Team Italy's Pat Venditte and Drew Butera battle for MLB playoff berths

Last seen playing on the same Azzurri squad wearing Team Italy uniforms in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Los Angeles Dodgers switch-pitcher Pat Venditte and Colorado Rockies catcher Drew Butera have been making an impact on their respective squads' bids to become the next National League West champion. In his last seven pitching appearances out of the Dodgers bullpen, Pat Venditte has been nearly perfect by only allowing two hits in 6.2 innings of work (0.00 ERA). A recent acquisition by the Colorado Rockies from the Kansas City Royals, Drew Butera has been a valuable contributor to the men in purple. In his last seven games, the 35-year-old veteran catcher has posted a .300 batting average with two hits off Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw and a two-run pinch-hit home run in last at-bat against Philadelphia Phillies reliever Austin Davis. Both Azzurri players have been instrumental in each team's playoff chances.

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, the National League West-leading Colorado Rockies are holding onto a slim one-game margin with three to play after their seventh-consecutive win. In the event of a tie for first place in the division, a tiebreaker game would determine the National League West champion. The Los Angeles Dodgers would serve as host of such a game against the Rockies since they won the season series, 12-7. If the Dodgers do not succeed in becoming the National League West champion, they still have a one-game advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals for the second Wild Card spot in the playoffs. However, in the event of a tie for the second Wild Card spot with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers would travel to St. Louis because Los Angeles lost the season series to the Cardinals, 4-3. If the Dodgers claim the National League West title and the Colorado Rockies tie the St. Louis Cardinals for the second National League Wild Card spot, the Cardinals would host Colorado for a tiebreaker game as a result of losing the season series to St. Louis, 5-2.

If the MLB playoffs began today, Pat Venditte and the Los Angeles Dodgers would play away against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Wild Card Game on Tuesday, October 2, 2018. The winner of the contest would then move on to the National League Division Series against host the Chicago Cubs beginning Thursday, October 4, 2018. Assuming Drew Butera's Colorado Rockies win the franchise's first-ever National League West championship, Colorado would host the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves beginning Thursday, October 4, 2018. Let's wish both Team Italy's Pat Venditte and Drew Butera the best of luck in reaching the MLB playoffs. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen

by Roberto Angotti