So obviously we are a couple of weeks removed from these regular season predictions, so for the purpose of all of our memories, lets go over the teams that did make the playoffs from my predictions:
A.L.:
1. Toronto Blue Jays
2. Houston Astros
3. Kansas City Royals
WC1: Texas Rangers
WC2: Minnesota Twins
N.L.:
1. Chicago Cubs
2. San Francisco Giants
3. New York Mets
WC1: Los Angeles Dodgers
WC2: St. Louis Cardinals
So let's start with the Wild Card games for each league.
A.L. WILD CARD
Minnesota Twins Vs. Texas Rangers
The Twins might be a surprise pick to make the Wild Card game in these predictions, but I put them in because I'm expecting them to build off of impressive rookie seasons by Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. Obviously their season will depend on the latter of those two, but I think this is a good enough team to make the WC game at least. Unfortunately for them, they're on the road against a Texas club that has superior starting pitching and experience pitching in big games. I'll pick the Rangers to come out of this game based solely on a strong start by Cole Hamels, one of the better big game pitchers in the game. The Twins will put up a fight, but it won't be enough in the end.
WINNER: Rangers
N.L. WILD CARD
St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Boy what a Wild Card matchup this would be? These two teams have given us incredible postseason series in the last five years and this one game should be no different. The Cardinals have gotten the best of the Dodgers in recent years and are one of the few teams to beat Clayton Kershaw not once, but twice in a series. This Dodgers team is good, very good. Kershaw pitching in a one game playoff is incredibly tempting, but i'm going to take the Cardinals in this scenario. Their experienced lineup will get to Kershaw again. Matt Carpenter hits a go-ahead solo shot in the top of the eighth and Trevor Rosenthal caps it off with a six-out save. Cardinals advance to face the Cubbies.
WINNER: Cardinals
ALDS: Texas Rangers Vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Ironically enough we have the exact same ALDS matchups in these predictions than the 2015 postseason had. Here we have the Blue Jays and Rangers. If you recall, the Rangers took the first two games of the series needing to win one of the last three games with two of those at home. Well, they didn't. This Blue Jays team, came alive. The offense was dormant but awoke like a rising phoenix in the last three games, all Blue Jays wins. The Blue Jays don't have the best rotation by any means, but this offense will carry them in close games. Look for the Blue Jays to best the Rangers in 4 games.
RESULT: BLUE JAYS IN 4
ALDS: Kansas City Royals Vs. Houston Astros
This is the same exact matchup as a year ago as well, and it was one hell of a first round matchup. This time though, the Astros are the home team. My MVP favorite this season for the AL is Carlos Correa and look for him to have a big series and postseason in general. Of course, they're going up against the two time defending AL Champs and the reigning World Series Champions. However, the Royals won't be doing any defending this season. The Astros take this series in five games with timely hitting and key pitching. The Royals bullpen is nasty, but the Astros starters won't let it get that bad. Evan Gattis has a key hit in the late innings of game five and the Astros move on to the ALCS for their first time as AL members.
RESULT: ASTROS IN 5
NLDS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
Once again, the same matchup as last year except the roles are switched. The Cubs are coming off of a great regular season, and it is the Cardinals that are the lower seed having won the WC game against the Dodgers. The Cubs are an incredibly complete team. This team has it all. They have a couple of weak spots in the back end of their bullpen and that COULD cause them some problems come October. I don't think it will in this particular series. The Cubs can score in bunches and have an incredibly strong 1-2-3 punch in their starting rotation. Jason Heyward will stick it to his old team just like he did in the offseason by signing with the hated Cubs. The Cubs move on to the NLCS for the second straight year.
RESULT: CUBS IN 4.
NLDS: New York Mets Vs. San Francisco Giants
Well, it is an even year. But the Giants are no fluke for making the playoffs. That's not why I put them in. They have a solid 1-2-3 punch in their rotation as well. The Shark and Johnny Baseball will add something the Giants didn't have on last seasons team: Starting pitching depth. Something the Mets are overflowing with in Queens. Just like last season, I expect the Mets' starting pitching to overwhelm opponent once the playoffs come. They have the offense to back up their pitching as well. Yoenis Cespedes is back in Queens and expect him to TAKE OVER once the playoffs come.
RESULT: METS IN 5
ALCS Houston Astros Vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Another potentially great matchup here as we have the upstart Astros against the established Blue Jays. This Astros team reminds me a lot of the Cardinals teams back in the early 2010's. They have an influx of veterans but they also have these youngsters coming up the system and now they're starting to produce at the highest level. In my opinion, this is the Astros' series to lose. Their starting pitching is on par with the Blue Jays but ultimately it comes down with the bullpens. The re-signing of Tony Sipp went incredibly under the radar as a lefty specialist. The Astros have the more complete team with the blue Jays lacking strength in the bullpen. The Astros move onto the World Series for the first time since 2005.
RESULT: ASTROS IN 6
NLCS: New York Mets Vs. Chicago Cubs
Another rematch, this seems to be the the theme of this post. Once again, the seedings are flip-flopped and the Cubs are the home team in this seven game series. This has the potential to be one of the better postseason series' in recent memory. Both of these teams got better in the offseason. The Cubs added some more weapons with Zobrist, Heyward and Lackey signing on in Chicago. The Mets simply get another season of experience for their young pitching core. Look for them to lead the, early on in the series but look for the Cubs to feed on the Mets average bullpen. However, i'm a firm believer in pitching beats the best offenses... and well...
RESULT: METS IN 7
World Series: Houston Astros Vs. New York Mets
A matchup of some young, upstart teams. Just two seasons ago these teams both lost 85+ games. Now, with young studs in both of their respective lineups these teams are going to show the world this season just how good they can be. They both have Cy Young contenders at the head of their rotations and they have MVP favorites in their lineups. It truly would be a talented and special matchup. Hypothetically, this series is going to go seven games. These two teams are about as equally matched as they come. Both have exciting offenses that can catch fire at any given point. Both have excellent starting rotations. Both have average bullpens. The Mets however, have the presence of an all-star caliber closer. Not that it'll change the series by any means, just pointing out the facts. But I believe this is the year for the N.L. It is so top heavy in the NL and playing those top teams all season long will prep them for this tough test. The Mets with their young core will be World Series Champion this time around defeating the Astros in six games.
RESULT: METS WIN WORLD SERIES IN 6 GAMES
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