Cordell Woodland, 105.7 The FAN Talks Baltimore Orioles Playoffs & Morgan State Shooting
Mark Gray is checking out the ‘Bros On The Beat’ during the 2023 MLB Postseason.
Marcus Semien Struggles, But Texas Rangers Advance To ALDS | Expect A Big Series Against Baltimore
Marcus Semien and his Texas Rangers busted the brooms out on their way to sweeping the Rays in the Wild Card round, despite him only going 1-for-9 in the series and 2-for-17 overall in his last three games.
If Semien can break the skid and join his other teammates in the party at the plate, they have a chance to defeat the Orioles.
Elation was spread across the face of the 2021 MLBbro.com Player of Year as he and his teammates dosed themselves with champagne after their victory over Tampa Bay.
“I do not wear the goggles,” Semien told reporters during the melee. “When you get the burn of the champagne in your eyes, it means you did something good.”
Wednesday afternoon Texas, who has finished with a record under .500 for the past six seasons, including going 68-94 in Semien’s first year with the team, won its first playoff series since current Atlanta Braves third base coach Ron Washington managed the 2011 team to the World Series after winning the ALCS in Tampa.
It was an all-around dominating effort for the Rangers who won both games by a combined total of 11-1, allowing the only run the Ray scored in the series to come in the 8th inning of Game 2.
Rookies stole the show at the plate for Texas.
Outfielder Evan Carter introduced himself to the world by reaching safely in his first six postseason plate appearances, capping the final one of those six off with a two-run back-breaking homer to extend the lead to four in Game 2.
All-Star third baseman Josh Jung, who has molded his work ethic around Semien and the other members of their star studded infield had a great series himself with a triple and a pair of doubles.
The Orioles, who had the best regular season record in the American League are a different animal than the one the Rangers just slayed and if they want to advance past them into the Championship Series, they will need more from Semien at the plate.
Marcus Semien: ‘That’s Exactly Where We Want To Be, With All Our Weapons’
Semien Struggled Against Baltimore This Season
In six games against Baltimore this year Semien was 5-for-25 with a .200 average, three RBI and a double.
Granted it has been a few months since these teams met, we will find out this weekend if the O’s figured out the code to crack the American League hits leader.
One factor I think will determine the series is how fast the Rangers start, particularly in the first two road games of the series.
Baltimore has been resting while Texas picked up a wave of momentum with their beatdown of Tampa.
If Semien, who hit a franchise record 10 leadoff Bro Bombs this year and became the fifth leadoff hitter in MLB history to reach 100 RBI can get the party started early, the Rangers can take a stranglehold of the series and take the crowd out of the equation.
Game 1 will be played Saturday afternoon in Camden Yards at noon central time.
MLBbro.com Staff Playoff Predictions (Divisional Round) | Agree?
As we do every year at this time, the staff at MLBbro.com has made its annual postseason predictions.
Our Panel: Rob Parker, JR Gamble, Mark Gray, David Grubb, Malik Wright, Dante Miles, Ronald Agers, Gary Sheffield Jr., Rachel Hill, Jaelen Gilkey, Kevin Moore
After the sudden completion of the Wild Card round, here’s how our crew’s predictions have panned out so far.
| Staffers | Record |
| Gary Sheffield Jr. | 4-0 |
| Rob Parker, David Grubb | 3-1 |
| JR Gamble, Rachel Hill, Kevin Moore, Malik Wright | 2-2 |
| Ronald Agers, Dante Miles | 1-3 |
| Mark Gray, Jaelen Gilkey | 0-4 |
The divisional round of the postseason begins on Saturday, with two upsets in the wild card round reshaping the brackets. Only three of our panelists (Gamble, Sheffield, Miles) correctly picked the Diamondbacks to advance to the second round. In the other series, six staffers selected the Rangers to knock off the Rays.
With berths in the League Championship Series on the line, the stakes are higher, and the series are longer. So here are our picks for who wins and in how many games.
