GARY GREENE’S STOCK UP/DOWN REPORT (8/23/20222)
MLB NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD RACE
Ok baseball fans let’s take a fast look at this final stretch run for the MLB Wild Card in the National League. Unless something crazy transpires Atlanta or Mets will be locked in as one of the 3 Wild Card teams in. Then it comes down to a 3 team race between Phillies, Padres and Brewers (Cards will win that Division by 10 games). Below I will look over the remaining slates for all 3 and then make my predictions what two of these 3 will make it in and which one won’t.
PHILA PHILLIES (67-55) ~ (-390 at Draft Kings to make Playoffs)
The Phillies have actually done a nice job to be still live at this point losing Bryce Harper for so long and losing lots of relievers. Add to that they went thru a Managerial change. For most part I doubt even their own Management/Owner could’ve expected any better than the spot they are now in. Of the 3 final candidates they have the easiest rest of August schedule (Reds, Pirates, Az). The only 3 teams remaining rest of season left that are winning teams are Atlanta (7 games), Toronto (2 games) and Houston (3 games). The good news for Phillies fans is Houston is the final 3 games of the season when they likely will be resting players as they prepare their Pitching schedule for the Playoffs. Four of the Atlanta 7 come at Home and both Toronto games are at Home. With Harper returning and Castellano’s finally hitting and JT Realmuto back to his strong bat….if the Bullpen doesn’t implode they will garner one of the two Wild Card spots. One negative of these 3 left is the Phillies play the least Home games rest of way (17). But they will hit their way into the Playoffs these last 5-6 weeks left.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (68-56) ~ (-300 at Draft Kings to make the Playoffs)
Ok folks the Padres went out and got the biggest fish possible at Trade deadline in Juan Soto. Expecting SS F. Tatis to return was going to give them the boost they needed to make the Wild Card spot. But Tatis was suspended rest of season totally deflating the high expectations. That suspension was like a balloon popping the team morale and this team has been brutal in the hitting department. In the past 2 weeks they were shut out 3x and scored 3 or more runs just once. They were very lucky to beat lowly Nats 2-1 on back to back games thanks to big homers. Their fate could be decided in a 9 game road trip starting Thursday. They play (20) Home games but they also play the LA Dodgers nine more times. Ouch! They play winning teams 17x more the rest of way and 6 vs. Rival S.Fran won’t be easy wins at all. They have pretty solid starting Pitching but the big trade to get Closer Josh Hader has exploded already as he can’t get anyone out and is now a set up guy. Of the 3 left I see the Padres as the one missing the Playoffs. Soto and Machado can’t carry this lineup for 38 games. The Tatis suspension burst their bubble and it’s showed in the hitting and the overall mojo of the team.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (65-56) ~ (-150 at Draft Kings to make the Playoffs)
Well this team’s hitting has been dormant for weeks now. They have elite tier Starting Pitching but after that it’s basically a below average team. My first reaction was Padres sneak by them. But the truth is the Brewers schedule plays huge into this final stretch. They play an incredible (26) more Home games and their final 9 games of the season are all at Home. After Wed game vs. LA Dodgers, the rest of their Road schedule is 4@AZ, 3@Colorado, 2@STLouis, 4@Cinci. That’s 11 games vs. really bad teams. When you can start Woodruff, Barnes and Lauer 3 of every five you are basically in good shape to avoid losing streaks, especially facing so many losing teams rest of the way. I could easily see this team not hitting enough to make the Wild Card round…but I feel the Home heavy schedule will just sneak them by Padres for the last National League Playoff spot.
Gary Greene – Bet Vegas