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# The Wild Card Preview I’ll Deny Writing by Friday
- URL: https://www.poorsportsmanship.net/the-wild-card-preview-ill-deny-writing-by-friday/
- Published: 2026-09-29T16:18:19.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-29T20:03:30.000Z
- Description: Six months of baseball, and somebody’s season is about to end in two afternoons. All four Wild Card series, the pitching matchups and my picks.
- Author: Ben Fairly
- Tags: MLB

After a grueling summer of PCA being fruity but awesome, Tommy John surgeries, way too many beers and briefly forgetting baseball exists once football starts, we’ve finally made it to the payoff: playoff baseball.

It’s finally here. It’s here to make you cry happy tears (if you’re a Dodgers fan) or sad tears (if you’re a fan of any other team). Six months of baseball, and somebody’s season is about to end in two afternoons. Let’s get into the Wild Card Series.

*All times Pacific. Game 3 start times depend on which series remain active. Matchups marked projected are not yet confirmed.*

## Philadelphia Phillies (88–74, No. 6 seed) vs. Atlanta Braves (94–68, No. 3 seed)

**Game 1 — Tuesday, September 29 | 11:00 a.m. PT**  
LHP [Jesús Luzardo](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/39667/jesus-luzardo?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (14–5, 2.86 ERA) vs. LHP [Chris Sale](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/30948/chris-sale?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (14–9, 2.16 ERA)

**Game 2 — Wednesday, September 30 | 11:00 a.m. PT**  
LHP [Cristopher Sánchez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/42359/cristopher-sanchez?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (18–7, 2.91 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Mahle (7–10, 3.99 ERA)

**Game 3 — Thursday, October 1 | Time TBD — if necessary**  
RHP Aaron Nola (7–12, 4.67 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Holmes (10–6, 3.44 ERA) — projected

### Game 1

A classic NL East rivalry to kick off the playoffs just feels right. It makes me tingle all over. Philadelphia will be forced to face Chris Sale in Game 1, which just absolutely sucks for them. He has been a nightmare for Philadelphia this year. The 37-year-old posted a 2.08 ERA, 29 strikeouts and a 0.81 WHIP across four starts against the Phillies this season. Philadelphia’s two biggest bats, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, are a combined 7-for-46 against Sale in their regular-season careers. Harper is just 2-for-21; Schwarber is 5-for-25 with two homers. Still a pretty lousy starting point for a playoff series, although Schwarber has shown he can hurt him. Sale is not the guy you want greeting you in October (I guess September).

Luzardo was lights out in his lone outing against Atlanta, throwing a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts. The problem is how much Philadelphia can ask of him after his return from shoulder inflammation. He’ll open Game 1, with Andrew Painter potentially following him. Sale has a much clearer path to working deep into this game. Give me Atlanta in the opener.

### Game 2

Sánchez gives Philadelphia its best shot at changing the series in Game 2\. He’s been one of the best arms in the National League, although September wasn’t his finest work: a 5.12 ERA across five starts. His road ERA this year was also considerably higher than his home mark, 3.87 compared with 2.23\. Atlanta beat him twice, but that deserves some context. He allowed three runs in each start, with all three in the first meeting unearned. The Braves won those games but they didn’t exactly knock him around.

Ozzie Albies is the matchup to watch here. He’s given Sánchez the work in his career, going 9-for-18 with three doubles and just one strikeout.

Mahle will take the rock for Atlanta, and he won’t be an easy opponent. He faced Philadelphia four times this season, twice when he was with San Francisco and twice with Atlanta, posting a 2.28 ERA. In his two Braves starts against the Phillies, Mahle allowed one earned run and one walk across 13 innings. He struck out only six, though, so Philadelphia should have chances to put the ball in play. His final regular-season outing wasn’t great: Cincinnati scored five runs against him in five innings. Phillies fans should carry whatever hope they still have.

The Phillies need their veterans to do something with those chances. Trea Turner has had success against Mahle, going 10-for-25 against the right-hander in his career. Getting him on base ahead of Harper and Schwarber would be a decent place to start. Leaving him there would be a very Phillies way to end the season.

