The 50 Best Wrestling Matches of 2018

Here are the 50 best professional wrestling matches from 2018.


1. Ibushi v. Naito (NJPW, Aug) 5
2. Omega v. Okada (NJPW, June) 5
3. Omega v. Ishii (NJPW, Aug) 5
4. Golden Lovers v. Young Bucks (NJPW, Feb) 5
5. Ospreay v. Hiromu (NJPW, Feb) 5
6. Almas v. Gargano (WWE, Jan) 5

7. Sugiura v. Marufuji (NOAH, May) 4 3/4
8. Omega v. Ibushi (NJPW, Aug) 4 3/4
9. Hiromu v. Ishimori (NJPW, May) 4 3/4
10. Omega v. Fenix (Northeast, Nov) 4 3/4

11. Golden Lovers v. Ishii/Okada (NJPW, Sep) 4 3/4
12. Ospreay v. Scurll (NJPW, Apr) 4 3/4
13. Ciampa v. Gargano (WWE, Aug) 4 3/4
14. Ricochet v. Cole (WWE, Aug) 4 3/4
15. Cole v. Ricochet/Dream/Sullivan/Dain/EC3/Dream (WWE, Apr) 4 3/4

16. Omega v. Ishii (NJPW, Sep) 4 1/2
17. Ibushi v. Ishii (NJPW, Jul) 4 1/2
18. Ospreay v. Kushida (NJPW, May) 4 1/2
19. Hiromu v. Dragon Lee (NJPW, July) 4 1/2
20. Sabre v. A-Kid (White Wolf, Apr) 4 1/2

21. Walter v. Ospreay (OTT, Oct) 4 1/2
22. Ishii v. Elgin (NJPW, Mar) 4 1/2
23. Sabre v. Ibushi (NJPW, Mar) 4 1/2
24. Hiromu v. Ospreay (NJPW, June) 4 1/2
25. Ospreay v. Riddle (OTT, May) 4 1/2
26. Okada v. Naito (NJPW, Jan) 4 1/2
27. Sho v. Dragon Lee (NJPW, May) 4 1/2
28. Okada v. Tanahashi (NJPW, Sep) 4 1/2
29. Walter v. Klinger v. Dragunov (WXW, Mar) 4 1/2
30. Gargano v. Ciampa (WWE, Apr) 4 1/2

31. Riddle v. Strickland (MLW, Apr) 4 1/2
32. Naito v. Jericho (NJPW, June) 4 1/2
33. Omega v. Jericho (NJPW, Jan) 4 1/2
34. Sugiura v. Nakajima (NOAH, Oct) 4 1/2
35. Gargano v. Ciampa (WWE, June) 4 1/2
36. Moustache Mountain v. Undisputed Era (WWE, July) 4 1/ 2
37. Briscoes d. Bucks (ROH, June) 4 1/2
38. Omega v. Naito (NJPW, July) 4 1/2
39. Omega v. Goto (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2
40. Moustache Mountain v Undisputed Era (WWE, Aug( 4 1/2)

41. Ciampa v. Dream (WWE, Nov) 4 1/2
42. Mochizuki v. Saito (DG, Dec 2017) 4 1/2
43. Ospreay v. Brooks (PWG, Mar) 4 1/2
44. Ospreay v. Scurll (NJPW, Sep) 4 1/2
45. Suwama/Ishikawa v. Hashimoto/Kamitani (AJPW, Dec 2017) 4 1/2
46. Omega/Bucks v. Romero/Baretta/Taylor (ROH, Dec 2017) 4 1/2
47. Suzuki/Sabre d. Ishii/Okada (RPW, June) 4 1/2
48. Okada v. Suzuki (NJPW, July) 4 1/2
49. Ishii v. Sanada (NJPW, Aug) 4 1/2
50. Sanada v. Omega (NJPW, July) 4 1/2

2018 NFL All Pro Teams (Through 12 Weeks)

Thr 2018 NFL season is 3/4 done. Here's my last look until year's end at the best players at each position.

