The concept of tinder was discussed in a past MLB Roundup. But this time I’m going to make a ‘profile’ for each playoff team and some other teams that have either fallen out of the playoff picture or have a bright future ahead of them. Whether it is the Cubs who’s bullpen tanked their playoff chances. Or the Brewers, who have made the jump into the top two of the wild card spots, and into the NL Central championship picture. There are teams that deserve a right swipe, some that deserve a left swipe, and some that deserve a whole lot of love with a swipe up. And well, some teams just haven’t hit that age threshold yet to get swiped on yet.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers have leapfrogged over the Cubs in the NL Wild Card and are only 3 games back in the NL Central race. Photo Credits to mlb.com

Even after Yelich’s season ending injury, the Brewers have been able to play their best ball when it matters. Photo Credits to lastwordonbaseball.com

A reason the Brewers have kept up their success, Hader has been 7/7 on saves in his last 7 opportunities. Photo Credits to usatoday.com

Featured Song: Don’t Stop Believin. There is no reason to, I thought all hope was lost when MVP candidate Christian Yelich went down. But the NL Central is in the realm of possibility, and a playoff appearance is all but sewn up for the Brew Crew so don’t stop believin Milwaukee fans. Photo Credits to blog.thecurrent.org

I’m swiping right on the Brewers for the rest of the season and into the postseason. Photo Credits to thenounproject.com

Many teams can rally around an injury, and I think the Brewers will be able to and possibly make some unexpected noise in the MLB playoffs. Even without Yelich, the Brewers have been able to capitalize on a weak schedule. The NL Central should be on all Milwaukee fans minds as well. With games left against the Reds and Rockies, the Brewers could be able to sneak out of the NL Wild Card game.

Chicago Cubs

THE CUBS HAVE DONE IT. A MELTDOWN! 6 losses straight, when it matters most? PU! Photo Credits to MLB.com

While the Cubs haven’t been hot, something else has. Yep, Joe Maddon’s seat. Photo Credits to bleedcubbieblue.com

Papa Smurf, I mean, Joe Maddon could end up jobless this offseason. Photo Credits to smurf.fandom.com

I couldn’t find a clear enough picture of the Cubs bullpen, but this dumpster fire should do. Photo Credits to heisenbergreport.com

If I could swipe left more than once, I could. The Cubs have stunk it up! Photo Credits to thenounproject.com

Craig Kimbrel has been brutally awful. With an ERA over 6.00 since joining the Cubs, he has been one of the worst relievers in the MLB in a bullpen that has been comically bad during this meltdown. A couple bright sports for the Cubs have been the dominance of Nick Castellanos, and the heart and soul of the team that has been Anthony Rizzo. I mean he came out to the Undertaker theme song and hit a home run with an injury. But Castellanos and Rizzo can’t hold up a boat that has seen the biggest crash since the Titanic.

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are not a postseason team, but the future is bright in Chicago. Photo Credits to sportslogo.net

The current AL batting average leader, Tim Anderson has been one of the best players in the MLB when healthy. Mind you he is only 26. Photo Credits to nbcsports.com

Another young, budding star for the White Sox, Moncada hit .316 on the year with 24 home runs. Photo Credits to chicago.suntimes.com

Only 22, Eloy Jimenez has had his coming out party this year after his trade from the Cubs. Hitting .269 with 30 homers this year, Jimenez is one of the young White Sox that will drive the future of the South-Siders. Photo Credits to southsidesox.com

The ruling on the White Sox is that they are too young for this MLB tinder. They are a few years away from contention and getting the proper swipe. Photo Credits to movieweb.com

Another team in the midwest, the White Sox best days are ahead of them. On top of the previously mentioned Eloy Jimenez and Tim Anderson, they have had a young, improving pitcher in Lucas ‘G-Elite-O’, and will get the young flamethrower, Michael Kopech, back from injury next year. So do not fret Sox fans, the future is bright.