### Game 3

If Philadelphia forces Game 3, Nola and Holmes are the projected matchup. Atlanta could use an opener ahead of Holmes. Wheeler could be available, but after throwing 97 pitches Sunday, he isn’t exactly sitting around with a fresh arm. Nola allowed a league-leading 37 home runs this season. But to his credit, he held Atlanta to three earned runs in 13⅓ innings across their two September meetings. There’s a path here, even if trusting it requires a beer or two.

Matt Olson is the obvious concern for Philly. He has smoked Nola over the course of his career, going 10-for-40 with five home runs and a 1.075 OPS. Half this dude’s hits have left the park. Nola cannot afford to help him add another.

Holmes was a pleasant surprise for the Braves this year, finishing 10–6 with a 3.44 ERA. He had a strong September, allowing five earned runs in 23 innings. But his 4.54 home ERA, compared with 2.46 on the road, gives Philadelphia something to work with. A deciding game would be winnable. I just don’t think the Phillies will get there.

Atlanta won the season series 9–4 and gets all three games at home. Philadelphia sent the Braves packing in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, so there’s plenty of unfinished business here. Unless the Phillies get to Sale early and flip this series on its head, I think Atlanta finally gets its revenge.

**Pick: Braves in two.**

## Chicago White Sox (84–78, No. 6 seed) vs. Houston Astros (81–81, No. 3 seed)

**Game 1 — Tuesday, September 29 | 2:00 p.m. PT**  
LHP Hagen Smith (3–3, 1.29 ERA) vs. RHP AJ Blubaugh (5–3, 3.66 ERA)

**Game 2 — Wednesday, September 30 | 2:00 p.m. PT**  
RHP Sean Burke (11–7, 3.34 ERA) vs. RHP [Hunter Brown](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/4717803/hunter-brown?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (6–4, 3.19 ERA) — projected

**Game 3 — Thursday, October 1 | Time TBD — if necessary**  
RHP Davis Martin (9–8, 3.95 ERA) vs. RHP Hayden Wesneski (6–2, 3.25 ERA) — projected

This one gets my juices flowin’. I loved the way the White Sox played this season. Gritty baseball. High energy with great culture in the clubhouse. After three straight 100-loss seasons, they’re back in the playoffs for the first time since 2021\. One hell of a turnaround. Munetaka Murakami, Miguel Vargas and Colson Montgomery have been a sick trio this year, each hitting 30-plus bombs. Dudes showed up on the mound, guys came through at the plate, and Chicago finished 84–78.

And then there are the Astros. This team always seems to be in the postseason, and I don’t think anybody besides Astros fans wants to see them play in October. They squeezed in at 81–81, the worst record among all 12 playoff teams. Houston clinched the AL West on the final day after the Rangers lost 6–4 to the Twins and finished 80–82\. Congrats to the Astros for being in a shitty division.

What’s good about this team? [Yordan Alvarez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/36018/yordan-alvarez?ref=poorsportsmanship.net). My AL MVP. The sweet-swinging lefty posted an unreal 1.033 OPS with 42 home runs, 106 RBIs and 109 walks. Dude mashed baseballs all season. I expect that to carry into the playoffs, where he remains the greatest threat to everyone else’s happiness.

### Game 1

Game 1 is a “pitcher’s duel” between Hagen Smith and AJ Blubaugh. Gross. I actually like Smith and think he’ll be a great pitcher in this league, but handing a rookie with one MLB start the ball against a seasoned team in Houston in Game 1 is a bold decision. He’s been excellent in his brief time in the bigs, posting a 1.29 ERA in 28 innings, but he shouldn’t be out there long. The White Sox have confirmed this will be a bullpen game, leaning on the group they’ve relied on all season. Chicago’s pen led MLB with 766 innings—53.2% of the team’s total—and posted a 3.70 ERA. Over the final 20 games, that ERA was 3.73, ranking 13th in MLB.

