National League Wild Card Open Thread

Did you know that last night, the two American League Wild Card teams were the two teams the Royals faced in the ALCS the last two seasons? And tonight, the National League Wild Card teams are the two teams the Royals faced in the World series the last two seasons? And that President Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln while President Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy? And that Brian Duensing was in Alex Gordon’s wedding?????

The world is full of coincidences, you just have to look for them. What is no coincidence is that the Giants are back in the playoffs after a one year layoff. They almost had an epic meltdown in the second half but salvaged the season to make the Wild Card, much like their brothers across the Bay, the Oakland Athletics, did in 2014 when they lost to the Royals.

The Giants will hope for a better result, and since it is an even year, their chances look good. They have won championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014. Totally just a coincidence.

They do have a solid team with former Royals pitcher Johnny Cueto enjoying a remarkable season for them. They also have former Royals arch-nemesis Madison Bumgarner, who will make the start tonight. His adversary will be another foe from the Royals’ past, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard. The well-coiffed right-hander made waves last October when he brushed back Alcides Escobar in the first at-bat of his World Series start, the only World Series game the Mets would win.

You can watch the game tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN and the Watch ESPN app.