QB
1. Drew Brees NO - MVP
2. Patrick Mahomes KC

RB
1. Saquon Barkley NYG
2. Melvin Gordon SD
3. Alvin Kamara NO

WR
1. DeAndre Hopkins Hou
2. Adam Thielen Min
3. Michael Thomas NO
4. Odell Beckham NYG

TE
1. Travis Kelce KC
2. George Kittle Niners

C
1. Jason Kelce Phil
2. Rodney Hudson Oak

G
1. Marshal Yanda Balt
2. Zack Martin Dal
3. Shaq Mason NE
4. Austin Blythe LAR

T
1. David Bakhtiari GB
2. Mitchell Schwartz KC
3. Ryan Ramczyk NO
4. Terron Armstead NO

DE
1. JJ Watt  Hou
2. Cameron Jordan NO
3. Calais Campbell Jax
4. Brandon Graham Phi

DT
1. Aaron Donald LAR
2. Fletcher Cox Phi

OLB
1.Dee Ford KC
2. Von Miller Den
3. Khalil Mack Chi
4. Darius Leonard Ind

ILB
1. Luke Kuechly Carol
2. Bobby Wagner Sea

CB
1. Stephon Gilmore NE
2. Byron Jones Dal
3. Kyle Fuller Chi
4. Chris Harris Den

S
1. Eddie Jackson Chi
2. Jamal Adams NYJ
3. Derwin James LAC
4. DJ Swearinger Wash

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round One, Group 6)

Last group is here.
6. 2001 Mariners (lost ALCS)
v.
123. 1974 A's (won WS)

-the Mariners have a team in the next round; all of the A's reps are Philadelphia clubs.  The Mariners have a 27 year old rookie named Ichiro, a 38 year old Edgar, and a 32 year old Olerud.  For Oakland - Reggie and Catfish are 28, Fingers is 27.

C A's-Tenace
1B Mariners-Olerud
2B Mariners-Boone
SS A's-Campaneris
3B A's-Bando
LF A's-Rudi
CF Mariners-Cameron
RF Push
DH Mariners-Martinez
SP1 A's-Hunter
SP2 A's-Blue
SP3 Mariners-Moyer
Cl A's-Fingers
Double: Bat WAR Mariners
Double: Pit WAR A's

A's 9 Mariners 7 - A tough elimination for an enormous offense; that Mariner team bat total is all time great, but the A's just got by them on the mound picked up enough position matchup wins to slide by.

59. 2015 Blue Jays (lost ALCS)
v.
70. 1928 Yankees (won WS)

-there is a Blue Jay team which has already moved on; the Yankees have 15 teams in the Round of 64 already. Josh Donaldson is 29, Jose Bautista 34. The Bombers have 9 HOFers, the Babe is 33, Gehrig's 25, Dickey's 21.

C Jays-Martin
1B Yankees-Gehrig
2B Yankees-Lazzeri
SS Yankees-Koenig
3B Jays-Donaldson
LF Yankees-Meusel
CF Push
RF Yankees-Ruth
DH Jays-Encarnacion
SP1 Yankees-Pipgras
SP2 Yankees-Hoyt
SP3 Yankees-Pennock
Cl Jays-Osuna
Double: Bat WAR Jays
Double: Pit WAR Jays

Jays 9 Yankees 8 - we haven't quite seen one like this; the Yankees dominated the matchups so much that it took the Jays to win both totals just to force a tie - and then they took the tiebreak. 

27. 1947 Yankees (won WS)
v.
102. 1963 Twins (3rd in AL)

-a Twins team has advanced; 15 Yankee teams are in the next round.  This is a DiMaggio (32) Yankees squad.  The Twins have a 27 year old Killebrew and 28 year old Bob Allison

C Twins-Battey
1B Yankees-McQuinn
2B Yankees-Stirnweiss
SS Yankees-Rizzuto
3B Twins-Rollins
LF Twins-Killebrew
CF Yankees-DiMaggio
RF Twins-Allison
SP1 Twins-Pascual
SP2 Twins-Stigman
SP3 Yankees-Bevens
Cl Yankees-Page
Double: Bat WAR Yankees
Double: Pit WAR Twins

Yankees 9 Twins 8 - NYY gets their 16 team in the field with a tiebreak win.

38. 1968 Tigers (won WS)
v.
91. 1990 A's (lost WS)

-4 Tigers teams have advanced; 3 A's teams will join them - this is the McLain (24) Lolich (27) Detroit club - for the A's, it's Rickey (31), McGwire (26) and Canseco (25)

C Tigers-Freehan
1B A's-McGwire
2B Tigers-McAuliffe
SS A's-Weiss
3B A's-Lansford
LF A's-Henderson
CF A's-Henderson
RF A's-Canseco
DH Tigers-Kaline
SP1 Tigers-McLain
SP2 Tigers-Wilson
SP3 Tigers-Lolich
Cl A's-Eckersley
Double: Bat WAR A's
Double: Pit WAR Tigers

A's 9 Tigers 8 - the A's dominated the bats, the Tigers dominated the arms, it really couldn't have been much closer, but Eckersley's pulling out a win at the closer spot is enough to give Oakland the win.

11. 1969 Orioles (lost WS)
v.
118. 1994 Yankees (1st in AL East)

-'94 is a shortened season, you'd think that should be enough to keep NY from team 17.  Baltimore's had three wins and is looking for a 4th.

C Yankees-Stanley
1B Orioles-Powell
2B Orioles-Johnson
SS Orioles-Belanger
3B Yankees-Boggs
LF Orioles-Buford
CF Orioles-Blair
RF Orioles-Robinson
DH  Yankees-Tartabull
SP1 Yankees-Key
SP2 Orioles-McNally
SP3 Yankees-Peliz
Cl Yankees-Howe
Double: Bat WAR Orioles
Double: Pit WAR Orioles

Orioles 11 Yankees 6 - pretty close up until the totals when Baltimore pulls away.

54. 1946 Red Sox (lost WS)
v.
75. 1984 Tigers (won WS)

4 Red Sox teams, 4 Tigers teams - which organization will put their 5th entrant in the Round of 64?  Williams and Pesky are both 27 years old; Trammell's 26 and Whitakers 27 for the Tigers.

C Tigers-Parrish
1B Sox-York
2B Sox-Doerr
SS Sox-Pesky
3B Tigers-Johnson
LF Sox-Williams
CF Tigers-Lemon
RF Tigers-Gibson
DH Tigers-Evans
SP1 Sox-Hughson
SP2 Push
SP3 Push
Cl Tigers-Hernandez
Double: Bat WAR Tigers
Double: Pit WAR Tigers

Tigers 11 Red Sox 5 - like the last game, tight until the totals when Detroit broke it open.

22. 1998 Astros (lost NLDS)
v.
107. 1976 Yankees (lost WS)

Houston's got a couple of teams moving forward - the Yankees have a couple and 14 more than that. This is the Bagwell (32) Biggio (30) Astros. The Yankees have 21 year old Willie Randolph and a 29 year old Thurman Munson.

C Yankees-Munson
1B Astros-Bagwell
2B Astros-Biggio
SS Yankees-Stanley
3B Yankees-Nettles
LF Astros-Alou
CF Yankees-Rivers
RF Astros-Bell
DH Astros-Berry
SP1 Astros-Lima
SP2 Astros-Reynolds
SP3 Astros-Hampton
Cl Astros-Wagner
Double: Bat WAR Yankees
Double: Pit WAR Astros

Astros 11 Yankees 6 - sweeping all the pitching categories, Houston moves on.  

43. 1928 A's (2nd in AL)
v.
66. 1935 Yankees (2nd in AL)

-we're ending Group 6 with another Yankee attempt to add to the 16 teams they've already placed in the next round, 4 A's squads have joined them.  This A's team is ridiculous.  Foxx (20) Simmons (26) Cochrane (25) Cobb (41) Speaker (40) Grove (28). The Yankees have a half dozen Hall of Famers on their side (13 Hall of Famers in this matchup!) Dickey's 28 and Gehrig's 32.  Let's finish off this group.