AJ Blubaugh is a Triple-A legend, but I’m not sold on him as a playoff pitcher. He enters Tuesday’s matchup after [an impressively awful September](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/%5F/id/42556/aj-blubaugh?ref=poorsportsmanship.net), posting a 7.71 ERA in 11⅔ innings. That followed a great August, when he posted a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings. Which version shows up? Either way, I don’t expect him to go much longer than three innings.

I’m expecting runs in this one. I love what Murakami has brought to the clubhouse, and he finished the season hot with [three home runs, two doubles and seven RBIs in his final six games](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/%5F/id/4872595/munetaka-murakami?ref=poorsportsmanship.net). I see the South Side Samurai and the White Sox coming out swinging and topping the Astros in Game 1.

### Game 2

Sean Burke and Hunter Brown are the projected starters for a much better pitching matchup in Game 2\. Brown’s season felt disappointing compared with what we expected, although a shoulder injury cost him a sizable chunk of it. He still finished with a 3.19 ERA and closed strong, posting a 2.73 ERA with 38 strikeouts in September.

Burke has been great for Chicago, especially lately, allowing just two earned runs across 16⅓ innings in his last three outings—a 1.10 ERA. The young righty also fared well against the trash cans this year, allowing three runs, two earned, in 11⅔ innings across two outings, including a 10-strikeout performance in late July. Brown was even tougher on Chicago, allowing two earned runs across 13 innings with 14 strikeouts. With their experience, I can’t see the Astros going down in two at home. Give me the ’Stros in Game 2.

### Game 3

That brings us to Game 3, where the first two games’ bullpen decisions could come back to bite somebody. Davis Martin and Hayden Wesneski are the projected starters, and both teams will need whatever innings they can get from them before turning it over to the pen.

Wesneski shoved against Chicago in early September, holding the Sox to one hit over seven scoreless innings. Martin matched him for 5⅔ scoreless that night, although Houston got him for four runs in five innings in July. I don’t see another scoreless battle. I think both offenses get to the starters and leave this thing in the bullpens’ hands.

My heart says Chicago. My brain says Houston. Since I’ve never been accused of using my head, give me the boys from the South Side to take the series in three.

**Pick: White Sox in three.**

## Boston Red Sox (87–75, No. 5 seed) vs. New York Yankees (93–68, No. 4 seed)

**Game 1 — Tuesday, September 29 | 5:00 p.m. PT**  
LHP Payton Tolle (9–6, 3.03 ERA) vs. RHP [Cam Schlittler](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/5134581/cam-schlittler?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (14–6, 1.95 ERA)

**Game 2 — Wednesday, September 30 | 5:00 p.m. PT**  
RHP [Sonny Gray](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/32082/sonny-gray?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (18–5, 2.72 ERA) vs. LHP [Max Fried](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/32685/max-fried?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (5–5, 2.80 ERA)

**Game 3 — Thursday, October 1 | Time TBD — if necessary**  
LHP Ranger Suárez (8–5, 3.22 ERA) vs. RHP Gerrit Cole (10–9, 3.61 ERA)

This is the big one. Yankees. Red Sox. Classic. The history. The hatred. Two fan bases who genuinely believe baseball was invented for them. This is October.

The Yankees won the season series, taking seven of 13 matchups against Boston. They went 4–2 against the Sox in the Bronx, where the entire Wild Card series will be played. Their final meeting came at the end of August, when New York outscored Boston 26–9 across four games.

It feels like yesterday that the Red Sox looked completely dead. They fired Alex Cora after a horrid 10–17 start, then went 77–58 under Chad Tracy. But the turnaround didn’t happen overnight. On June 24, Boston was 32–46, fourteen games below .500 and 15½ games out of first. It looked bad. Real bad. At that point, checking the standings was an act of self-harm. They went 55–29 the rest of the way.

This is why baseball is great. Boston dug itself out of a massive hole without Garrett Crochet for most of the year. Roman Anthony, their best hitter, missed nearly four months. They still found their way into October, finishing second in the AL in runs allowed per game at 3.77\. I love this Boston team. Gritty baseball.

