MLB Wild-Card Round Preview

Tomorrow, Major League Baseball's new expanded wild-card system will be unveiled, and the teams involved are a bit of a surprise. The Redshirt Freshmen will try to make some sense of the wild-card matchups after what has been a largely senseless 2012 season.

AL Wild-Card – Baltimore Orioles (93-69) @ Texas Rangers (93-69)

The fact that the Texas Rangers are playing in this game is downright absurd. Of course, the same could be said about the Orioles. Texas is looking to appear in its third-straight World Series, while Baltimore is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1997. In fact, the last time the O's didn't finish last in the AL East was 2007. So saying that Baltimore's wildcard berth is a surprise would be as big of an understatement as saying the club's 2008 trade for Adam Jones was a good move. For the Rangers, the surprise is how they choked away the AL West crown, becoming the first team in MLB history to lose a 5 game lead with 9 games left in the season.

Buck Showalter is getting much of the credit for the O's success

On paper, this game should be a no-brainer. Yu Darvish is going against Joe Saunders. The first five hitters in the Rangers' lineup reads more like an All-Star team roster, which contributed to a league-best 808 runs scored (only the Yankees were close, with 804). Unfortunately for Texas, this game won't be won on paper, and they will have to wipe that sour taste out of their mouth from Wednesday night's debacle in Oakland if they hope to defeat Buck Showalter's scrappy, over-achieving Orioles.

The winner of this game will play the New York Yankees (95-67) in the five game AL Division Series starting Sunday.

NL Wild-Card – St. Louis Cardinals (88-74) @ Atlanta Braves (94-68)

The Braves will look to extend Chipper Jones' swan song as they face the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday afternoon. Atlanta dominated the season series against the Cards, winning five out of their six contests. Of course, that doesn't mean a whole lot as the last time they faced each other was May 30^th. St. Louis has the apparent statistical edge on offense, as they led the league in on-base percentage and were top-five in batting average and runs scored. Atlanta's pitching has the upper hand as they ranked top-five in ERA, WHIP and opponent's batting average.

Kris Medlen will make his MLB postseason debut on Friday

A huge part of the Braves success this year can be attributed to youngster Kris Medlen's dominance on the mound. Atlanta has won a MLB-record 23 consecutive games when Medlen has started, a mark that puts him above HOFers Whitey Ford and Carl Hubbell. That alone should have the Cardinals nervous. St. Louis is going with Kyle Lohse, who had an excellent season as well (16-3, 2.56 ERA). Unfortunately for the Cards, Lohse is 0-4 with a 5.54 ERA in his postseason career. Then again, Medlen has never pitched in the playoffs, so it will be interesting to see if he can continue to mow down batters in what is the biggest game of his short career.

The winner of this game will play the Washington Nationals (98-64) in the five game NL Division Series starting Sunday.