Posts Tagged ‘Predictions’

My MLB Postseason and World Series Predictions

October 4th, 2016 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on My MLB Postseason and World Series Predictions | Filed in Baseball, General, MLB

2016mlbpostseason

Now that the season’s ended, the postseason begins, and less than a month from now, the Fall Classic will resume; since it ended last November 1st. Unfortunately for the defending World Series champion Royals, they won’t be returning to the postseason, after finishing at .500 this season. With the best record in baseball, the Cubs won 103 games, the fifth most in franchise history, and they’ll be making their second-consecutive appearance in the postseason. With all of that being said, here are my postseason predictions.

Postseason Predictions (the winning teams are on the far right)

October 4th- AL Wild Card- Baltimore @ Toronto– Toronto 

Like the other Wild Card game this week, this match-up tonight will be a hard-fought one. Both teams finished with 89 wins, Toronto has some of the best power hitters in the game, one of the best third baseman in the league, in Josh Donaldson (.284 average, 37 home runs, 99 RBIs), while Baltimore has a fellow AL MVP candidate, in fellow third baseman Manny Machado (.294 average, 37 home runs, 96 RBIs). Among American League teams, Baltimore ranked first in home runs (253), although they only had a team average of .256. Although it’s only one game, the problem this year for Baltimore was their pitching staff- or lack thereof.

Baltimore’s ace Kevin Gausman will most likely get the nod, although he only won nine games and had a 3.61 ERA. For Toronto, they’ll most likely hand the ball off to former Phillie J.A. Happ, who surprisingly won 20 games this year; with a 3.18 ERA to boot. I’m going with Toronto, based off Happ’s success this season, as well as the strong one-two punch of Donaldson and designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion; who had 42 home runs this year.

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The Phillies future is as dim as ever.

June 5th, 2015 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on The Phillies future is as dim as ever. | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

This may seem obvious as it’ll ever be, and every Phillies’ fan knows it, but here I’ll break down, bit by bit, why the Phillies’ future’s looking dim. I see no reason thus far, based on personnel moves by Ruben Amaro (Jr), to believe they’ll be a contender in (at least) the next five-six years. Here are some of the reasons listed below as to why I believe so.

Ruben Amaro, Jr. 

I think, or I at least hope, the majority of Phillies’ fans can agree with me that Amaro holds significant blame for the downfall of the Phillies. Since he took over in ’09 for Pat Gillick, who won the World Series with the team a year prior and then retired, the team’s declined ever year. Even though they made the playoffs from 2009-11, they went from atop the mountain to the one of the worst teams in baseball.

In 2009, they went to the World Series and lost it in six to the Yankees, in 2010, they lost to San Francisco in the National League Championship Series, and in 2011 (despite winning a franchise record 102 games), they lost to St. Louis in the first round. After that, they haven’t made the playoffs since. They won 81 games the next year, and since then, they’ve won just 73 games the past-two years, finishing in last place last season. So far this year, they’re no better, with a win-loss record of 21-33; the second worst record in the league (ahead of Milwaukee). Point being, they’ve gotten worst each year.

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Washington Redskins (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)- Game Preview, Analysis, Predictions and more

September 17th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Washington Redskins (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)- Game Preview, Analysis, Predictions and more | Filed in Eagles, Football

(AP Photo)

(Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

Current Injuries

Injury Report

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Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)- Game Preview, Analysis, Predictions and more

September 13th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)- Game Preview, Analysis, Predictions and more | Filed in Eagles, Football

Date- 09/15
Time- 8:30 PM EST
Channel- ESPN
Favorites- Colts by 3
Location- Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Injury Report

Eagles

Lane Johnson- suspended
Allen Barbre- ankle (on IR)
Najee Goode- pectoral (on IR)
Evan Mathis- knee (on IR)
Travis Long- knee (on IR)
Matt Tobin- ankle (questionable)
Josh Huff- shoulder (questionable)
Chris Polk- hamstring (probable)
Brad Smith- groin (probable)
Jaylen Watkins- hamstring (probable)

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Flyers vs Rangers Playoff Preview

April 16th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Flyers vs Rangers Playoff Preview | Filed in Flyers, General, Hockey

As we exit the NHL Regular Season and enter into the playoffs, the Flyers have a lot of question marks going forward. On the flip side, they also have some things in their favor as well heading into Thursday night’s bout with New York at MSG. Let’s look at the series as a whole.

