With the MLB postseason underway, it’s time to look ahead to the finish line – the World Series. The “Fall Classic” is just a few weeks away, and some teams already looked poised to get there. Here’s my prediction for what teams will get there, and how.
American League: Toronto Blue Jays
A week ago, it was possible that the Blue Jays may have missed the playoffs completely. Now, they look like the biggest threat in the American League (A.L.). After their dramatic, extra-inning walk-off victory in the American League Wild-Card Game on Oct. 4, the Blue Jays were set for an ALDS matchup with the Texas Rangers. Texas is the favorite, as they are the number one seed in the A.L., but they don’t look like they stand a chance against Toronto now. In the first two games of the best-of-five series, Toronto has out-scored Texas, 15-4, and is one win away from punching a ticket to the ALCS. Lead by sluggers Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Josh Donaldson, the Blue Jays have clobbered every pitching they have seen in the postseason – and that included Rangers aces Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish. The Cleveland Indians currently sit two games to nothing on the Boston Red Sox, as they, like the Blue Jays, are a win away from the ALCS. However, the Blue Jays would beat the Indians in a best-of-seven series, because the Indians’ depleted pitching rotation is no match for the Blue Jays’ big boppers.
Prediction: Blue Jays win 4 games, Indians win 2
National League: San Francisco Giants
It’s an even year, so is this even a question? The San Francisco Giants, who have won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, are unstoppable once they get into the postseason. After Madison Bumgarner – already the greatest postseason pitcher of all time – shut the New York Mets out in the N.L. Wild-Card game on Oct. 5, San Francisco is set for an NLDS series against the World Series favorite Chicago Cubs.
But the Giants will beat the Cubs.
And it’s not household names that will carry the Giants. In the Wild-Card game, Connor Gillaspie – yes, Connor Gillaspie – hit the game-winning home run. In 2014, Travis Ishikawa hit the home run that sent the Giants to the World Series. The point here? The Giants get help from everyone. So, the rotation of Johnny Queto, Matt Moore and Bumgarner will stymie the Cubs – no doubt in my mind. Oh, and if it gets to a game five, you can be sure Madison Bumgarner will be on the mound.
And he’s never given up a run in 22 innings in a winner-take-all postseason game.
Prediction: Giants win 4 games, Dodgers win 1
