ATLANTA — With the Wild Card round in the rearview mirror, the Division Series rounds kick off on Saturday with the favorites for the World Series joining into the MLB playoff frenzy.
While the Atlanta Braves may be the favorite to win the National League and the Houston Astros have the best odds to win the American League, every team in the hunt for the Fall Classic has some type of weakness. Will that weakness be something that those teams can overcome, or will it be their downfall?
In this article, let's not only take a look at each of the weaknesses for every team left in the MLB postseason, but also power rank them according to the ones that should be a concern, from the least worrisome to the most.
I'm in Atlanta for Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS between the Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, so make sure you're checking FanSided often for quotes and analysis straight from Truist Park.
Speaking of the Braves, they are at the bottom of our worry-meter when it comes to their weakness. Of course, people didn't seem too concerned about Atlanta in last year's NLDS ... and Braves and Phillies fans will both remind you exactly how that series turned out.
8. Atlanta Braves NLDS weakness: Rotation depth
In a best-of-five matchup against the Phillies, perhaps the rotation depth isn't a big concern. However, having Max Fried return in time for Game 2 of the NLDS is a big development. That gives Atlanta Spencer Strider to start the opener followed by Fried, with both of those starts coming at home. On paper, that's solid. However, Strider has struggled in his past five starts, posting a 5.60 ERA. That follows a June where his ERA was 5.46, but followed it up with a better July and August.
Which Strider shows up for Game 1 against the Phillies? The last thing the Braves want to have happen is for Philadelphia to get early momentum with its bats. Strider needs to come out strong and let the Atlanta offense do its thing. If that happens, it's a good sign as Atlanta looks to get revenge for last season's NLDS boot by Philadelphia.
7. Minnesota Twins ALDS weakness: Offensive punch
After storming back to win the American League West, the Houston Astros will come into their ALDS matchup against the Twins well-rested and likely feeling at ease under the postseason spotlight. With the Astros having home-field advantage in this round, can the Twins strike early in a series where they might have to outslug the Astros?
In the Wild Card round, Toronto's bats were mostly silent against Minnesota's pitching. However, Bailey Ober gets his first postseason start for the Twins on Saturday and will be facing Houston for the first time this season. Can he keep their bats under wraps and allow Minnesota to try to scratch out some runs against Justin Verlander?
Houston is expected to be a high-scoring team in the postseason. Does Minnesota have the bats to keep up?
6. Arizona Diamondbacks NLDS weakness: Keeping L.A. under control
Arizona and Los Angeles met each other 13 times this season, with the Dodgers winning eight of those 13 clashes. Los Angeles didn't just beat the Diamondbacks in those games either. They often made statements with their offense.
These are two teams that opened the season against each other, with L.A. posting an 8-2 win at Chavez Ravine. It was one of seven times in those 13 games where the Dodgers posted six or more runs against Arizona pitching. Arizona only won two of those games when L.A.'s offense was dominant, showing just how important it is for Diamondbacks pitching to turn down the heat from the Dodgers' bats and give their offense a chance to outscore their division rivals.
5. Houston Astros ALDS weakness: Keeping the ball in the park
This year, Houston pitchers gave up 201 home runs, ranking the Astros 10th out of the 15 teams in the American League. The home run ball has been especially prevalent for Framber Valdez (who will get the ball in Game 2 of the ALDS) since the All-Star break, surrendering 12 homers in his 14 second-half starts (including eight in his 11 starts in August and September).
The good news? Justin Verlander hasn't allowed a home run over his last three starts totaling 19.0 innings. While the veteran right-hander had a rough outing in his first postseason start last year, if he can keep the ball in the park, it's a very good sign for Houston to start their series with Minnesota strong.
4. Philadelphia Phillies NLDS weakness: The pitching setup
When you have Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola (looking more like Aaron Nola now that the postseason is here) waiting in the wings for Games 2 and 3 against the Braves, it's a very good sign for the Phillies. However, it's Game 1 that should be a concern with Ranger Suarez stepping into the spotlight as the series opens at Truist Park.
Suarez allowed 10 earned runs over his last two starts of the season (11.1 innings), so he will have to find his rhythm against an Atlanta offense that will likely be very aggressive from the start. Suarez started against the Braves just once this season, limiting them to four hits and one run over 6.0 innings. But that was in the regular season and at Citizens Bank Park. Can Suarez come out strong in Atlanta and give the Phillies momentum? That will likely be one of the key questions when it comes to the opening game between these two division rivals.
3. Texas Rangers ALDS weakness: Can they outscore Baltimore?
One thing Texas didn't have to worry about in their Wild Card matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays was Tampa's offense. The Rays simply couldn't muster anything against Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi as the two Texas starters simply shut them down. The big question becomes was it the Rays' bats being cold or the Rangers' arms simply being too much?
The answer to that question could come in this ALDS as the Orioles will enter the series with the knowledge they had enough offense to secure the AL East title (and hold off the Rays for that honor and the first-round bye). If Baltimore comes out swinging, the Rangers showed in Tampa Bay they have a lineup that can produce runs. Could we be in for a slugfest at Camden Yards to open the ALDS, and do the Rangers have enough offense to outscore what's likely to be a young, aggressive Orioles offense?
2. Baltimore Orioles ALDS weakness: Inexperience
Outside of the Astros, inexperience in the ALDS can be said for every other AL team. However, for the Orioles and their young core of stars, this will be the first time that the pressure of October has been felt. How will Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and the rest of Baltimore's young guns handle it?
Against the Rangers in the Wild Card round, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash talked about the youth of his team and that leading to some costly errors that put the Rays behind the eight ball right off the bat. If the Orioles come out shaky, Texas could well jump on them in the same way as they did the Rays on the way to their Wild Card sweep.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers NLDS weakness: The rotation
It's no secret that Los Angeles can score runs against Arizona. The question becomes how much the rotation will keep Arizona from countering those runs early.
Clayton Kershaw continues to be the rock for the Dodgers rotation, but there are question marks after that because of injuries and issues off the field. Bobby Miller is very likely starting in Game 2, but this will be his first time to be counted upon in the postseason. When the series shifts back to Arizona for Game 3, who will be the starter for the Dodgers? As Dave Roberts mentioned at the end of the regular season, he has options … but are they options that are good enough for the Dodgers to dream of the World Series?