C A's-Cochrane
1B Yankees-Gehrig
2B A's-Bishop
SS Yankees-Crosetti
3B Yankees-Rolfe
LF A's-Simmons
CF Push
RF Yankees-Selkirk
SP1 A's-Grove
SP2 Yankees-Ruffing
SP3 A's-Quinn
Cl A's-Rommel
Double: Bat WAR Push
Double: Pit WAR A's

A's 8 Yankees 5 - it's the pitching that wins it for Philly, they win three matchups and the total to advance and end Group 6.

When we see this group again:

123. 1974 A's
v.
59. 2015 Blue Jays

27. 1942 Yankees
v.
91. 1990 A's

11. 1969 Orioles
v.
75. 1984 Tigers

22. 1998 Astros
v.
43. 1928 A's

Back to the NL with Group 6 and the 1904 Giants.

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (NL, Round One, Group 5)

Last group is here.

5. 1942 Cardinals (Won WS)
v.
124. 1890 Dodgers (tied WS) (Bridegrooms)

-Only one Cardinals team has advanced, none of the 19th century clubs have moved forward. Musial's 21, Slaughter's 26 for the Cards. The Dodgers have a 26 year old Bob Caruthers.

C Cards-Cooper
1B Dodgers-Foutz
2B Dodgers-Collins
SS Cards-Marion
3B Dodgers-Pinkney
LF Cards-Musial
CF Dodgers-O'Brien
RF Cards-Slaughter
SP1 Cards-Cooper
SP2 Dodgers-Terry
SP3 Cards-Lanier
Cl Cards-Gumbert
Double: Bat WAR Cards
Double: Pit WAR Cards

Cards 11 Dodgers 5 - All tied up headed to the third pitching matchup - and then the Cards ran them out of the tournament. 

60. 1934 Giants (2nd in NL)
v.
69. 1970 Pirates (lost NLCS)

2 Giants clubs have advanced, the Bucs have 4 in the Field of 64. The Giants have Ott (25) and Terry (35) and Hubbell (31).  Pittsburgh's got a 35 year old Clemente and a 30 year old Stargell.

C Pirates-Sanguillen
1B Giants-Terry
2B Push 
SS Giants-Jackson
3B Pirates-Hebner
LF Giants-Moore
CF Giants-Watkins
RF Giants-Ott
SP1 Giants-Hubbell
SP2 Giants-Schumacher
SP3 Giants-Fitzsimmons
Cl Pirates-Giusti
Double: Bat WAR Push
Double: Pit WAR Push

Giants 8 Pirates 3 - the Giants swept the OF and the SP, that did it, they advance.

28. 1941 Dodgers (lost WS)
v.
101. 2016 Nationals (lost NLDS)

-a half dozen Dodgers teams have moved on - this is it for the Nats, either they advance or they are done.  The Dodgers are Medwick (29) Reiser (22) Camilli (34) and Walker (30).  Bryce Harper is 23 for the Nats, Max Scherzer is 31.

C Nats-Ramos
1B Dodgers-Camilli
2B Nats-Murphy
SS Dodgers-Reese
3B Push
LF Dodgers-Medwick
CF Dodgers-Reiser
RF Dodgers-Walker
SP1 Nats-Scherzer
SP2 Dodgers-Wyatt
SP3 Dodgers-Davis
Cl Dodgers-Casey
Double: Bat WAR Dodgers
Double: Pit WAR Nats

Dodgers 10 Nats 5 - the OF sweep propels Brooklyn into the next round.  

37. 1999 Diamondbacks (lost NLDS)
v.
92. 1957 Braves (won WS)

-5 Braves clubs are on their ways forward, like the Nationals, if the DBacks don't win here, you won't see them again.  Randy Johnson is 35, Luis Gonzalez 31 and Matt Williams is 33 for the Snakes - for the Braves it's Aaron (23) and Mathews (25)

C Braves-Crandall
1B Braves-Torre
2B DBacks-Bell
SS Braves-Logan
3B Braves-Mathews
LF Dbacks-Gonalez
CF Dbacks-Finley
RF Braves-Aaron
SP1 DBacks-Johnson
SP2 DBacks-Daal
SP3 Braves-Buhl
Cl Braves-McMahon
Double: Bat WAR Braves
Double: Pit WAR DBacks

Braves 9 DBacks 7 - we've seen this a few times in recent matchups, deadlocks broken up with a team taking the last two pitching matchups; Milwaukee's win in those and solid advantage with the offensive totals get them home.

