Cleveland Indians vs Houston Astros: 5 bold predictions for 2018 ALDS

2. Altuve and  Brantley hit .400

Michael Brantley is healthy for the postseason for the first time since the Cleveland Indians went one-and-out during the 2013 Wild Card game against the Rays.

Brantley missed the the Tribe’s 2016 run to the World Series and played, although he was battling injuries in 2017 against the Yankees.

Now he enters the postseason as one of the Tribe’s hottest hitters, having crushed it in September by batting .341. Brantley ranked fifth among American League batters during the regular season.

Look for Dr. Smooth to continue to perform well in what will probably be his last hurrah with the Tribe. Brantley will be a free agent at season’s end, and there’s already talk about where his next destination might be.

Altuve hit .316 this season, which was third in the AL. Plus, he’s already balled out in the ALDS, having hit .533 during last season’s four-game ALDS win against the Red Sox.

Both guys are good hitters who  swing for contract and don’t strikeout.

It’s a recipe for .400 in a series where offense will be a premium considering how excellent the pitching on both sides promises to be.