MLB Playoff Predictions

MLB Playoff Predictions

Chris Goodman, Staff Writer

Sunday was the last day of the Major League Baseball regular season which means it is time for the playoffs. Legends are born in October Will the Cubs sustain their incredible regular season and win it all, or will a wild card team shock the nation and win the pennant? Here are the predictions.

American League Wild Card
Toronto Blue Jays @ Baltimore Orioles

Winner:Orioles
Toronto’s ace Aaron Sanchez is unavailable so they will be forced to throw their number two starter Marcus Stroman. Stroman has struggled at times this season whereas the Orioles Chris Tillman has looked brilliant. The Rogers Centre should be an electric atmosphere but the Orioles will be victorious.

National League Wild Card
San Francisco Giants @ New York Mets

Winner: Giants
Madison Bumgarner on the mound in October is one of the scariest sights for an opposing team. He is practically unhittable when the stakes are the highest, and if you can’t hit you can’t win. Mad Bum will propel the Giants to victory.

National League Division Series
Chicago Cubs vs San Francisco Giants

Winner: Chicago Cubs
Even years are the years for the Giants as they have won it all the past three times. (‘10, ‘12, ‘14). That being said it is nearly impossible to pick against the Cubs. They are the best team in baseball and have three of the best pitchers in baseball. (Arrieta, Lester,Hendricks). That along with their offensive firepower should give them a relatively easy series win over a struggling Giants team.

National League Division Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Washington Nationals

Winner: Dodgers
The Nationals just lost Stephen Strasburg for this series and that is going to be a devastating blow. Even worse is that they lost their All Star catcher Wilson Ramos for the year. These two injuries are two that they will not be able to overcome. Kershaw, Rich Hill, and Maeda is a great 1-2-3 punch for the Dodgers, and their surging offense will lead them to win this series.

American League Division Series
Texas Rangers vs Baltimore Orioles

Winner: Rangers
The Rangers are the best team in the American League. They should be able to match up very well against a home-run dependent Orioles team and take this series.

American League Division Series
Boston Red Sox vs Cleveland Indians

Winner: Red Sox
The Red Sox’s offense is the best in baseball. This combined with the fact that the Indians are without two of their top three starters (Carrasco and Salazar) will give the Sox offense an even bigger window of opportunity. Wouldn’t be surprised if this was a sweep.

National League Championship Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Winner: Cubs
A younger less-experienced Cubs team made it all the way here last year only to be swept by the Mets. This year they are hungry for more, and with a revamped team they are the clear favorite to win the pennant, and they will.

American League Championship Series
Boston Red Sox vs Texas Rangers

Winner: Red Sox
The Red Sox offense will overwhelm the Rangers. Texas has bullpen concerns just like Boston but Boston has a far better starting rotation. The Red Sox will win the pennant.

World Series
Winner: Red Sox

Sorry Cubs fans, you will have to wait another year. The young Cubs will have a tough time in the World Series whereas veterans like Big Papi, Dustin Pedroia, and David Price will excel on the big stage. What a way for David Ortiz to end his last season with a World Series Championship.