Nate Robinson (13-13, 3.84 ERA) to the hill. Robinson has struggled against the Yankees with a career record of 1-4 and an ERA of 4.46 in 6 starts. In his last start against the Yankees, he gave up 10 hits and 6 ERs in a loss. The Yankees counter with Chien-Ming Wang (19-6, 3.63 ERA). Wang has been brilliant against the Tigers with a 3-0 record in 4 career starts with a sparkling 2.52 ERA. At home he's a stellar 11-3. The Yankees have ample postseason experience and home field advantage where the Tigers are 8-25 in the last 33 meetings in New York. It was a great regular season in Mo' Town, but the Yankees take this series in four games. Game 1 Tue, Oct 3: at NYY - 8:05 pm EDT Nate Robertson vs. Chien-Ming Wang (TV: FOX). Game 2 Wed, Oct 4: at NYY - 8:05 pm EDT Justin Verlander vs. Mike Mussina (TV: ESPN). Game 3 Fri, Oct 6: at DET - 8:05 pm Randy Johnson vs. Kenny Rogers (TV: ESPN). *Game 4 Sat, Oct 7: at DET - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: ESPN). *Game 5 Sun, Oct 8: at NYY - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: ESPN). * - If necessary A's vs. Twins This should be a very competitive series and the outcome may depend on Johan Santana's (19-6, 2.77 ERA) performance in Game 1. If the Twins win the opener it will be hard for Oakland to bounce back, considering the A's enter postseason having lost six of their last nine games. Santana has been good against the A's with a lifetime mark of 4-1 in 7 starts with an ERA of 3.19. At home, Santana has been virtually untouchable, literally. In the dome he's a perfect 12-0 with a sparkling ERA of 0.98. The Twins are 5-2 in Santana's last 7 starts vs. the A's. Lefty Barry Zito (16-10, 3.83 ERA) will be handed the ball in Game 1 in what should be a pitcher's duel. In his career against Minnesota, he's 4-4 with a respectable 3.58 ERA in 11 starts. The Twins are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a left-handed starter. Offensively, the Twins have the edge with Torii Hunter and Justin Morneau who are swinging hot bats. Defensively, Minnesota has a slight advantage with Joe Mauer, Luis Castillo and Hunter who are strong up the middle. The A's are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning record, and they are 1-5 in the last 6 meetings in Minnesota. The beat goes on for the A's in a great series, but the Twins take it in 5 games. Game 1 Tue, Oct 3: at MIN - 1:05 pm EDT Johan Santana vs. Barry Zito (TV: ESPN). Game 2 Wed, Oct 4: at MIN - 1:05 pm EDT Esteban Loaiza vs. Boof Bonser (TV: ESPN). Game 3 Fri, Oct 6: at OAK - 4:05 pm EDT Pitchers TBA (TV: ESPN). *Game 4 Sat, Oct 7: at OAK - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: ESPN). *Game 5 Sun, Oct 8: at MIN - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: ESPN). * - If necessary For the quickest and easiest depositing methods available, sign-up today at BetUS.com, "for over 14 years they have been the Pioneers and World-wide Leaders in Online Sports, Poker, Casino and Racebook Gaming!" Always receive great odds, huge bonuses and fast payouts only at BetUS.com! BET ON FOOTBALL! Deposit $300 and get $100 in Bonuses! Dodgers vs. Mets Mets' hurler Orlando Hernandez brings sufficient postseason experience to the mound in Game 1, but the Dodgers are 6-0 in their last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter. As well, the Mets are 0-4 in Hernandez's last 4 starts during Game 1 of a series. He's had 3 career starts against LA with a 1-1 mark. Home cookin' hasn't helped much this year as he's 5-6 in New York with a 4.67 ERA. Derek Lowe toes the rubber for the Dodgers in hopes of giving his club a victory right out of the gate on the road where he's 6-4 with an ERA of 4.13. In his last outing against the Mets, he got a win in a solid 6 inning appearance while allowing just 2 runs. Mets' pitching suffers without Pedro Martinez and the Dodgers have solid starters and good depth out of the pen. Jonathon Broxton and Joe Beimel have been great in front of Takashi Saito. However, overall, both pitching staffs are pretty evenly matched. This series will be won at the plate and each team has a talented lineup. The Mets scored 800 runs this year and the Dodgers posted 799. LA has a slightly better BA at .276 compared to .264 hit by the Mets. The underdog Dodgers give the Mets all they can handle while taking the series in 5 games. Game 1 Wed, Oct 4: at NYM - 4:05 pm EDT Derek Lowe vs. Orlando Hernandez (TV: ESPN). Game 2 Thur, Oct 5: at NYM - 8:05 pm EDT Greg Maddux vs. Tom Glavine (TV: FOX). Game 3 Sat, Oct 7: at LAD - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). *Game 4 Sun, Oct 8: at LAD - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). *Game 5 Mon, Oct 9: at NYM - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). * - If necessary Cardinals vs. Padres The St. Louis Cardinals enter postseason having lost nine of their last 12, nearly squandering a seven-game lead. The Cardinals are not as dominating as in recent years and now meet a good San Diego Padres team who has home field advantage. Cardinals manager Tony La Russa gambled in the regular-season finale by scratching Chris Carpenter (15-8, 3.09 ERA) for a possible playoff opener, reasoning that his struggling team needed two starts by the 15-game winner in the first round to have a chance against the Dodgers. On the road, Carpenter is 7-4 this year with an ERA of 4.70. He's 2-2 lifetime against the Padres in 5 starts. In his last appearance against SD, the Padres beat him up for 6 runs off 12 hits in a loss. Jake Peavy (11-14, 4.09 ERA) goes for the Padres. Peavy hasn't had much success when facing the Cardinals with a career record of 1-2 manufactured in 5 starts. In his last outing against St. Louis, he managed to get a win despite giving up 6 runs and 9 hits in 5 innings of work. Offensively, neither team packs much punch, but the Cardinals have Albert Pujols. Pujols is a beast but one player can't carry a club on his back to victory in postseason play. He has a solid stand, however, the Padres get the job done in 4 games. Game 1 Tue, Oct 3: at SD - 4:05 pm EDT Chris Carpenter vs. Jake Peavy (TV: ESPN). Game 2 Thur, Oct 5: at SD - 4:05 pm EDT Jeff Suppan vs. Chris Young (TV: ESPN. Game 3 Sat, Oct 7: at STL - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). *Game 4 Sun, Oct 8: at STL - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). *Game 5 Mon, Oct 9: at SD - TBA Pitchers TBA (TV: TBA). * - If necessary Check out the expert 2007 NCAA basketball predictions! --- by BetUSradio at 1800-sports.com on October 03, 2006
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