New York Yankees

The Yankees are up to 102 wins and clinched the AL East, and are now in a dogfight for home field advantage with the Astros. Photo Credits to MLB.com

Having dealt with injury throughout the year, Judge has made a splash since rejoining the already impressive Yankees lineup. Over his last 7 games, Judge has hit 4 HRs. All Rise! Photo Credits to nytimes.com

If Mike Trout wasn’t in the AL, LeMahieu’s name would be at large in the MVP race. Hitting .326 with 26 HRs and coming up on 100 RBIs, LeMahieu has been one of the more durable, consistent hitters for the Yankees. Photo Credits to nj.com

Just getting back from injury, Severino joins a below average starting staff just as the postseason is about to start. In his first 2 games back, Severino is is 1-0 and hasn’t given up a run yet. Photo Credits to nypost.com

Favorite Movie: The Replacements. Lets face it, the Yankees have not been an example of good health all year. But they keep replacing production with more production with guys like Mike Ford and Mike Tauchman stepping in and filling voids due to injury all year. The New York Replacements I say, because all they have done is win with replacement players due to injury. Photo Credits to IMDb.com

I’m super liking what the Bronx Bombers have got going into the MLB postseason. Photo Credits to thenounproject.com

You know the success that the Yankees have had offensively is absurd when a guy like Giancarlo Stanton is being questioned if he is going to make the postseason roster. On top of the insanity that is the Yank’s offense, the pitching staff adds in Luis Severino to a staff with big names like James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka. Losing Domingo German is a huge hit, but the pitching staff should be serviceable along with an above average bullpen.

Houston Astros

One of the three favorites to win it all this year. The Astros lineup and starting staff is something to gawk at. Photo Credits to larrybrownsports.com

Yordan Alvarez AND Alex Bregman? COME ON! Photo Credits to papercitymag.com

But Bregman and Alvarez isn’t enough, lets add in two more stars into this lineup with George Springer and Michael Brantley. Photo Credits to foxnews.com

While we’re at it, lets add in Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa to this star studded lineup. Photo Credits to chron.com

With a lineup that strong you don’t need a starting staff that has the likes of Verlander, Cole, and Greinke. But the Astros do. Photo Credits to cbssports.com

The Astros combination of hitting and pitching is jaw-dropping. Photo Credits to imgflip.com

Need I say more about this star studded contender? They deserve the super like. Photo Credits to thenounproject.com

MLB Races to Look out for

NL Central

Currently the Cardinals are up 3.0 games on the Brewers. However, St. Louis has series against 5 games remaining, 2 against the Diamondbacks and 3 against the Cubs. For the Brewers, they have a soft schedule with series against the Reds and Rockies, both of which on the road. So it is all but over for this division that seemed to be the Cardinals’ to lose weeks ago.

AL Wild Card

As of right now, the Rays are down 1.5 games from the Athletics, and the Indians are nipping at the Rays heels. Cleveland is only a half game back on Rays. For Oakland, they have two matchups on the roads, the first in Los Angeles against the Angels, and the final series in Seattle against the Mariners. While Cleveland has it a tad tougher, with 6 games remaining, they have 3 in Chicago against the White Sox, and 3 in D.C. against the NL Wild Card leader Nationals. And the Rays have 2 at home against the Yankees and 3 on the road in Toronto. It should be a fun end to the season for the AL Wild Card.

AL Home Field Advantage

The Astros and the Yankees are tied with the most wins in the AL at 102 wins. However, on Monday night, the Astros currently sit at one less game and one less loss than the Yankees. 2 games in Tampa and 3 in Arlington, TX is what the Yankees have left. For the Astros, a short 2 game set on the road against the Mariners and a 4 game set in Los Angeles against the Angels. Home field advantage is very important throughout the playoffs, and even though the Yankees and Astros have playoff spots wrapped up, there is still a lot riding on the final 5-6 games for both teams.

The rest of the divisions are clinched for the most part. Whoever takes second in the NL Central will win the NL Wild Card. And with all the clinching, all that is left is the few races mentioned. So tune in to the last few games of the MLB season, because there is still a lot riding on seeding in the playoffs.

Featured Image. MLB.com | The Official Site of Major League Baseball. Photo Credits to MLB.com