The Yankees had their own problems. Aaron Judge struggled to stay healthy and has been [left off the Wild Card roster with a calf strain](https://apnews.com/article/e3b25154d3b84fffe27483d405f12453?ref=poorsportsmanship.net). Other guys stepped up and carried New York to 93 wins. [Ben Rice](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/5016968/ben-rice?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) supplied the power while Judge was out. This guy mashed baseballs, finishing with 41 home runs, 97 RBIs and an .897 OPS. Imagine losing Aaron Judge and just finding another guy who hits 40 bombs. Must be nice. He helped the Yankees score 4.59 runs per game, second in the AL.

### Game 1

The hitting was good, but the arms got New York here. Especially Cam Schlittler, who takes the ball in Game 1\. The tall right-hander emerged as the Yankees’ ace, finishing 14–6 with an eye-popping 1.95 ERA, 239 strikeouts and a 0.92 WHIP in 193⅔ innings. This dude shoved. He gets my vote for AL Cy Young.

Killa Cam grew up in Massachusetts rooting for the Red Sox. He is now their worst nightmare. Across four starts against Boston this season, he allowed just two earned runs in 24⅓ innings while striking out 27\. That’s a pretty aggressive way to disappoint your childhood friends.

Boston already knows what he can do in October. In Game 3 of last year’s Wild Card Series, Schlittler threw eight shutout innings, allowing five hits with 12 strikeouts and no walks to send the Sox home. Now they get him again. This one makes me tingle!

Schlittler is a brutal draw in Game 1, but Boston has an arm of its own. The Sox trot out Payton Tolle on Tuesday after the burly lefty posted a 3.03 ERA across 26 starts. He tossed a couple of gems against New York this season, allowing one run with 18 punchouts in 13 innings. That included seven shutout innings on just 88 pitches at the end of June. The catch? Both starts came at Fenway. Doing it in the Bronx in October is a different assignment.

This is going to be a hell of a matchup. I expect both starters to pitch well and keep it tight, but I see New York stringing together enough hits to take Game 1.

### Game 2

Game 2 features another great pitchers’ duel between Sonny Gray and Max Fried. Gray keeps getting better as his career rolls on. I feel like I’ve been watching Sonny Gray pitch since my parents still thought I had potential. He did his thing this season, going 18–5 with a 2.72 ERA and 149 strikeouts, giving Boston an arm it desperately needed. His 18 wins led the American League and tied Cristopher Sánchez for the most in baseball.

He little brother’d the Yankees in two starts this year, allowing three runs with 12 punchouts and three walks across 13⅔ innings. That included 7⅓ innings of one-hit, shutout ball on June 28\. The vet finished strong, going 2–1 with a 2.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts across 25⅓ innings in September. His final start was six scoreless innings against Cleveland. Just an old dude ruining everyone’s evening.

I don’t see the Yankees doing much against Gray.

Fried has given Boston almost nothing this year, posting a 0.77 ERA with 13 strikeouts across 11⅔ innings in two starts. He finished September 1–1 with a 2.78 ERA, 21 strikeouts and five walks in 22⅔ innings. His last start was his worst of the month, allowing four earned runs in 6⅔ innings against Tampa Bay. Before that, he allowed just one earned run in each of his first three September starts.

I expect another low-scoring duel, but I see Boston making Fried work and getting into the Yankees’ bullpen by the fifth. That’s where I think the Sox finally get something going at the plate. Give me Boston in Game 2.

### Game 3

The bats should show up in Game 3\. Desperation time for both clubs. Somebody’s season ends tonight.

Ranger Suárez gets the rock for the Sox. The southpaw was a beast in September, going 3–1 with a 1.09 ERA. The Yankees enjoyed hitting against him this season, though, handing him two losses in three starts while scoring 11 earned runs across 16⅓ innings—a 6.06 ERA.

This is where Boston needs its [$130 million investment in Suárez](https://www.mlb.com/news/ranger-suarez-red-sox-contract?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) to pay off. October baseball. He owns a 1.48 career postseason ERA across 42⅔ innings, with 44 strikeouts. Those Yankees matchups were ugly, but this guy has delivered in the playoffs. If September’s version shows up, the Sox have a real shot.

