Then there were two. The championship series in both leagues have ended, and we now know our World Series matchup. While all the attention is turned on the World Series, there is still plenty to take away from the championship series. We learned a lot about the four teams competing, and it will help shape who wins the World Series. Here is what we learned from both the ALCS and the NLCS.
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays
Rays Starters Kept The Guardians Quiet
The Rays have gone from playing in the Yankees’ Spring Training facility to winning the AL Pennant in just one season. The main reason for such a quick turnaround has been their starting pitching. In the series against the Guardians, the trio of Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta, and Nick Martinez were all able to shut down Cleveland batters. Peralta was the star, allowing just one run in 12 innings and striking out nine. This helped him earn ALCS MVP honors. But Rasmussen and Martinez were just as important, giving clutch starts when the Rays needed it.
During the postseason, starting pitching is one of the most important things a team can have. They can help set the tone for a game and swing momentum in their team’s favor. If a starter can give six or seven innings without allowing a run, it gives you a great chance to win. The Rays have two pitchers like that in Rasmussen and Peralta, and they can rely on Martinez for five. This is something the Rays can rely on. They only need their offense to give them a couple of runs, and they should be able to win.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers’ bullpen is the Best in the Sport
One of the biggest questions everyone had about the Brewers entering this postseason was whether they had the starting pitching to go deep. Sure, Jacob Misiorowski is going to win the NL Cy Young Award, and Logan Henderson had a breakout year. But beyond those two, plenty of questions remained about their rotation. It was unknown if it had the depth to keep up with the Dodgers. But with the Brewers’ bullpen, their rotation doesn’t matter. The bullpen kept the Dodgers’ bats quiet.
This has been true throughout the postseason. In the 40 1/3 innings the Brewers have relied on their bullpen, they have a 1.33 ERA. It is one of the best bullpen performances in MLB postseason history. Guys like Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill have done a great job of stifling opposing offenses. If they keep performing like this, the Brewers will be a tough team to beat in the World Series. Teams will have to worry not only about their two aces, but also about the elite relievers coming in.