(AP)

Series Schedule- Date/Location/Time/Channel (all times EST)

04/17- @ New York- 07:00 PM- CSN
04/20- @ New York- 12:00 PM- NBC
04/22- @ Philly- 08:00 PM- CSN
04/25- @ Philly- 07:00 PM- CSN
04/27- @ New York- 12:00 PM- NBC (if necessary)
04/29- @ Philly- TBA- CSN (if necessary)
04/30- @ New York- TBA- CSN (if necessary)

Despite posting a winning record (23-22-3), last season (2012-13) was one to forget for Philadelphia in the lockout-shortened season; as they missed the postseason for just the second time in the span of the past 16 seasons. Interim head coach Craig Berube has to feel good about that, as well as his club’s overall improvement(s) within this season as well; as they began the season at just 0-3, and were just 3-8 one month in. Since November 1st, Philly’s gone 39-22-10.

Alain Vigneault is in his first year as Rangers’ head coach, having previously coached two Canadian NHL teams in Vancouver (2006-2013) and Montreal (1997-2001). Vigneault has had success as coach, not just in the regular season either, as he took the 2011 Canucks three years ago to the Finals; before eventually bowing to Boston.

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The 2014 Philadelphia Phillies Season: Analysis, Roster, Predictions, and more!

April 1st, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on The 2014 Philadelphia Phillies Season: Analysis, Roster, Predictions, and more! | Filed in Baseball, General, Phillies

philssched2014

Ah, Spring Training baseball has concluded, and now the real season begins.

Today commences the official start of baseball in Philadelphia for the season. For the Phillies, what does that mean? Well, here’s the roundup heading into the season:

Seven position players over the age of 30
-A team payroll of over $180-million (ranked third best in baseball behind the Dodgers and Yankees)
Cole Hamels out (most likely) until sometime in May with shoulder fatigue
-Ryne Sandberg in his first full year of coaching (the team not only removed the interim tag, but honored him with a three-year deal to boot)
-Starting the season in inter-league play at Texas (at Globe Life Park)

-Lee returns to Texas

Today in the opener, squaring off against 27-year old Tanner Scheppers (who’ll start in place of Yu Darvish, due to a neck injury), Cliff Lee will take the mound against his former team, the Texas Rangers. Lee was a member of a successful Rangers’ team that went on to represent the AL in the 2010 World Series against San Francisco, after Rangers’ GM Jon Daniels acquired the lefty from Seattle months prior in July. Cliff also debuted in 2009 against Texas, back then as a member of Cleveland. He got rocked around in that start, being accounted for seven earned runs in a 9-1 loss.

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Philadelphia Flyers (27-23-6) vs. San Jose Sharks (35-15-6)

February 4th, 2014 by Kyle Lutz | Comments Off on Philadelphia Flyers (27-23-6) vs. San Jose Sharks (35-15-6) | Filed in Flyers, General, Hockey
(AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Philadelphia Flyers (27-23-6, 60 pts) at San Jose Sharks (35-15-6, 76 points)
10:30 p.m. | SAP Center at San Jose | San Jose, CA
TV/Radio: In Philly: TCN, 97.5 FM | San Jose: Comcast Sportsnet California

Starting Goaltenders: -Philadelphia- Steve Mason (21-14-5) San Jose: Antti Niemi (28-11-6)

Starting Lineups/Line Combinations/Defensive Pairings:

Philadelphia

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