Starting tomorrow, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves will host the visit of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Both series will be 3-of-5 and the winners will be eligible to play each other in the Championship Series.
Who will be most likely to surrender? After all, it will be very tight and all four teams are in the divisional series for a reason.
Here is the state of the forces of the different teams still alive.
pitching staff
Los Angeles : Even though Walker Buehler is injured and Dustin May isn’t 100 percent, the Dodgers still have Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin in the rotation, to name a few.
The club’s succession is deep, but the #1 reliever (Craig Kimbrel) has lost his position. Does this cast uncertainty for the sequel?
San Diego : Because the club played against the Mets, Mike Clevinger will have to tarnish the fort in the first game of the series. Having Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Blake Snell afterwards helps a bit.
There is uncertainty in the bullpen, however, which has been average for MLB this year. Will Josh Hader hold up?
Atlanta : Kyle Wright Max Fried, Charlie Morton and (if healthy) Spencer Strider can clearly dispose of the Phillies, who don’t have the same depth.
And even in the bullpen, behind the experienced Kenley Jansen, there are good options. Really good options, actually.
Philadelphia : Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, two starting pitchers that I love, managed to get the Cardinals out. But behind them? What will Ranger Suarez, Kyle Gibson and Noah Syndergaard do?
They will have to hope for big performances from the starters since the bullpen is one of the worst in major league baseball.
Position players
Los Angeles : Collectively, the Dodgers have had the best OPS (MPP) this season in major league baseball. Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, Will Smith and Max Muncy, to name a few, are able to guide a turn at bat well.
San Diego : Even in the absence of Fernando Tatis Jr. (doping), guys like Manny Machado and Juan Soto can take matters into their own hands. If Josh Bell, Brandon Drury, Jake Cronenworth and the amazing Jurickson Profar as well as Trent Grisham can help out more, that will be ideal in San Diego.
Atlanta : Yes, several players from the 2021 conquest have left (several outfielders and Freddie Freeman, in particular) and Ozzie Albies is injured, but the attack in 2022 has been excellent… and a certain Ronald Acuna Jr. is there this year, him.
Philadelphia : The defensive game isn’t always on point there, but Bryce Harper, JT Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Alec Bohm and Rhys Hoskins are able to take matters into their own hands and give the club the big run which he needs.
imponderables
Los Angeles : The Dodgers put a lot of money into their team and they must feel that it’s time to start winning for them, for the fans… but also for Vin Scully.
San Diego : There were big doubts this year, but here are the Padres in the four aces of the National. They will want to prove that they deserve their place in the sun.
Atlanta : Let’s not forget that the Braves are the defending champions. They also managed to get their hands on the Eastern Division title and they have momentum.
Philadelphia : The club haven’t made the playoffs since 2011 and with Canadian manager Rob Thomson here to stay, the club will want to wreak havoc.
