By Brian Borders
ALDS 1: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Boston Red Sox à Season Series, 12-7 Red Sox
The Red Sox finished the regular season 97-65, good for the best record in baseball, while the Rays finished the 162 game regular season at 91-71. The Rays have since won two elimination games, and come into the series red hot. The Red Sox have the clear advantage on offense, as they were the highest scoring team in baseball this season. While the popular belief is that the Rays have a huge advantage in terms of pitching, the overall matchup is actually much closer, as both teams feature a pair of aces.
PICK: Red Sox in 4
ALDS 2: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics à Season series, 4-3 A’s
The Tigers finished the season 93-69, while the A’s finished the season 96-66. The offensive matchup in this series is extremely close, and a lot could depend on the health of Miguel Cabrera. Of course Cabrera will play, but he has been bothered by nagging injuries since late August. The pitching matchup is also very close, but I’ll have to give the advantage to the Tigers. The trio of Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Anibal Sanchez is stronger than the A’s trio of Bartolo Colon, Sonny Gray, and Jarrod Parker.
PICK: A’s in 5
NLDS 1: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals à Season series, 10-9 Pirates
The Cardinals finished tied with the Red Sox for the best record in baseball, at 97-65, while the Pirates had a record of 94-68. The offensive advantage clearly belongs to the Cardinals, especially with runners in scoring position, where the Cardinals are lights out. But the pitching matchup is a little closer, despite the fact that the statistics say I should side with Pirates. It’s just impossible not to take into consideration how much Yadier Molina will mean in this series.
PICK: Cardinals in 4
NLDS 2: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves à Season series, 5-2 Braves
The Braves come into this series with a regular season record of 96-66, while the Dodgers finished 92-70. The Braves offense may be more talented, top to bottom than the Dodgers, but the middle of the Dodgers lineup has been tearing it up since late June. The Dodgers should have the clear advantage in terms of the pitching matchup, as Clayton Kershaw may be the best pitcher in baseball right now, who forms a dynamic duo with Zack Greinke.
PICK: Dodgers in 4
ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland A’s à Season series, 3-3 split
The Red Sox and A’s matchup very well, but I think the Sox have the advantage based on the fact that they have home field advantage, and the Red Sox seem to never lose big games at Fenway Park.
PICK: Red Sox in 6
MVP: David Ortiz. The leader of the Sox offense has to have a huge series for them to win it.
NLCS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers à Season series, 3-3 split
The Dodgers and the Cardinals also matchup very well, but in Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have a big game pitcher that can match up well with Clayton Kershaw. The Cardinals always seem to come through big in the playoffs, while the Dodgers are a little more unproven.
PICK: Cardinals in 7
MVP: Trevor Rosenthal. The lights out Cardinals closer should have several appearances in this series
WORLD SERIES: Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals àDidn’t play during the regular season
The Red Sox and Cardinals, the two best teams in baseball during the regular season, both have electric offenses. The Red Sox have pitchers that can match up with Cardinals pitchers. The Red Sox have home field advantage due to the fact that the American League won the All-Star game.
PICK: Red Sox in 6
MVP: Jacoby Ellsbury. If the Red Sox want to win the World Series, they’ll need to have their table setter get on base, and maybe even steal bases as well.
Third Floor Crew 