October is here which only means one thing...playoff baseball. After a crazy ending to the season, the playoffs have begun. In the American League, the AL East Champion Yankees have home field as they face the AL Central Champion Tigers. The AL West Champion Rangers are home against the surprising AL Wild Card Champion Rays.
In the National League, the NL East Champion Phillies have home field as they play the NL Wild Card Champion Cardinals. The NL Central Champion Brewers are home as they face the NL West Champion Diamondbacks.
Let me give my preview of the playoffs and my predictions.
In the American League, I see the Yankees Tigers series being a very close series. The Yankees had an unbelievable season with a lineup that will scare any opposing pitcher. The problem is that their starting pitching is somewhat suspect. After former Cy Young winner C.C. Sabthia, they are starting rookie Ivan Nova, followed by veteran Freddie Garcia. Nova did have a great season going an astonishing 16-4 with a 3.7 ERA. The problem is starting a rookie pitcher in the playoffs does not always turn out good. Garcia did not have a bad season by any means going 12-8 with a 3.62 ERA. What the Yankees are going to need is some good pitching throughout the playoffs. The good thing is that they still have that lineup and it is rested and healthy now. I believe their powerful lineup will get them past the Tigers, but I believe it will take five games to do it.
In the other American League matchup the Rangers face the Rays. The Rays are a team coming into the playoffs as one of the hotter teams in the league and feeding off a thrilling comeback to win the wild card after trailing by nine games coming into September. That reason alone makes me believe they will surprise the Rangers. Great young pitching, a solid lineup, and an inspired team have me picking the Rays to beat the Rangers in four games and have Tropicana Field rocking once again.
In the National League, I have got to go with the Phillies over the Cardinals. The Phillies have been just too good this season. When you have a starting pitching rotation of Halladay, Lee, Hamels, and Oswalt, it is hard to lose in a short series. For that reason, I am picking the Phillies to advance in four games.
In the other National League matchup it is a tough pick and also a fun series to watch. The Brewers and Diamondbacks had unbelievable seasons. I know I did not see either of these teams....well at least the Diamondbacks doing what they did this season. Arizona has a very young team that exceeded everyones expectations this year going 94-68 led by the young starting pitching of Ian Kennedy going a remarkable 21-4 this season. With that being said, I believe the Brewers offense lead by Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder and starting pitching of Yovani Gallardo and Zach Greinke and just a little more postseason experience will get them by the Diamondbacks in five games.
In the end, I see the Phillies beating the Yankees in the World series in seven games. The Phillies have been dominant all season and I see their dominant starting pitching continue to win through the playoffs as they get revenge against the Yankees from 2009 and take it in 7 games closing it out at home in Philadelphia.
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