The second round of the playoffs continue today. As of this moment, the Rangers are still eliminated from playoff contention.

The National League matchups are going to be some amazing baseball, as all four teams are elite.

For the second year in a row, Milwaukee won the most games in all of baseball, with 103 victories. They play San Diego, winners of 91 games, good for nine games behind division winning Los Angeles. 

The Padres stared out slow. Their offense just didn’t show up until the end of July. In fact, on July 23, they were two games under .500 and in danger of falling into irrelevance. Then they went 17-11 in August and a blistering 18-6 in September. They are not only on a roll, but that celebrated offense is clicking on all cylinders. Their rotation is solid, and they have the best closer in the history of ever. They face a Milwaukee team that has had bitter playoff disappointments the last three seasons, winning the N.L. Central all three years but bowing out early in the wildcard series in the first two of those years, then being swept by the Dodgers last year. They have something to prove, and are carrying the torch for the fans of all small-market teams. Major League Baseball does not want them to win because it ruins their narrative that small market teams can’t compete. But the San Diego market isn’t much bigger. The Brewers play a wonderful brand of unselfish baseball like baseball should be played. But the Padres are red hot right now. Milwaukee, though, has the best starting pitcher in baseball in Jacob Misiorowski. This one is a toss up. For no valid, rational reason, the extensive staff at RR3 picks Milwaukee.

The Braves play the Dodgers in the other National League Division Series. The Dodgers have won two in a row and are expected to win their third in a row. They were deep last year and got much deeper this year and at the trade deadline. When they traded for Tarik Skubal, they broke baseball by having the best player at every position. Atlanta has seven bona fide starting pitchers on the I.L., but they have Ronald Acuña, and Matt Olson. Unfortunately for them, the Dodgers have players just as good at every single position. The Dodgers win this one, it’s painful to predict.

*****