American League Divisional Series
Minnesota Twins (3) vs Houston Astros (2)
Season series: Twins 4-2
The Minnesota Twins are on a roll. Since September 1 they are 21-10 (.677), including their two-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Their pitching staff surrendered just one run in the two games, with 19 strikeouts and only five walks. Royce Lewis (.333, 2 HR, 3R, 3RBI) had a record-tying performance in game one with home runs in each of his first two postseason at-bats.
Now, he and the rest of the Twins get to take on the champs. The Twins did win the season series, but the Astros have advanced to at least the ALCS in each of the past six years. We’re riding with the Astros, but we don’t think it will be an easy win.
Panel’s pick: Astros in 5
Texas Rangers (5) vs Baltimore Orioles (1)
Season series: 3-3
Well, the Baltimore Orioles won 101 games during the regular season. They’ve only done that three times in the last 50 years (1979, 1980). Baltimore scored 800 runs for the first time in 20 years. They also had a top five pitching staff.
The Rangers have bludgeoned their way into the playoffs and into the second round. Texas tied the Twins for the American League lead in home runs (233), and led the AL in batting average, runs scored, OBP, Slugging, and OPS. Texas shot down the Blue Jays by scoring 11 runs in two games. The big surprise was their pitching, which held Toronto to a single run in the series.
It was close, but in the end we believe that the Orioles will get past the Rangers and into the ALCS for the first time since 2014.
Panel’s pick: Orioles in 4
National League Divisional Series
Arizona Diamondbacks (6) vs Los Angeles Dodgers (2)
Season series: Dodgers 8-5
Arizona stumbled into the playoffs losing its final four games of the regular season. They were outscored by their opponents, but here they are taking on the juggernaut that is the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Diamondbacks got contributions from just about everyone in their lineup in beating the Brewers.
This series is between divisional opponents, and LA dominated the series. They have the better offense, the better defense, a deeper pitching staff, the more experienced manager, and the mission of “World Series or Bust.”
We’ll give the D-Backs enough credit to earn a gentleman’s sweep.
Panel’s pick: Dodgers in 4
Philadelphia Phillies (4) vs Atlanta Braves (1)
Season series: Braves 8-5
This series might be the best of the entire postseason. These NL East rivals are the last two representatives for the National League in the World Series. They played each other seven times in the month of September, with the Braves edging out the Phillies four games to three.
They were only three runs apart in those games, with three of them going to extra innings.
The only shame is this series is best-of-five instead of best-of-seven.
Ronald Acuna missed the playoffs last year, and this season he’s the likely MVP. He’s the headliner on an offense that launched 307 home runs into the stands and scored 947 runs. That would be enough to deal with for most teams, but the Braves are above average on the mound and in the field as well.
Philly comes in winners of 10 of their last 13 games and aren’t afraid of Atlanta. The Phillies should push the Braves to their limit, but ultimately Atlanta will emerge victorious.
Panel’s pick: Braves in 5
Who Has Playoff Pressure? | Michael Harris Looking To Rebound From One-Hit Postseason, Marcus Semien Wants To Complete Mission In Texas
September is almost over and so is the MLB regular season.
The MLB playoffs separate the game changers from the fakers. There are tons of pressure, and everybody reacts to it differently.
Pressure for not only teams, but also for players. There are two MLBbros in particular who will face a significant amount of pressure in the waning stages of the regular season, and the postseason: Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Michael Harris II and Texas Rangers’ second baseman Marcus Semien.
Is MLBbro Michael Harris II Trending Upwards Just In Time For the Atlanta Braves Postseason?
After a stellar rookie season, MLB Michael Harris II flamed out in the playoffs last season. He batted .297 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI, which was enough to win the National League Rookie of the Year award.
But he was able to only register a single hit in the National League Division Series against the eventual National League champion Philadelphia Phillies. In 14 plate appearances Harris tallied one hit, zero walks, and only one RBI.
He is once again having a stellar season with similar hitting production from a year ago, but for the Braves to win another World Series title, he will have to sustain his success into the playoffs.
