MLB Playoff Predictions
In a little less than 24 hours the best postseason in all of sports (in my opinion) will begin when the Rangers and Rays take the field in Game 1 of their Division Series. Plenty of good story lines in each series and it should be a very entertaining postseason. So without further ado let's dive into these series.
Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
This series might be a matchup of the two most even teams than any other matchup. Game 1's pitching matchup looks to be a classic with Cliff Lee and David Price. The key to this series is the health of Josh Hamilton. The Rangers have a potent offense but its much better with Hamilton in the middle of it. The thing that scares me about the Rays is outside of David Price I don't have a lot of confidence in the rest of their starting rotation. Also the health of Longoria will be huge for Tampa.
PREDICTION: Rangers in 5
New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
It seems like the Twins make it a habit of running into the Yankees in postseason play, and it usually ends badly. Three of the last 4 Division Sereis for the Twins have been against New York all have ended in losses. One thing that probably has Twins fans less confident is no Justin Morneau for the ALDS. As for the Yankees AJ Burnett will not pitch in the ALDS which if you think about it might not be a bad thing. The Twins did have the best home record in the American League. I hate picking the Yankees but I just don't see the defending champs losing in the first round. The key will be if the Yankees can steal one of the first 2 games.
PREDICTION: Yankees in 4
Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies
This to me is the most intriguing of all of the first round matchups. The Reds are one of my favorite teams to watch and with Joey Votto hitting in the middle of that lineup it definitely makes them a force to be reckoned with. When you look at the defending NL Champs there is no team in the playoffs with the rotation that Philadelphia has. Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels every guy could be a # 1 on every other team in baseball. Even as formidable as that rotation looks the Reds can put up some runs, it wont be easy for the Phillies.
PREDICTION: Phillies in 5
Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants
This series has the potential of being one of the lowest scoring in history. And it's really not because the pitching staffs are great but that the offenses aren't very good. So if you compare the two staffs the edge has to go to the Giants, with the one-two punch of Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. The ace of the Braves staff Tim Hudson is not going until Game 3 which could hurt Atlanta. Usually in the postseason pitching is # 1, however in this series I believe the offense that has the better series will move on.
PREDICTION: Giants in 4
My Predicted League Championship Series Match-ups
ALCS: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers
NLCS: San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies
