The second division baseball playoffs and relegation rounds kick off this weekend. Four teams are in the semifinals, while two face the drop. Let’s break it down.
Semifinals
Two matchups begin this weekend of September 3rd, with the first two games to continue the following weekend of September 10th. Best-of-five series will see four teams battle it out.
Clermont vs. Valenciennes
Clermont, the reigning 2022 French champions, host Valenciennes. The latter finished top of their pool with 19 wins against 5 losses and boast a .341 team batting average, leading Division 2 so far. Clearly, Valenciennes hold the advantage in this department over Clermont, who rank eighth in batting average with .256. On the defensive side and in pitching, the tables turn as Clermont boast a 2.72 team ERA compared to Valenciennes’ 4.25. In terms of defense, compare errors: Valenciennes commit 2.6 errors per game on average, while Clermont have just 1.25. We’re looking at two very different team strategies, with disparate lineups. Individual standouts could tip the balance in any given game. Think of Clermont’s Japanese pitching aces: Igor Kimura, Kaichi Kawakami. For Valenciennes, the power hitters Andrew Paten and William Swindling come to mind.
Our prediction for the first two games: a split between the two teams
Sénart vs. Béziers
Béziers topped their pool with a .750 win percentage, while Sénart finished second in theirs. The two teams have nearly identical batting averages (.331 and .336) and a slight pitching advantage for Béziers with a 4.05 ERA compared to 4.50 for Sénart. The difference will likely come down to sheer will to win, as both teams play a similar opportunistic style. Team spirit will also be crucial, and Béziers clearly have the edge in form. Sénart has been plagued by internal tensions that, while more prevalent in Division 1, have certainly disrupted their preparation.
Our prediction for the first two games: 2 wins for Béziers on the road
Relegation Round
Three teams are in the relegation round instead of four. Pool B only had 6 teams compared to 7 in Pool A. Dunkerque finished last in Pool A with 19 losses against 5 wins. Facing a three-team playoff to determine the two relegated sides, the Dunkerque team has decided to forfeit. The Boucaniers de La Rochelle will therefore face only Guerche de Bretagne in a winner-takes-all match. Both teams have identical standings and statistics that aren’t particularly revealing, given the significant player changes this year. It’s tough to call, though La Rochelle’s experience might give them the edge. But it all comes down to one game.
Our prediction: La Rochelle to win