Marcus Semien: ‘That’s Exactly Where We Want To Be, With All Our Weapons’
MLBbro Semien was a high-profile free agent signing for the Texas Rangers prior to the 2022 MLB season.
Although his first year in Arlington did meet expectations, he gutted out the first 20-20 season of his career and then responded with an All-Star performance in 2023. The team has benefited from his excellence, and they now are entering playoff baseball for the first time since 2016.
The MLBbro, along with Corey Seager were signed because they are both All-Star veterans with playoff experience. Semien has been to the postseason three times, all with the Oakland Athletics. He has batted .371 with two home runs and four RBI across four series.
MLBbro TV Show | The Playoffs Are Coming & MLBbros Have A Story To Tell
Both of these MLBbros will be heavily relied on by their respective teams to produce this postseason. Although Harris is in just his second season, and the early stages of his career, he is a vital part to the Braves’ success. Even a lineup that is challenging the MLB record for team homers can’t afford for key bats to go cold. The Braves need Money Mike on base and he’s such a luxury to have at the bottom of the lineup because he doesn’t hit like an 8 or 9 hole guy.
Semien on the other hand was awarded with a lucrative contract and although he has delivered a great season, legacies are made in October. Both players will look to establish themselves on the grand stage come next month.
Devin Williams Is Thirsting His First Taste Of MLB Postseason Action | America Is About To Meet The ‘Airbender’
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the playoffs this season after missing the postseason last year.
And that means we may have the opportunity to watch MLBbro, Devin Williams make his postseason appearance.
That’s right, Williams has not appeared in the playoffs yet with the Brewers. Before missing the playoffs last season, Milwaukee made four consecutive trips to the postseason, and its star closer has no postseason experience.
Williams Missed Last Milwaukee Postseason
The last time the Brewers appeared in the playoffs in 2021, Williams was forced to miss the entire postseason after breaking his hand from punching a wall after the Brewers clinched the division.
It’s safe to say that the two-time all-star has learned his lesson.
The Brewers have already clinched a playoff spot and have their eyes on making a deep postseason run. In late game situations, you better believe Milwaukee will look to Williams to close things out when the opportunity presents itself.
Williams has had a memorable 2023 season. The 29-year-old has tied his career-high in wins with eight and has a career-high 35 saves, through 59 games. While Williams has made a name for himself throughout his career in Milwaukee, we still have to see if he has what it takes when he steps on the mound in a big stage situation.
Granted, his team has to give him an opportunity to do so, but this year could be the year where we see that happen.
Devin Williams Blew A Save, Then Blew Up The League | He’s Unhittable Again
On the season, Williams has a 8-3 record with a 1.59 ERA and 35 saves through the 59 games that he’s appeared in.
The MLBbro fireman has over 50 career saves, and that number will continue to rise. He is in the top 10 this season for saves and is No. 14 on the all-time saves list for Milwaukee. On the mound, Williams can control the game with his fastball and his impressive changeup that is a nightmare for hitters.
Over the past few years, he has learned how to dominate with both of those pitches.
“I think your body has a governor, like on a car,” Williams said in an mlb.com article back in July. “It only lets you go this fast, but you can go faster. It’s like you have to break that governor mentally. I unlocked that, and it’s what got me here. I’m not throwing 98, 99 mph anymore right now, but I would say I’m definitely a better pitcher right now than I was then.”
His teammates know how much value he brings to the team as well.
“He’s been great,” Corbin Burnes told MLBbro.com during 2023 MLB All-Star Week in Seattle.
“Hopefully he gets to do it as many years as he wants to because he’s been great for us, he’s been big. Without him out there, we definitely wouldn’t be in the position we are.”
Williams has ascended to the top of his craft, but the only thing the 29-year-old “Airbender” is missing is that postseason experience. This is one thing Williams has been waiting for his entire career and this year could be his best shot at adding to his legacy with some postseason dramatics.
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