12. 1901 Pirates (finished 1st)
v.
117. 1897 Braves (Beaneaters) (finished 1st)

-we've seen a few Honus Wagner clubs move on, we haven't seen anyone from the 19th century advance.  Wagner's 27, Fred Clarke's 28. The Braves have 4 HOFamers, a 27 year old Kid Nichols and Jimmy Collins, a 30 year old Hugh Duffy and 31 year old Billy Hamilton. 

C Push
1B Pirates-Bransfield
2B Pirates-Ritchey
SS Pirates-Wagner
3B Braves-Collins
LF Pirates-Clarke
CF Braves-Hamilton
RF Pirates-Davis
SP1 Braves-Nichols
SP2 Pirates-Chesbro
SP3 Pirates-Tannehill
Cl Push
Double: Bat WAR Push
Double: Pit WAR Braves

Pirates 7 Braves 5 - man, that is close, the individual matchups were close, the team totals were close, these are two really evenly matched clubs, but Pittsburgh managed to squeeze it out.  

53. 1921 Giants (Won WS)
v.
76. 1951 Dodgers (2nd in NL)
-this is the Dodgers team that lost to the most famous home run ever hit, Jackie and Pee Wee are 32, Campy's 29, Hodges is 27, Snider's 24. The Giants have Frisch (23) and Bancroft (30).

C Dodgers-Campanella
1B Dodgers-Hodges
2B Dodgers-Robinson
SS Giants-Bancroft
3B Giants-Frisch
LF Giants-Burns
CF Dodgers-Snider
RF Dodgers-Furillo
SP1 Dodgers-Newcombe
SP2 Dodgers-Roe
SP3 Dodgers-Branca
Cl Giants-King
Double: Bat WAR Dodgers
Double: Pit WAR Dodgers

Dodgers 12 Giants 4 - had I known how much the Giants were going to struggle I might have reconsidered this tournament.  Man.  

21. 1974 Dodgers (lost WS)
v.
108. 1885 Cubs (tied WS) (White Stockings)

8 Dodgers teams have advanced, no one from the 19th century is thusfar headed forward.  Garvey's 25, Lopes is 29, Cey is 26 and Jimmy Wynn is 32 for LA. For the future Cubs it's Anson (33) John Clarkson (23) and King Kelly (27)

C Dodgers-Yeager
1B Dodgers-Garvey
2B Dodgers-Lopes
SS Push
3B Cubs-Williamson
LF Push
CF Dodgers-Wynn
RF Cubs-Kelly
SP1 Cubs-Clarkson
SP2 Dodgers-Sutton
SP3 Dodgers-Rau
Cl Dodgers-Marshall
Double: Bat WAR Dodgers
Double: Pit WAR Dodgers

Dodgers 11 Cubs 3 - the Dodgers get their 8th team into the next round.  

44. 1945 Cardinals (2nd in NL)
v.
85. 1929 Giants  (3rd in NL)

-3 Giants teams/3 Cardinals teams have advanced - who picks up the quartet? Marty Marion's 28 for the Cards, the Giants have 7 Hall of Famers, there's a 26 year old Carl Hubbell and a 25 year old Travis Jackson, and a 20 year old Mel Ott and a 30 year old Bill Terry.

C Cards-O'Dea
1B Giants-Terry
2B Cards-Verban
SS Giants-Jackson
3B Cards-Kurowski
LF Cards-Schoendienst
CF Cards-Adams
RF Giants-Ott
SP1 Cards-Barrett
SP2 Cards-Burkhart
SP3 Giants-Fitzsimmons
Cl Cards-Dockins
Double: Bat WAR Giants
Double: Pit WAR Cards

Cards 10 Giants 6 - it's St Louis, the arms are just too strong

Here's the next round:

5. 1942 Cardinals
v.
60. 1934 Giants

28. 1941 Dodgers
v.
92. 1957 Braves

12. 1901 Pirates
v.
76. 1951 Dodgers

21. 1974 Dodgers
v.
85. 1945 Cardinals

When we return, it's with AL Group 6 led by the 2001 Seattle Mariners.

