MLB Playoffs: NL Wild Card gets wild

The Milwaukee Brewers, much like the Minnesota Twins, were not a team I expected to see making a push for October. While the Colorado Rockies seemed to have had a lock on that second NL Wild Card spot throughout most of the summer, the Brew Crew are now within two games of their lead. Both teams have a tough final weekend series to end the year which could make or break either side. However, if they both come out of the weekend with the same results, we'll be having a one-game playoff to determine who goes to the one-game playoff.

The Red Birds

The Brewers may have the slightly easier series if you look at the fact that the St. Louis Cardinals are still licking their wounds from being pounced on by the Chicago Cubs. They find themselves in the unusual position of playing spoiler for the Brewers since they have no ground left to gain.

Fortunately for Milwaukee, they'll be starting that series with Chase Anderson on the mound who has been stellar this season. He's 11-4 with a 2.81 ERA, while St. Louis will have a spot start from the rookie John Gant. Milwaukee is hot coming out of that series with Cincinnati so they can hopefully ride that momentum to take at least two of three from the Cards.

Rocky Mountain Purple meets Dodger Blue

The Rockies will have more of an uphill battle this weekend as the Los Angeles Dodgers come to town. Los Angeles has found their offensive stride once again and at just the right time as they stroll into October. They're coming off a huge series win against the San Diego Padres and put up an offensive show with 28 runs over the last three games.  And while even the Rockies are coming off a strong last two games against the Marlins, they'll also have to go up against Clayton Kershaw in this series. 

Kershaw is another Dodger All-Star who seems to have found his rhythm again at just the right time. The one benefit the Rockies have is that despite the lefty's numbers on the year, his ERA against Colorado in 2017 is 4.19. If the Rockies can take advantage of Kershaw just one more time, they'll have no problem locking in those first two games of the series.