Wild Card
American League
Oakland Athletics @ Kansas City Royals
The first of the two wild card games features two teams that had very different paths into the postseason. The Royals finally ended their drought of not making the playoffs since 1985, meanwhile the Athletics once appeared to be on their way to another AL west division title and had a tough second half of the season and had to wait until game 162 to clinch a wild card berth. Both teams offer some interesting players offensively, but the pitching match-up is what highlights this game. “Big game” James Shields will face off versus Jon Lester. Expect this game to be a low scoring and possibly one-run game.
Key Players:
A’s: Jon Lester, Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson
Royals: James Shields, Eric Hosmer, Billy Butler
Result: It is time to see why the Athletics traded for Jon Lester, let’s not forget that Lester won the world series last year with the Boston Red Sox. Lester will show why Billy Beane traded for him, to help his team on the big stage. Athletics win.
National League
San Francisco Giants @ Pittsburgh Pirates
In what should be a dog fight, the Giants and Pirates appear to be very similar teams. Both have former MVP’s in Andrew McCutchen and Buster Posey. The pitching match-up will feature Madison Bumgarner against Edinson Volquez. Although I do think the Giants have an edge with their starter, the Pirates’ offense can make things happen, plus they are playing on their home field.
Key Players:
Giants: Buster Posey, Madison Bumgarner, Pablo Sandoval
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen, Edinson Volquez, Josh Harrison
Result: The Giants will take an early lead, but the Pirates will respond and take the victory out of this game. Pirates win.
Division Series
American League
Oakland Athletics vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
We already got a preview of this match-up late during the regular season and the intensity was at its best. The Angels got the best of the Athletics at that time, but things should be different this time around. We are all anxiously waiting to see how MVP candidate Mike Trout will perform in his first playoff experience. The Angels were the first team to clinch a playoff berth and finished the season with the best record in the MLB at 98-63.
Key Players:
A’s: Jeff Samardzija, Josh Donaldson, Coco Crisp
Angels: Mike Trout, Jered Weaver, Albert Pujols
Result: Home field advantage plays a huge role and in a short series it plays even a bigger role, the Angels offense will click and their pitching will respond, Houston Street is the pitcher they needed to finish off games in the playoffs. Angels win series in 4 games.
Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles ran away with an AL east title that few to zero people thought they could win at the beginning of the season. They were able to get through the defending champions Boston Red Sox, Yankees, and Tampa Bay Rays. Even with the struggles of Ubaldo Jimenez, the O’s rotation is still a strength with a great season by Chris Tillman. The Tigers made a blockbuster trade to bring in ace lefty David Price to a rotation that already featured Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. The offense is good also, Miguel Cabrera is still one of the best hitters in the game and Victor Martinez is putting up MVP-type numbers.
Key Players:
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera, Max Scherzer, Joe Nathan
Orioles: Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, Nelson Cruz
Result: The Tigers appear to have more pitching than the Orioles, but in a year that the Tigers clinched until the last day of the season with the team they had, it was almost underachieving. Orioles win series in 5 games.
National League
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals
The Nationals will enter this series with plenty of motivation after the no-hitter thrown by Jordan Zimmerman. The Nationals were in the postseason in 2012 and lost in the NLDS versus the Cardinals, then they didn’t make the playoffs in 2013 so now they will look to finally get over the hump. It will be the same story for the Pirates as well, they also got eliminated in the NLDS during their last series postseason series in 2013.
Key Players:
Pirates: Andrew McCutchen, Gregory Polanco, Russell Martin
Nationals: Denard Span, Jordan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon
Result: The Nationals have the team and rotation to take this series, but the Pirates ride their hot streak and stun the Nats. Pirates win series in 4 games.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers
A rematch of the 2013 NLCS, the Cardinals and Dodgers will meet once again in the playoffs. The Dodgers come into the series waiting to see if Hyun-Jin Ryu will be ready to pitch as the number 3 starter, even without Ryu, the Dodgers have a nice 1-2 punch with Kershaw and Greinke. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez took the MLB RBI title with 116, another valuable player in this Dodger lineup. The Cardinals have a great team as well, with Adam Wainwright leading their rotation. One of last year’s playoff heroes, Michael Wacha, remains a question mark for the Cardinals.
Key Players:
Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp
Cardinals: Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday
Result: The Cardinals split the first two games 1-1 against Kershaw and Greinke, then their offense will take over. Cardinals win series in 5 games.
League Championship Series
American League
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs Baltimore Orioles
Trout and company will face Adam Jones and the Orioles in the ALCS, now in a 7 game series it gives the teams a little more breathing room. With more games means more pitching, the Angels will have to start either Hector Santiago or Cory Rasmus if they don’t want to start Jered Weaver on short days rest. The Orioles will not have home field advantage during this series and will struggle a lot more than their previous series versus the Tigers.
Result: The Angels continue to roll and keep showing they are made for big things. Angels win series in 6 games.
National League
Pittsburgh Pirates vs St. Louis Cardinals
How about this NL central rivalry meeting in the NLCS? The Cardinals just barely won the NL central over the Pirates, but will meet in this exciting one of a kind series. Not only do these two teams have plenty of history in games played versus each other, but it is also one of the big rivalries in all of baseball. Look for players like Pedro Alvarez from the Pirates or Matt Holliday from the Cards to make some statements in a series that shall be controversial.
Result: The Cardinals will once again fall a bit short of winning the world series as the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their amazing run from the wild card game into the world series. Pirates win series in 7 games.
2014 MLB World Series
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The match-up all baseball fans want to see, Mike Trout vs Andrew McCutchen! The Angels and Pirates will offer an unforgettable series with plenty of momentum and lead changes. Look for both offenses to play a large role. Superstars from both teams will shine, but who will come out victorious?
Result: The miracle Pirates made a tremendous run, but the Angels have already waited two years to finally show their potential this season. The series will get tight, but the Angels will overcome and become your new world series champions!
Angels win World Series series in 6 games
Photo Credit: Ted S. Warren, AP