The Greatest MLB Tournament Ever Created (AL, Round One, Group 5)

Last group was here

5. 2018 Astros (lost ALCS)
v.
124. 1946 Yankees (finished 3rd)

-the '17 Astros have already advanced, a dozen Yankees squads are already in the Round of 64. Jose Altuve and George Springer are both 28, Alex Bregman's 24.  Justin Verlander leads the pitching staff for the Astros at 35.  It's a Yankees team with a half dozen Hall of Famers, a 31 year old Joe DiMaggio leading the way. 

C Yankees-Robinson
1B Astros-Gurriel
2B Astros-Altuve
SS Astros-Correa
3B Astros-Bregman
LF Yankees-Keller
CF Yankees-DiMaggio
RF Yankees-Henrich
DH Yankees-Johnson
SP1 Astros-Verlander
SP2 Yankees-Bevens
SP3 Astros-Cole
Cl Astros-Rondon
Double: Bat WAR Yankees

Double: Pit WAR Astros

Astros 9 Yankees 8 - Looked like Houston was going to run away with it after the IF matchups, but NYY swept the OF and was up 1 until Houston took the final 2 pitching matchups; the overall totals split and Houston escapes.  

60. 1972 A's (Won WS)
v.
69. 1997 Yankees (lost ALDS)

-we know the Yankees story, they're sitting on 12 headed to the next round; the A's only have 2 and both of those are Philadelphia clubs.  Can Oakland make it to the Round of 64?  Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter are both 26.  For New York - Derek Jeter is also 26, Bernie Williams is 28, and Andy Pettitte's 25.

C A's-Duncan
1B Yankees-Martinez
2B Yankees-Sojo
SS A's-Campaneris
3B A's-Bando
LF A's-Rudi
CF Yankees-Williams
RF Yankees-O'Neill
DH-Yankees-Fielder
SP1 Yankees-Pettitte
SP2 Yankees-Wells
SP3 Yankees-Cone
Cl Yankees-Rivera
Double: Bat WAR A's
Double: Pit WAR Yankees

Yankees 11 A's 6 - that New York run, swept the OF, won the DH, swept all 4 pitching matchups - just too much for the A's and the 13th NYY team has moved on.


28. 1995 Indians (Lost WC)
v.
101. 2014 A's (lost WC)

2 A's teams and 1 Cleveland team has advanced - which of these modern clubs moves on?  Cleveland's got a 28 year old Albert Belle, a 24 year old Jim Thome, a 28 year old Kenny Lofton and a 23 year old Manny Ramirez.  Whew.  The A's counter with a 28 year old Josh Donaldson.


C A's-Norris
1B A's-Moss
2B Indians-Baerga
SS Push
3B A's-Donaldson
LF Indians-Belle
CF Indians-Lofton
RF Indians-Ramirez
DH-Indians-Murray
SP1 Indians-Martinez
SP2 Indians-Nagy
SP3 Indians-Hershiser
Cl Indians-Mesa
Double: Bat WAR Indians
Double: Pit WAR Indians

Indians 13 A's 3 - Mercy.  After the IF matchups, Oakland led 3-1 and then they just got stampeded.  

37. 1938 Yankees (Won WS)
v.
92. 1964 White Sox (2nd in AL)

-The Yankees have 13 teams in the Field of 64; the White Sox have 1 - the team from the season prior, 1963.  Six Hall of Famers for NYY - DiMaggio's 23, Dickey's 31, Gehrig's 35 in his last full season.  The White Sox have fewer of those guys. 


