MLB Playoff Predictions and World Series Winner

A short time ago I went in depth and looked at each of the divisions and analyzing which teams improved, which got worse, and who the favorites were for each division. I also predicted who I thought would win each division and what each team’s strength was and how their lineup and pitching staffs stood in regards to their own divisions. However, with spring training winding down and the start of the season right around the corner, it is now time to give my predictions as to who is the favorite to win the world series and how the playoffs will ultimately shake out.

Below is the playoffs bracket for each league:

American League 

WC: Blue Jays vs Yankees

 

TBD (WC winner) vs (1) Astros

(3) Royals vs (2) Red Sox

 

Just Missed (in order): Rangers, Indians, Twins

 

Playoff Picks: 

WC: Yankees over Blue Jays

These two teams both making the playoffs is a risky pick because of how tough the American League East is to win with all the competitive teams. However, the Yankees bullpen is too strong for them to miss the playoffs. After all, the Royals had a three-headed monster carry them for most of the way and the Yankees have more talent than that bullpen did. On the flip side, the Blue Jays once again have a deep lineup and Justin Smoak seems poised to breakout finally, but their starting rotation weighs them down slightly. In this series look for the Yankees bullpen to take over in the end and the starters to give them just enough to advance past Marcus Stroman and the Blue Jays.

A.L. Divisional Series

Astros over Yankees, (4 games)

The Yankees as stated above have a very strong bullpen which should make a difference, but in a longer series than one game I am not sure their starters are good enough to give them a lead three times and win the series. Their offense should help providing injuries do not take their toll on this team that is filled with aging players. On the Astros side, they have a strong staff led by last year’s Cy Young Dallas Keuchel and Ken Giles should give them a more dependable late innings reliever than they had last year. Their offense should also be better with a full season of Carlos Gomez and George Springer. In the end, the Yankees starting pitching is not good enough to hold the Astros off the board to get to their monsters in the back end of the pen.

Red Sox over Royals (5 games)

The Red Sox have added the biggest name in David Price and that should pay dividends in this series with him pitching at least two times in this scenario. They also seem to have a more motivated and healthy Hanley Ramirez (we will see if the health part lasts), as well as a full season of the rapidly developing Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts which should really help their offense. If Jackie Bradley can hit and Pablo Sandoval can at the least provide adequate play they should be set. On the other side, the Royals do not have as good of an offense, rotation, or bullpen as they have had in the past, but they should still be a tough out in the playoffs. Missing Greg Holland will seriously hurt them this season especially with no Ryan Madson this year. They also have less depth in their minor league system to make deals this time around and they have trouble shutting down the Red Sox offense, while the Red Sox pitching, although mediocre, will do just enough.

A.L. Championship Series

Astros over Red Sox (6 games)

This is where the Red Sox rotation catches up to them with little depth and a tough bullpen if Carson Smith and Koji Uehara cannot stay healthy. The Astros have one of the deepest rosters in the American League and it shows here. The Red Sox will fall behind early on and will not be able to catch up with a well below average bullpen and the solid pitching of the Astros starting staff. Ken Giles is the key in this series as he has all the makings as a top closer and proves it here closing out three of the games. The Red Sox will win a couple on the strength of Price and their offense at home, but in the end, the Astros are far superior and move on.

National League 

WC: Diamondbacks vs Pirates

 

TBD (WC winner) vs (1) Cubs

(3) Giants vs (2) Mets

 

Just Missed (in order): Cardinals, Dodgers, Nationals

 

Playoff Picks: 

WC: Diamondbacks over Pirates

Unfortunately for the Pirates they once again fall short of the division crown and are forced to play in the playoff game despite having one of the best records in baseball. They do have Gerrit Cole who should keep them in the game and their offense will put up some runs led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen. However, they once again hit a bad set of circumstances and will once again face one of the best pitchers in baseball in Zack Greinke. An underrated aspect of the Diamondbacks though is their lineup led by MVP favorite (in my opinion) Paul Goldschmidt and another under appreciated player in center fielder A.J. Pollock. If this turns into a bullpen game the Pirates have the edge, but I see Greinke holding up.

N.L. Divisional Series

Cubs over Diamondbacks (4 games)

No team has more talent than the Chicago Cubs who possess one of the top rotations, one of the best pitchers, one of the best lineups, and one of the top managers. The Diamondbacks as discussed above will be able to take one game with Greinke and their offense should be able to make a few games competitive, but the Cubs have the best staff going into the playoffs with Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, and John Lackey being able to take the ball in the top three games. All three can pitch in big games and give the team innings and that will be the difference compared to the Diamondbacks who have Greinke, Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin, but I do not see that level of talent in those three as I do in the Cubs top three. I also prefer the Cubs ability to work the count and manufacture runs. Neither team has an overpowering bullpen, but the Cubs bench is a strength that should lead to some intriguing in-game substitutions and matchups.

Mets over Giants (5 games)

This series is going to be all about pitching and there should be a very minimal amount of run support for each staff. The Mets will throw three Cy Young caliber pitchers and that is not even counting Steven Matz or Zack Wheeler, both of whom could come on strong this season. On the Giants side, they will have Madison Bumgarner, Jeff Samardzija (who I am bullish on this year) and Johnny Cueto. I think the Mets clearly hold the edge after the top starter for each team as Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard are clearly better than Samardzija and Cueto. The Mets also should have an improved offense, but may face problems on defense with the range of their outfielders considering Yoenis Cespedes is not really a center fielder. Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera also figure to improve the offense but struggle to defend up the middle at second base and shortstop respectively. The Mets prevail.

N.L. Championship Series

Cubs over Mets (7 games)

This would be a fantastic series of two teams that have the best one through three starters in baseball. However, the key for this series will be the experience the Mets staff got last year in the playoffs which wipes away the Cubs advantage in that department. The Cubs definitely have an advantage in the offensive department, but the Mets also possess the edge in the closer with Jeurys Familia proving to be one of the best in baseball. The Mets will win their fair share due to those key advantages, but ultimately the Cubs ability to get on base and work the pitchers, as well as their advantages in late game pinch hitters and defensive range should allow them to come out on top. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant will be key as they will be responsible for driving in the runs when they get on base.

 

World Series

Cubs over Astros (5 games)

The Cubs are clearly the most talented roster in baseball as top to bottom they have depth in every spot on their roster while the Astros have the best roster in the American League in what should be the two best teams in baseball. However, the Cubs have the better starting staff and should be able to take advantage of the Astros propensity for striking out and their swing for the fences mentality. I also see a hole in the Astros bullpen in the middle innings, something the Cubs will be able to take full advantage of by working the starters early. The Astros will be able to get a game with Keuchel going and their offense will no doubt not be shut down for the entirety of the series, but in the end, the best team in baseball is the Cubs for the first time in 108 years. Theo Epstein, Joe Maddon and company will forever be remembered as the ones who ended the drought.

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