2013 Postseason

The Commissioner's
Trophy-awarded to
the winner of the
World Series

    Yes, it's that time of year again: time for playoff baseball!!! It's the time of year when eight teams all fight to reach the one goal that every ball player dreams about for their entire lives: winning a World Series title. That being said, here are my predictions for the 2013 postseason:

ALDS: Detroit Tigers vs. Oakland Athletics- It seems as though Detroit seemed to back their way into the playoffs, losing 5 out of their last 7 games, including a 3-game sweep by the Miami Marlins to end the regular season. Oakland won the AL West for the second year in a row and defeated Detroit 4-3 in the season series. That, combined with the fact that Detroit did back into the playoffs, leads me to believe that Oakland will win this series in 5 games, ensuring that neither of the teams that played in last year's World Series will be returning.

ALDS: Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays- Tampa Bay definitely earned their spot in the ALDS, after winning two winner-take-all games on the road. Tampa Bay's pitching is as good as always with Matt Moore and David Price heading up their rotation. It also helps that Evan Longoria is at his best when the games matter most. It's also important to note that Joe Maddon, the Rays manager, is a genius and a wizard in the dugout. However, Boston did finish with the best record in baseball (97-65), and did defeat the Rays 12 out of 19 times during the regular season. It also helps that Boston ranks either first or second in the league in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. That being said, Boston will win this series, although it will be a close, five-game series, and I believe the Fenway faithful will be the difference makers.

NLDS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates- The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the playoffs for the first time since 1992, and the city of Pittsburgh is fired up. Unfortunately, the Cardinals have home-field advantage and already have a 1-0 lead in the series. The Pirates have fought valiantly this season and deserve to be where they are, but their season will come to an end but, much like the other series in this postseason it will be close. In the end however, the Cardinals' stellar young pitching and their league best .330 team batting average with runners in scoring position will lead them to the NLCS.

NLDS: Atlanta Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers- With Clayton Kershaw giving the Dodgers a 1-0 series lead with a 12-strikeout performance in Game 1, that makes Game 2 all the more important. I believe that Atlanta will win Game 2 and eventually the series in 5 games. The Braves have a better

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw
went 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA and 232
strikeouts in the regular season

rotation as a whole and the team that went 96-66 and won their division by 10 games will show up. It also helps that the Atlanta Braves have home-field advantage in this series and a 56-25 home record this season. The Braves also put up a +140 run differential to the Dodgers' +67. In a series highlighted by great starting pitching, the Braves will win in 5 games and move on to face the Cardinals in the NLCS.

ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics- These two teams were very competitive in the regular season. They split their season series and had the two best records in the American League. When all is said and done, I believe two things will factor in Boston's favor: 1) They have home-field advantage and 2) the Athletics are a very young team and have significantly less playoff experience than the Red Sox. Therefore, I believe the Boston Red Sox will advance to their third World Series since 2004.

The Cardinals hold the best
record in the National League (97-65)

NLCS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Atlanta Braves- Much like the other LCS, the Cardinals and Braves had the top records in the National League. The Braves won the season series 4-3. You could say that this is the beginning of a nice rivalry because of the fact that the Braves have a bit of a score to settle. Last season, the Cardinals defeated the Braves 6-3 in the first ever Wild Card game, and the year before, St. Louis was rewarded with Atlanta's Wild Card spot after a 9-18 September caused the Braves to cough up a seemingly definite playoff appearance. Unfortunately, for the Braves, I see this series being one-sided in the Cardinals' favor. Only the Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros struck out more often than the Braves and the Cardinals pitching staff has the 5th-best earned run average in baseball. The Braves actually do have the best ERA in the league, but St. Louis' .269 team batting average is the second best in the national league. Not to mention, St. Louis is very good at manufacturing runs any way they can and Atlanta is very much a all-or nothing, free swinging team. The fac
t that these two teams are opposites as far as offensive strategy will tip in St. Louis' favor. They will defeat the Atlanta Braves in six games and advance to the fourth World Series in 9 years.


2013 World Series: Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals- Highlighted as a rematch of the 2004 World Series, which was won by the Red Sox in 4 games, this particular Fall Classic will feature two teams will a lot of playoff experience under their belts. Since 2004, either the Red Sox or the Cardinals have been participants in four of the last nine World Series, including their 2004 match-up against each other. Boston finished with the league's best record at 97-65. The entire series will see good pitching versus good hitting. After all, there is a reason why these are the two best teams in baseball. There doesn't seem to be a clear edge, so I see this series going no less than six games, and with a prediction based purely on feeling, the Boston Red Sox will win their third title since 2004 and their eighth World Series title in franchise history.

    Seeing as last year, neither of my predicted World Series participants even won a game, I have a good shot of having a better year. Happy playoffs baseball fans!!!