C Yankees-Dickey
1B Yankees-Gehrig
2B Yankees-Gordon
SS White Sox-Hansen
3B White Sox-Ward
LF Yankees-Selkirk
CF Yankees-DiMaggio
RF Yankees-Henrich
SP1 Yankees-Ruffing
SP2 Yankees-Gomez
SP3 White Sox-Horlen
Cl White Sox-Wilhelm
Double: Bat WAR Yankees
Double: Pit WAR White Sox

Yankees 10 White Sox 6 - NY threatened to pull away sweeping the OF and taking the first 2 pitching matchups, but the ChiSox were able to keep it competitive.  

12. 1912 Red Sox (won WS)
v.
117. 1980 Orioles (2nd in AL East)

Boston's got 4 entrants in the next round; Baltimore's got 2, including the '79 club.  The Sox are led by a 24 year old Tris Speaker and a 22 year old Smokey Joe Wood. Baltimore's got a 24 year old Eddie Murray and a 34 year old Jim Palmer.

C Orioles-Dempsey
1B Orioles-Murray
2B Orioles-Dauer
SS Sox-Wagner
3B Sox-Gardner
LF Sox-Lewis
CF Sox-Speaker
RF Orioles-Singleton
DH-Orioles-Crowley
SP1 Sox-Wood
SP2 Sox-O'Brien
SP3 Sox-Bedient
Cl Orioles-Stoddard
Double: Bat WAR Orioles
Double: Pit WAR Orioles

Orioles 10 Red Sox 7 - a pretty big upset, Baltimore lost the matchups, but narrowly took all the totals and they advance.  


53. 1921 Yankees (lost WS)
v.
76. 1955 White Sox (3rd in AL)

-Yup, another Yankees/White Sox matchup.  This is a Babe Ruth club, he's 26.  Nellie Fox is 27, Minnie Minoso 29 for the Sox. 


C Yankees-Schang
1B Yankees-Pipp
2B White Sox-Fox
SS Yankees-Peckinpaugh
3B Push
LF Yankees-Ruth
CF Yankees-Miller
RF Yankees-Meusel
SP1 White Sox-Pierce
SP2 Yankees-Hoyt
SP3 Yankees-Shawkey
Cl Push
Double: Bat WAR Yankees
Double: Pit WAR White Sox

Yankees 10 White Sox 4 - The OF sweep just too much here, that's 15 Yankee teams moving on.

21. 1914 A's (lost WS)
v.
108. 1964 Yankees (lost WS)

-the A's are scuffling in the bracket; the Yankees steamrolling.  Eddie Collins is 27, Home Run Baker 28 for the A's.  Mantle is 32, Maris 29 for the Yankees. 


C Yankees-Howard
1B A's-McInnis
2B A's-Collins
SS A's-Barry
3B A's-Baker
LF Yankees-Tresh
CF Yankees-Mantle
RF Yankees-Maris
SP1 Yankees-Bouton
SP2 Yankees-Downing
SP3 Yankees-Ford
Cl Yankees-Pennock
Double: Bat WAR A's
Double: Pit WAR Yankees

Yankees 10 A's 6 - The New York Yankees are laying waste to Group 5.  

44. 1934 Tigers (lost WS)
v.
85. 1965 Twins (lost WS)

-3 Tigers teams have advanced, 1 Minnesota team. Gehringer and Cochrane are both 31, Greenberg's 33. For the Twins, Killebrew is 29 and Oliva is 26.


C Tigers-Cochrane
1B Tigers-Greenberg
2B Tigers-Gehringer
SS Twins-Versalles
3B Tigers-Owen
LF Twins-Allison
CF Twins-Hall
RF Twins-Oliva
SP1 Tigers-Bridges
SP2 Tigers-Rowe
SP3 Twins-Perry
Cl Tigers-Auker
Double: Bat WAR Tigers
Double: Pit WAR Tigers

Tigers 11 Twins 5 - tight until the totals, the totals were also tight, but the Tigers took them both and moved on.  

Here's the next round:

5. 2018 Astros

v.

69. 1997 Yankees

28. 1995 Indians

v.

37. 1938 Yankees

117. 1980 Orioles

v.

53. 1921 Yankees

108. 1964 Yankees

v.

44. 1934 Tigers

Back to the NL next time, led by the 1942 Cardinals.