Postseason Predictions

            It truly did take 162 games to decide this year’s MLB season. It came right down to the wire on Sunday before we knew what the 2014 MLB Postseason picture would look like. At the risk of looking like a fool of before the ink is dry, here are my predictions.

Angles vs. AL Wild Card

            The LA Angels will face the winner of the one-game playoff Wild Card game between the Kansas City Royals and the Oakland Athletics tonight. I think that regardless of who wins the Wild Card, the Angels are in pretty good shape for the series. With a lineup that features Albert Pujols, Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and David Freese, LA gets it done with their star power. Pujols slugged 28 homers and drove in 105 runs this year and he’s hungry for another run deep into the postseason. I predict the Angels to go to the ALCS.

Orioles vs. Tigers

            This looks to be the best of the American League divisional series. Detroit looked virtually unstoppable at the trade deadline but they struggled out of the gate after picking up Rays ace David Price. It’s time for Price, and starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander to come around and start pitching up to the hype. Verlander won his last three regular season starts but prior to that was not the pitcher that Detroit will need him to be in the postseason. The Orioles waltzed their way to the AL East division win, and the Tigers will be a wake up call to them. On paper, Detroit wins this series, but Baltimore is full of passion and they feature a middle of the order that can be very dangerous. With that said, I don’t think that the Birds’ pitching will be able to hold up against the Detroit staff that is full of postseason experience. I predict the Tigers to go on to the ALCS.

Nationals vs. NL Wild Card

            The NL Wild Card game on Wednesday will be a battle. It features two teams who ended up with identical records and will have to throw everything at that game to stay alive. That puts a strain on the pitching staff of the Wild Card winner going into the NLCS. I Like the Giants to win the game, but not the series. San Francisco will have to throw ace Madison Bumgarner in the Wild Card game, which will leave Tim Hudson to start the divisional series. Hudson has won just one of has past 10 starts, and is not the guy who you want to start a series. The Nats on the other hand are a well-rounded team who won 96 games in the regular season. Three of Washington’s five starters finished the year with ERAs below 3.00, and they also have one of the best bullpens in baseball. The Nationals also have an outfield that is filled with offensive pop. Center fielder Denard Span finished the year with a batting average of .302, and let’s not forget what corner outfielders Bryce Harper and Jason Werth can do offensively. I predict the Nationals to go on to the NLCS.

Dodgers vs Cardinals

            The Dodgers came up short last year, losing to the Cards in the NLCS, and they will be as hungry as a lion going into the divisional series. LA’s rotation is led by Clayton Kershaw, who features the dirtiest curveball that I’ve ever seen, and who ended the season with 21 wins and a remarkable 1.77 ERA. The offense includes Matt Kemp, who is finally starting to look like his old self, and produced up to expectation offensively for the Dodgers this year. Even though this may be hard for Red Sox fans who remember the Boston version of Carl Crawford, the speedy outfielder finished the season with an even .300 average, and has produced well in his last 10 games. They are facing a Cardinals team that hasn’t seen a whole lot of changes from last year and are still very dangerous, but I think that this rematch will end differently than last time around. I predict the Dodgers to go onto the NLCS.

            If you’re picking one series to watch, this is it. It’s going to be some great baseball and both teams are going to have to fight hard if they want to win.  

            Red Sox fans can enjoy being world champions for a few more weeks. We can brag all we want up until then, but it’s time to pass the glory on, as a new champion will soon be crowned.

            For baseball fans, there is no time of the year that is more exciting than right now. Lets enjoy it while we can.

            Also make sure to tune in tonight at 6:30 on WDEV for The Kid & The Geezer Postseason Special. The geezer Mal Boright and I will welcome your phone calls and give our in-depth postseason analysis.