Now, baseball's silly season begins

No need for tiebreakers this year. Major League Baseball's 2019 postseason begins tomorrow with a National League Wild Card game. The roads to the World Series run through the west, as the Los Angeles Dodgers & Houston Astros have the #1 seeds in their respective leagues. Time now to take a look at the field:

National League:

Wild Card round: Milwaukee @ Washington (Tuesday): 

In hindsight, the Nationals looked like geniuses divesting themselves of Bryce Harper in the offseason. While Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies contemplate another late season collapse that knocked them from the playoffs, and likely, cost Gabe Kapler his job, Washington, which has never won a full playoff series, tries again for its first pennant since the former Expos moved to DC 14 years ago.

Milwaukee, on the other hand, is playing like a team possessed, even though they did lose their finale to Colorado. Ever since last year's MVP, Christian Yelich, went down for the season with a knee injury, the Brewers have lost just four games. They, too, have never won a World Series. Problem is, whomever wins this has to go to Los Angeles to play the Dodgers, and that won't be fun.

Pick: Milwaukee.

NLDS (starts Thursday):

St. Louis @ Atlanta: 

The Braves limp into the playoffs after getting swept by the Mets over the weekend. First baseman Freddie Freeman is dealing with bone spurs in his elbow, which he's been playing through, to his own detriment. St. Louis has not seen the postseason in a few years, and it's been 13 since they beat Detroit for their last title. However, they have some young, hungry players, including shortstop Paul DeJong and outfielder Marcell Ozuna, the latter of whom came over from Miami following the 2017 season.

In a different generation, the Cardinals beat Atlanta to reach the Series in 1982, back when there were two divisions in each league, but that's just something to be a talking point this time.

Pick: St. Louis in 5.

American League:

Wild Card round: Tampa Bay @ Oakland (Wednesday):

If you wonder what other factors prevented Boston from defending their title, their struggles with these two teams would be among them. In Oakland, it's not exactly the revival of Moneyball, but there is youth and collective hunger. Tampa Bay surprised everyone by getting this far.

Pick: Oakland.

ALDS (starts Friday):

Minnesota @ Yankees:

Traditionally, the Bronx Bombers have owned the Twins. However, these aren't the same Twins that were routinely getting beaten. Minnesota led the majors in homers with over 300, a new record. Offensively, it's a wash, so it comes down to pitching. The last thing the Twins want is to face Aroldis Chapman in the 9th. As a bonus, the Yankees could get Giancarlo Stanton back in time for this series, and they could use an extra bat. Then again, some of us could use tooth decay.

Pick: Yankees in 5.

We'll project the other divisional series later in the week. Of course, I could be wrong.