2016 MLB Postseason Begins Tonight- Will this be the Cubs’ year?

After a long, one-hundred and sixty-two game season, the MLB Playoffs are set to begin tonight! This postseason features returning participants Chicago, San Francisco, Texas, Los Angeles, Toronto and New York, as well as teams who haven’t been in this position for a few years (Boston, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington). October is where anything can happen. For instance, this is an even-numbered year, so fans and experts are keeping their eyes on the Giants, winners of three World Series championships in five years. Will they be able to do it again? It will be a tough task, as they open Wednesday night in the Big Apple against Noah Syndergaard and the Mets. If San Fran advances, they would have to head to Chicago to play the heavily favored Cubs team, who haven’t won a championship since 1908. They will be looking to end that one-hundred and eight year drought. In the American League, AL East rivals Baltimore and Toronto will meet in the Wild Card game. These teams have seen each other plenty in the regular season, but the Blue Jays have the postseason edge (they made it last year, the Orioles did not). The offenses for both clubs will be on display. The winner of this game moves on to Texas to play the Rangers, who are seeking to get back to the World Series and (potentially) seek revenge on the Giants, who beat them in the 2010 World Series.

So many possibilities could happen. There could be the first ever Beltway series (Baltimore and the Nationals play practically next to each other geographically). The Indians and Cubs could be a battle of the world series-starved organizations. The Red Sox and Dodgers, two teams that play in major U.S. cities/markets (Boston and Los Angeles) can be a potential championship matchup. David Ortiz could end his long, Hall of Fame worthy career against one of his former teammates, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was responsible for the Red Sox epic comeback in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees. There is something special with baseball played in October. I can’t wait to see what happens!

My 2016 World Series prediction? Rangers over Giants in seven games. Texas has a powerful lineup offensively, and San Francisco has a veteran, experienced pitching staff and position players ready to lead the team. Yet, Texas has not had the feeling of winning a championship for the first time the way the Giants had back in 2010. The Rangers are going for it. They will not show mercy to Toronto, Boston, and San Francisco. They are legit.