Playoff preview: (4) Jack vs. (5) Chris

Records: Jack 12-8-2, Chris 12-10
Line: Jack -1
Season series: Tied 1-1 (Week 3: 14-4 Jack; Week 13: 13-6 Chris)
Career playoff records: Jack 0-2, Chris 3-2
All-time head-to-head: Chris 5-4-1
Playoffs head-to-head: Never met
Last playoff appearance: Jack 2009, Chris 2010


About the matchup
These teams head into the playoffs on a bit of a downer after disappointing Week 22 results: Jack's offense disappearing Sunday in a loss to Mike with the division on the line; Chris blowing a big lead vs. Ken heading into the weekend with a chance to win his division.

So now instead of a bye and rest, they get each other in the first round, and one of them will be going home earlier than anticipated.

"(Last week is) already in the rear view mirror," Jack said. "We live in the present with an eye towards the future. The past is the past. Our eyes are on the front of our head for a reason."

And with those eyes in the front of their head, team Billy Ball will see a tough first-round and lower-seeded opponent in Chris, who has playoff experience and has had success as an underdog.

Last year, Chris was a No. 6 seed and made it all the way to the finals. He'll have to duplicate that success to make it back this year with Jack and then a potential matchup with top-seeded Mike up next.

"My team has gone through a rough patch late in the season when it needs to be playing its best," Chris said. "I hope to be able to rally them and not let them (keep) continuing this disastrous play lately."

In their own words
Jack, on facing Chris: "Chris is a tough and worthy opponent, great manager with a solid team. We will have our hands full and then some. "

Chris, on facing Jack: "The matchup vs. Jack is a tough one. Jack has a real solid offense that when it's on, is possibly the best in the league. I anticipate this matchup coming down to Sunday."

Jack, on why he will win: "Not gonna comment on that one. Just gonna do our best each day - see how that stacks up by Sunday night."

Chris, on why he will win: "The Twins will move on because my offense will return this week and that will win the matchup for me."

The Prediction
Chris wins 11-9 in a close matchup that does indeed come down to Sunday. Chris finds ways to win in the playoffs, and that will be the case again as he takes just enough pitching and most of the offensive categories.