They’ll have to get through Gerrit Cole on the other side. Cole had an interesting year, not his best, finishing 10–9 with a 3.61 ERA. The 36-year-old’s biggest problem was the long ball: 22 homers allowed in 127 innings. Boston got him for two of those in their lone meeting, scoring four runs in 5⅓ innings and handing him the L.

His September was shaky, too. Cole went 3–2 with a 5.08 ERA, 26 strikeouts and four walks across 28⅓ innings. Nine balls left the yard in those five starts. No bueno.

Roman Anthony is my guy for Boston in this one. He finished the year [10-for-30 over his final eight games](https://www.espn.com.sg/mlb/player/gamelog/%5F/id/5080767/roman-anthony?ref=poorsportsmanship.net), with four doubles, a triple, a homer and four RBIs.

I expect Anthony to get to Cole and give Boston the offense it needs. Call me crazy, but I’m taking the Sox to finish the job in the Bronx. Nothing says October like 50,000 Yankees fans suddenly deciding they hate Aaron Boone.

**Pick: Red Sox in three.**

## Chicago Cubs (89–73, No. 5 seed) vs. San Diego Padres (91–71, No. 4 seed)

**Game 1 — Tuesday, September 29 | 7:00 p.m. PT**  
LHP [Matthew Boyd](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/34401/matthew-boyd?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (10–5, 3.91 ERA) vs. RHP [Michael King](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/40429/michael-king?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (12–10, 3.21 ERA)

**Game 2 — Wednesday, September 30 | 7:00 p.m. PT**  
RHP [Kevin Gausman](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/32667/kevin-gausman?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (9–12, 4.51 ERA) vs. RHP [Nick Pivetta](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/36071/nick-pivetta?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) (3–2, 2.86 ERA) — projected

**Game 3 — Thursday, October 1 | Time TBD — if necessary**  
RHP Clay Holmes (6–8, 3.29 ERA) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (13–8, 3.59 ERA) — projected

Last, but surely not least, we have two of the fruitiest teams in the league: the Cubs and the Padres. San Diego won 91 games this year, but they just don’t feel like a 90-win team to me. I understand that the standings disagree. I’ve chosen to ignore them.

What I love is what Alex Bregman did Sunday to close out the year. This guy got hit in the face by a foul ball while waiting near the on-deck circle, [fracturing bones in his cheek](https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-bregman-cubs-facial-fractures-postseason-return?ref=poorsportsmanship.net). A week later, in his second game back, he went [4-for-4 with two homers, a double and four RBIs](https://www.mlb.com/news/alex-bregman-hits-first-homers-since-being-hit-in-face-by-foul?ref=poorsportsmanship.net). BASEBALL. This is what I’m talking about. One of your best guys takes a baseball to the face, misses three games and comes back hitting bombs. This gets me going.

And PCA, man. What a year for the kid. It didn’t look great early. He finished April with a .669 OPS and entered June at .713\. Then he hit .381 in June, and the power followed. Putting up those final numbers after two rough months at the dish is ridiculous.

Everyone sees the 40 bombs and 40 steals, but his biggest improvement was his patience. [Crow-Armstrong entered 2026](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/stats/%5F/id/4717833/pete-crow-armstrong?ref=poorsportsmanship.net) with 53 walks in his entire MLB career, then drew 83 this season alone. He stopped giving pitchers so many easy outs and gave himself more chances to cause problems on the bases.

On September 24, he stole his 40th bag against Miami, becoming the first Cub and seventh player in MLB history with a 40-homer, 40-steal season. At Wrigley. On the day Chicago clinched a playoff spot. You couldn’t ask for a better time to do it.

The flashy outfielder finished batting .280/.372/.570 with 45 bombs, 107 RBIs, 119 runs and 41 steals while playing all 162 games.

