Southside Showdown Wild Card Series Predictions

Tampa Bay Rays (1) vs Toronto Blue Jays (8)

Vinnie Parise – Site Expert:

The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best team in the American League for the entire season. A couple of teams have made the number one seed interesting but it is no shock that the Ryas claimed it in the end. The Toronto Blue Jays are a great up and coming team that has a bright future but the Rays have it all this year. They are legit World Series contenders. Rays in 2.

Samiya Green:

I think this is the most interesting series we will see in the wildcard because of how both teams measure up. In the hitting category, the Blue Jays are very talented with a young core of consistent hitters such as Cavan Biggio, Teoscar Hernandez, and Bo Bichette. Aside from their production at the plate, the problem is their pitching rotation. Hyun-Jin Ryu and Taijuan Walker are the best pitchers the Blue Jays have. The Tampa Bay Rays have a better-built starting rotation to give them the edge against the Blue Jays. I think Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Pete Fairbanks, and Josh Fleming will shut down the Blue Jays offensively and win the series.

Mitchell Kaminski:

Not many people expected to see the Rays as the number one seed in the American League. They closed the season with nine wins in their past eleven games. They have a deep pitching staff to complement a solid lineup. They rank second in the AL in team ERA. However, the Blue Jays are a sneaky team with lots of young talent and some power in their lineup. I suspect this will be a close series but I’m giving the edge to Tampa because of their pitching. Prediction: Rays in 3

Cody Young:

Tampa Bay in 2. I think Toronto will put up a fight but Tampa has been the best team in the AL all year for a reason.

Jon Michael Walters:

Rays defeat Jays – The Jays did beat them several times in the regular season, but I’ll go with the better team.