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Three reasons each AL team can win the pennant
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Three reasons each AL team can win the pennant

Of the four major North American sports, Major League Baseball offers us the most unpredictable postseason. Any team can win it all, and with the recent invention of the Wild Card Playoff, the MLB postseason has never been more fickle. So with that in mind, let’s take at each of the four American League contenders, and give three reasons why each could win the AL pennant and make a World Series run.


Toronto Blue Jays
Reason one: Power

The Toronto Blue Jays like to hit home runs. Not only do they like to hit home runs, but they also like hit a lot of them, and hit them really far. Lead by Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, Troy Tulowitzki, and AL MVP candidate Josh Donaldson, the Jays lead all the majors in home runs this year, hitting a grand total of 232. And it’s not just that the Blue Jays hit a lot of home runs; they hit them FAR. Simply put, these guys hit absolute bombs. And there is nothing that kills the momentum of an opposing team, and injects your own team full of life than 450 foot postseason home run. Expect the Rogers Centre to be rocking this postseason.

Reason two: David Price

The baseball world knew from the get-go that Blue Jays would not be lacking for offense. Pitching has been the question for this ball club. Fortunately, Toronto addressed that need at the trade deadline by acquiring former Cy Young winner David Price from the Detroit Tigers. Since becoming a Blue Jay, Price has gone 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA and WHIP of 1.01. He could be in the line to win another Cy Young award this season, and with Price as their number one pitcher, the Blue Jays could ride his left arm deep into the postseason.

Reason three: Momentum

Since August 1st the Toronto Blue Jays have been the best team in the AL. The Jays went 40-18 to close the season, and have established themselves as the best team in the AL and perhaps all of baseball. Oddly enough, the Jays ALDS opponent, the Texas Rangers, have been the second hottest team in AL over the past two months. It's possible the momentum of the two teams will serve to cancel each other out, or perhaps, and what seems more likely, is that the Jays will continue their run of dominance.

Kansas City Royals
Reason one: Bullpen

Although the Kansas City Royals have lost closer Greg Holland for the season, they still boast one of the best bullpens in baseball. Wade Davis, Kelvim Herrera, and Ryan Madson are all proven relievers who manager Ned Yost can be confident to call upon when the time is right. Their ALDS opponent, the Houston Astros, don't have that same luxury. The Royals rode their bullpen to the World Series last year, and they could easily do it once again this year.

Reason two: Home field Advantage

The Royals posted the best record in the AL with their 95-67 mark, meaning they will have home-field advantage for the duration of the postseason. The Royals went 51-30 at home this season, and have a team batting average of .279 at Kauffman Stadium. That’s a full .20 points higher than their road average. Granted home field doesn’t mean as much in baseball as does in other sports, but for a team like the Royals it very well could.

Reason three: Identity

After making it the all the way to Game 7 of the World Series last year, the Kansas City Royals know who they are as a baseball team. They get on base then steal bases, manufacture runs, play defense, and get a lead for their elite bullpen to hold. Of the four teams competing for the AL Pennant, only the Kansas City Royals truly know what their identity is as a baseball team.

Texas Rangers
Reason one: They’ve been there before.

Unlike their ALDS opponents the Toronto Blue Jays, who will be playing playoff baseball for the first time in over 20 years, the pressure of postseason baseball is nothing new for the players on this Texas Rangers team. Stars Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Josh Hamilton, and Cole Hamels all have tremendous postseason experience, and aren't afraid of the a big moment. Although this is a different team than the one that went to the 2011 World Series, the residue of that team is still a midst in the Rangers clubhouse.

Reason two: The Rangers can hit

This Rangers team has no shortage of great hitters. The aforementioned Beltre and Fielder both had excellent seasons at the plate, but Rangers lineup doesn’t stop there. Mitch Moreland, Shin-Soo Choo, Rougned Odor, Elvis Andrus, and Delino DeShields Jr. all finished with an offensive WAR above 2.0. The Rangers finished third in the MLB in runs scored with 751, and the spark that can lead to huge inning can come from any spot in their lineup.

Reason three: Momentum

Since acquiring pitcher Cole Hamels on July 30th, the Rangers have posted a record of 39-22; a record which lead them to a division title. When star pitcher Yu Darvish was declared out for the season due to Tommy John surgery, the Rangers were largely written off. Now they’re headed into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in baseball. Another World Series run is a distinct possibility.

Houston Astros
Reason one: Dallas Keuchel is unbeatable at home

Houston Astros ace Dallas Keuchel is the ultimate case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Keuchel is unbeatable at home, as he went 15-0 at Minute Maid Park with  a 1.46 ERA, and held opponents to a .186 batting average. On the road, Keuchel is 5-8 with a 3.77 ERA, and opposing teams hit .253 off of him. If Astros manager A.J. Hinch is wise, he’ll make sure Keuchel starts Game 3 of their ALDS match-up against the Royals at home where he is simply invincible.

Reason two: The middle infield

The Houston Astros boast the best all-around middle infield in all of baseball with shortstop Carlos Correa and second basemen Jose Altuve. The 21-year-old Correa already a star, and an MVP in the making, while Altuve finished third in the AL batting title race, hitting .313 on the year. The pair are also superb defenders, and of five AL teams in the postseason, the Astros committed the fewest errors on the season.

Reason three: Health

Of the four teams in the AL that made the postseason, the Astros are healthiest. Starting right fielder George Springer is back in the lineup, and injury prone pitcher Scott Kazmir has been at 100% all year for the Astros. With health, also comes depth, and the Astros have plenty of that in the form of power-hitters Evan Gattis and Chris Carter who can both DH for the team. With a group of young, healthy, and talented players, the Astros could make a lot of noise this October.

As noted earlier, the MLB postseason has become as unpredictable as a game of roulette. Luck, random error, or just one bad pitch can make or break a team in the MLB playoffs. But if you’re looking for few reasons to believe in either the Blue Jays, Royals, Astros, or Rangers, then hopefully these will suffice.

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