### Game 1

As for Game 1, I see this one being decided by the bats. Matthew Boyd is pure mid. He finished 10–5 with a 3.91 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 126⅔ innings. Solid enough, but he doesn’t miss many bats, averaging just 6.82 strikeouts per nine innings. San Diego got to him this year, tagging him for 16 hits and eight earned runs in nine innings across two starts. That’s an 8.00 ERA. He allowed five runs in four innings at Petco in April, then three runs and two homers in five innings at Wrigley in June. Manny Machado stands out here: he’s 9-for-19 (.474) with four doubles, a homer and five RBIs against Boyd in his career.

Michael King takes the ball for San Diego after finishing 12–10 with a 3.21 ERA in 185 innings. He didn’t face Chicago this season, but Bregman has certainly enjoyed facing him. He’s 7-for-8 with two doubles and two walks against King in his career. That’s nine times on base in ten plate appearances. Coming off that badass two-homer finale, Bregman is the guy I’m watching.

I’m betting on Bregman and the Cubbies to keep it going. Give me Chicago to upset the Padres in Game 1 on Tuesday.

### Game 2

Kevin Gausman and Nick Pivetta are projected to go toe-to-toe in Game 2\. Gausman has had a sick career, but he wasn’t at his best this year, posting a 4.51 ERA with 184 strikeouts in 177⅔ innings while allowing 26 home runs. September wasn’t much better: a 1–1 record and a 4.43 ERA, with six homers allowed in four starts.

He faced San Diego once this season while still with Toronto, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings at Petco, punching out eight and walking three. San Diego’s best hitters have enjoyed facing him throughout their careers. Manny Machado is 9-for-25 with two homers and a 1.000 OPS, while Fernando Tatis Jr. is 8-for-23, also with two homers and a 1.027 OPS. I see these boys getting after Gausman and giving him the work.

Pivetta should hold it down for the Padres. He [missed nearly five months with a flexor strain before returning September 7](https://www.mlb.com/news/nick-pivetta-to-come-off-injured-list-to-start-vs-nationals?ref=poorsportsmanship.net), but he’s been money since coming back. Across four starts, he posted a 1.45 ERA with 18 strikeouts and just two walks in 18⅔ innings. His final outing was 4⅔ scoreless against the Dodgers, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out seven.

The concern is how long he can stay out there. Pivetta needed 87 pitches to get through that Dodgers start and hasn’t pitched beyond five innings since returning. San Diego’s bullpen will have to finish the job, but I like Pivetta to hand them a lead. Give me the Padres in Game 2.

### Game 3

I see this series going three games, with Clay Holmes and Robbie Ray as the projected starters for the decider. I expect short outings from both and plenty of bullpen work. Neither could stop handing out walks in September. Both managers should have someone warming up during the national anthem.

Holmes finished the month 0–2 with an ugly 8.24 ERA, allowing 18 earned runs in 19⅔ innings. He had 15 strikeouts and 15 walks. If you’re wondering why Cubs fans drink, there’s your answer. He’s also been considerably worse on the road, posting a 4.42 ERA compared with a 1.94 mark at home. I don’t see him lasting long in this one.

Same goes for Ray, who posted a 7.56 ERA in September, allowing 14 earned runs in 16⅔ innings with 14 strikeouts and 11 walks. Both offenses should have chances, and neither manager can afford to wait around while his starter figures it out.

This is a complete toss-up. How these teams use their bullpens in Games 1 and 2 could decide Game 3\. Whoever has the fresher arms will have a serious advantage. I think Craig Counsell will manage his balls off and get the Cubbies out of San Diego with a series win.

**Pick: Cubs in three.**

The best part of the Wild Card round is how quickly six months of baseball turns into a full-blown emergency. Your ace gives up a three-run bomb in the first, and suddenly a guy who won 90 games is managing like somebody’s holding his family hostage. Every pitching change pisses someone off. Every stranded runner takes a year off your life. Some dude you spent all summer calling a bum gets a big hit, and now you want him at your wedding.

Clear the schedule, get the games on and enjoy it. I put a lot of time into these picks, and I’d appreciate at least making it through lunch before they look stupid.