On July 27, the NYCMBL kicks off the 2019 postseason. There are eight teams vying for a title in the 'AA' division.

The 2019 'AA' postseason begins this weekend and after a wild regular season that saw the playoff field decided on the final day, each of the eight teams remaining has its sights set on the NYCMBL championship. Will the Bronx Pirates win their fourth straight title? Can the New York Twins build on their first-place regular season finish? Does Legit's youth give the team an edge over their more experienced opponents? We will find out in the next few weeks! For now, let's take a look at the first round of 'AA' games to be played this weekend.

Saturday, July 27

(4) Cross Bronx Indians (15-11-1) vs. (5) Yonkers Railsplitters (16-13-1) - 8:30 a.m. @Governor's Field

The 'AA' postseason kicks off with a showdown between two evenly-matched squads in the Indians and Railsplitters. Both teams played around .500 ball in the final third of the season—which is not surprising given the relative parity of the division—so it's tough to determine which club will have the edge on Saturday morning. 

The two teams have met four times this year, with the Tribe taking three of those games, but what makes this matchup so intriguing is the relative depth of these pitching staffs. Neither the Splitters nor the Indians have a true "ace," opting instead to use their arms situationally. Although stats for both teams are incomplete, the Railsplitters and Indians have combined to use 20 different starting pitchers on the year, making it difficult for either team to prepare for any one hurler.

(1) NY Twins (20-7-1) vs. (8) Legit (10-13-1) - 12 p.m. @Governor's Field

Nobody has more momentum right now than the Twins, who capped off a terrific late-season run with a victory over the Pirates in the regular season finale to capture the tournament's top seed. Alex Oates' club has won 12 of its last 13 games, and has not yet lost in the month of July so they should not lack confidence heading into double-elimination play. Legit, on the other hand, got a taste of postseason baseball last weekend, as they needed a Game 2 win over the Nassau Yankees on Saturday to qualify for the playoffs. The youngsters proved their mettle in that game, striking early and holding on for a 6-5 victory to keep the season alive. 

The Twins swept a May double header against their first-round foes, but Legit has shown the ability to take down higher-seeded squads this year. Patience will be key for the No. 1 seed, as Legit's pitching staff—though talented—has battled with control issues in some of the team's losses. 

(2) Bronx Pirates (19-7-0) vs. (7) New York Express (12-14-2)- 4 p.m. @Governor's Field

The Pirates relinquished their regular season crown on the last day of the season with a loss to the Twins, so their quest for a fourth straight title will begin from an unfamiliar position—second place. That said, no team in the NYCMBL has had as much postseason success as the Buccos in the last half-decade, so they will likely use last week's defeat as motivation for another championship drive. Mid-season acquisition Anthony Cabrera should bolster a talented pitching staff and give the Pirates yet another proven post-season arm that should help them on their quest. 

The Express will prove a worthy first-round adversary, however, as Dan Trotta's pesky ballclub has given higher-seeded teams plenty of trouble this year. The Express' knack for putting the ball in play and keeping pressure on opposing teams has come in handy this year—especially against the Pirates. On June 23, the Express earned a sweep over the No. 2 seed, using big innings to hang losses on Pirates' workhorses Jonathan Quinones and Hiram Vidal. They will be hoping for more big innings on Saturday as they seek to upset the defending champs. 

(3) Too Hot (16-11-1) vs. (6) NYC Mud Hens (13-12-1) - 7:30 p.m. @Roberto Clemente

The Hens might have authored a convincing sweep of Too Hot on June 9, but it's been all downhill for the Swampers since that point. Winning just three of their last 10 games, the Hens have struggled mightily, especially after suffering injuries to several top position players and pitchers. If they hope to be successful this weekend, they'll need to dig deep and have players excel in areas outside of their comfort zones. 

Too Hot, on the other hand, have not lost in their last 10 contests and ride a six-game winning streak into the postseason. The pitching depth of Rico Aymat's ballclub should be a strength in postseason play, as Too Hot has used a whopping 19 pitchers on the year as opposed to the nine employed by the Hens. The No. 3 seed may also call upon some of its power arms who haven't played a significant role in the regular season to get the team over the hump and win the organization's first ever 'AA' title this year.