![The outside of the new Globe Life Field where the World Series will be held. [Image Source: Drone To Fly/Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2020/9/29/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-outside-of-the-new-globe-life-field-where-the-world-series-will-be-held-image-source-drone-to-fly-wikimedia-commons_2522316.jpg "The outside of the new Globe Life Field where the World Series will be held. [Image Source: Drone To Fly/Wikimedia Commons]")
Moments before the 2020 MLB season started, the owners and players agreed to an expanded postseason format that saw eight teams from each league advance to the playoffs. It came down to the wire as the Milwaukee Brewers and St.Louis Cardinals clinched playoff spots on the final day. With the postseason set to start tomorrow, here's what could happen with more than half the teams in the league playing.
Yankees (5) upset Indians (4)
The Cleveland Indians got two more wins than the New York Yankees did but the reason that is so is that the Indians only played teams in the Central divisions.
That means they played 20 games combined (10 each) between the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers as well as six games against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Indians pitching is a bright spot that's lead by triple crown winner Shane Bieber who's followed by the likes of Carlos Carrasco and Zach Plesac. Aside from Jose Ramirez and Francisco Lindor who batted a career-worse .258 with an OPS of .750, the Indians offense is weak.
Meanwhile, the Yankees boast one of the most potent offenses in the league when everyone is healthy (which is the case heading into the playoffs) and have Gerrit Cole going against Bieber Game 1. While Bieber could cause the Yankees offense trouble, they combine to bat .250/.360/.403 against him, the Indians struggle to muster hits off Cole as they combine to slash .089/.159/.128 off the Yankees' ace.
The Yankees also have a deep bullpen that will help them get the series.
Reds beat Braves in two
The Cincinnati Reds will head over to Atlanta to face the Braves as they are ranked as the lower seed. Despite being the visiting team, the Reds will have no problem taking care of the Braves as they will be out of Atlanta in two days, largely due to their starting pitching.
NL Cy Young favorite Trevor Bauer will take the rubber Game 1 who whiffed 100 batters on the season and will be followed by Luis Castillo who posted a 3.21 E.R.A. with 89 strikeouts. The Braves starting pitchers? Max Fried and a yet to be named starter that will most likely be an inexperienced Kyle Wright or Ian Anderson. If the Braves somehow manage a win, they'll have to see Sonny Gray in game three who's reinvented himself since going to Cincinnati.
Also, a weak Braves pitching staff will have to face all of Eugenio Suarez, Nicholas Castellanos, Joey Votto, and Mike Moustakas who can be dangerous when all of them click.
Yankees and Dodgers extend World Series droughts
The Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers were the heavy favorites to face each other in the World Series before the season started but as the games go on, things change. While the Dodgers did not disappoint, the Yankees sort of did as they didn't win their division and again dealt with an influx of injuries. Also aside from Cole, the Yankees rotation is still not a strength and the team standing pat at the deadline will come back to hurt them.
Some may call the Dodgers a juggernaut, but they're prone to choking in the playoffs as they've done in seasons past.
Clayton Kershaw has a career E.R.A. of 4.42 in the postseason which he has never had an earned run average close to that over a whole season aside from his rookie year. Cody Bellinger has a career slash line of .178/.234/.326 in the postseason, Corey Seager hits just .203/.275/.331 when games really matter and the team as a whole is prone to crashing in the playoffs. The bullpen is nothing to be wowed about either as the team blew 10 saves in 60 games.
The Dodgers should have no problem handling the Brewers but once they get deeper into the postseason, the harder it will get for them. One thing they should hope for is that the Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres which will give the Dodgers an easier second-round matchup.
White Sox/Padres World Series
The Chicago White Sox and the Padres are two very young teams that are dynasties in the making in which they will face off against each other in the World Series that is set to take place in Texas. The White Sox receive strong offensive showings on a consistent basis from all their positions with the exception of second base (combination of Nick Madrigal and Leury Garcia) and right field (Nomar Mazara) in which their offensive core consists of possible MVP candidates Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson as well as a possible Rookie of the Year in Luis Robert. Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Yasmani Grandal, and Edwin Encarnacion can't be forgotten either.
The White Sox pitching is also decent too.
Their ace Lucas Giolito threw a no-hitter this season, Dallas Keuchel posted a 3.47 E.R.A., and their closer Alex Colome notched 12 saves while only giving up two earned runs all season.
The Padres also have a strong offense although to a lesser extent. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr showed how their the most dynamic right side of the infield in baseball this season in which they could both be MVP candidates and the Padres lead the league in grand slams. The rotation features a formidable threesome of Chris Paddack as well as Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger assuming they're both healthy.
This will be an exciting series as two dynasties-in-the-making are ahead of their contention schedule but the Padres will take this series going the distance in seven games. Their pitching is better and Tatis Jr will show the White Sox that it was a mistake trading him back in 2016 for James Shields.
