MLB Playoff Picks for 10/16: Bregman Wonders What Happened to His Home Run  

MLB PLAYOFF PICKS FOR 10/16 — Upon connecting with a flat Aroldis Chapman fast-ball with no outs and Jose Altuve on first base in the bottom of the eighth inning, Astros third baseman Alex Bregman peered out for a second, expecting a two-run homer and a tie game. He was set for his bat flip and home-run trot.

Instead, he hit the ball in the exact deepest part of Minute-Maid Park, into that crazy crevice that juts out another 50 feet. It’s a home run in all other MLB parks except one.

Not only did a two-run game tying home-run turn into an out, Altuve was doubled off second base by not touching the bag on his way back to first, a little league mistake.

Jordan Montgomery struck out Yordan Alvarez three times, and Chapman got him roll over a slider, making him zero for four. After three straight K’s in Minnesota, Alvarez is 0-7 with six K’s in his last seven AB’s.

The national media is ecstatic with the Rangers win. The Athletic has already anointed them the team of destiny. Bruce Bochy is a genius. The Rangers have the best pitching since the Sandy Koufax led LA Dodgers.

The Rangers are all that and a bag of chips. ESPN is popping champagne! The hated Astros are going down!

Talk is cheap, play the game.

The baseball gods always even things out. Luck runs out for Texas today. The last time the Astros’ backs were against the wall, Framber Valdez shut the Phillies down in WS Game two last year.

John Fredericks MLB Playoffs 2023

October 16

9-7, -$1 

We are down $1.00 after 16 games. Winners today! We won with the Phillies last Thursday, making us even! Let’s GO!

Rangers at Astros (-120)  

This is an elite Astros offense when facing right-handers.

Framber Valdez was banged around in his first postseason start this season where he allowed seven hits and five runs through just 4.1 innings in getting bounced by the Twins. However; Valdez has proven himself on this stage with a 7-3 lifetime playoff record with a 3.83 ERA with a 9.3 K average per nine innings.

The Astros understand the stakes are high. This is an inspirational day for Houston. They are the champs.

Nathan Eovaldi has struggled since his injury. This is not the Orioles deer in the headlights. This is the Houston Astros.

Pick: Houston (-120) 

D-Backs (+150) at Phillies  

Why not? Zac Gallen is Arizona’s ace, this is one game, and if the D-Backs are ever going to win a game, this is it. Arizona is loose as a goose, they have no pressure and they don’t know they are supposed to get swept.

This is a gut pick. I can envision Arizona winning this game, pissing the Phillies off and losing in five. It might be one of those crazy games. I’ll take a shot.

Pick: D-Backs (+150)