Elephant Rumblings: Divisional series begin tomorrow

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

With the Mets’ Wild Card Game 3 victory over the Brewers yesterday, the table is now fully set for the divisional round of the MLB postseason. This week’s Wild Card culling of four unfortunate playoff hopefuls was swift, with three of four series being swept by the victors in two games.

Three of this year’s Wild Card series were also won by the visiting team, as were six of all nine individual games. Nico was clearly onto something when he observed the apparent away team advantage that was in effect this week.

The Mets have already had quite a roller coaster ride. They squeaked into the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, were poised to sweep the Brewers on Wednesday before blowing the game late, and ultimately got through their Wild Card series by the skin of their teeth yesterday on a ninth inning comeback blast from Pete Alonso that punched the Mets’ ticket to Philly.

Now just eight teams remain in World Series contention, and all four best-of-five divisional series begin tomorrow.

There are former Athletics in every series. Stephen Vogt led the Guardians to the second seed in the AL in his first season as an MLB manager. Lucas Erceg saved both of the Royals’ wins over the Orioles to help get Kansas City into a showdown with the top-seeded Yankees. Sean Manaea and the Mets continue their improbable postseason run against the Phillies. And former fan favorite (okay, maybe that’s a stretch) Jurickson Profar is finally living up to his pedigree with the Padres, who are set to take on the top NL seed Dodgers. Remember Blake Treinen? He’s the Dodgers’ high leverage setup man these days, and he still has a very lively fastball.

Sadly, Matt Olson, Sean Murphy, and Ramón Laureano all had their postseason cut short by Profar and the Padres. Better luck next year, Atlanta. Perhaps next year we’ll also see the “No City” Athletics back in the postseason.

Enjoy this weekend’s baseball, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Latest on A’s proposed move to Las Vegas
• Aaron Brooks Elects Free Agency
• Former A’s, Braves Outfielder Cristian Pache Elects Free Agency

MLB News & Interest:

• OMG! Onward Mets Go thanks to Alonso’s epic HR
• Reds To Hire Terry Francona As Manager
• Detroit Tigers’ A.J. Hinch ends Houston Astros’ streak
• With the Astros out of the picture, the Yankees must seize their moment ($)
• Dave Roberts knows that for the Dodgers, it’s title or bust: ‘It’s expected’ ($)
• 2025 Draft Lottery Odds Finalized
• Justin Verlander Planning To Pitch In 2025
• Marlins continue sweeping organizational changes, let go more than 70 staffers ($)
• Orioles General Manager Expects To Have Greater Payroll Capacity
• Brown: Astros May Have To Get “Creative” With Payroll
• 11 Players Elect Free Agency
• How Yankees’ Aaron Judge transformed his ‘terrible’ swing to become the world’s best hitter ($)
• Fear the Royals, the unlikely savants of October ($)
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

What sort of Johnfoolery is this?

Seems quite plausible.

Roots Coliseum game tix on sale soon.