Both of the teams I picked to make the World Series went out in the Division Series. The Phillies were completely shut down by Chris Carpenter in Game 5 as they lost to the Cardinals 3-2. The Yankees were dreadful with runners on base against Detroit as they fell in 5 games.
The Championship Series' have a Midwestern feel to it. Detroit, Milwaukee, and St. Louis all represent that part of the country. Texas is the final team to round out the remaining particpants in the 2011 MLB Playoffs.
Minus St. Louis these cities have already experienced championship level play in other sports this year. Texas hails from the metro-Dallas area that saw the Mavericks take home their first NBA crown. Milwaukee fans got a Super Bowl title from their local team, the Green Bay Packers. And the Detroit fan base is in the middle of a pennant chase and their Lions are off to a 4-0 start.
Which one of these cities will continue to experience success? Here is a look at how I see the Championship Series' playing out.
ALCS
Texas (-135) vs. Detroit (+115)
Tigers won season series 6-3
Texas Probable Lineup
1. 2B Ian Kinsler
2. SS Elvin Andrus
3. CF Josh Hamilton
4. DH Michael Young
5. 3B Adrian Beltre
6. C Mike Napoli
7. RF Nelson Cruz
8. LF David Murphy
9. 1B Mitch Moreland
Texas Probable Rotation
1. CJ Wilson
2. Derek Holland
3. Colby Lewis
4. Matt Harrison
Detroit Probable Lineup
1. CF Austin Jackson
2. 3B Don Kelly
3. LF Delmon Young
4. 1B Miguel Cabrera
5. DH Victor Matrinez
6. RF Magglio Ordonez
7. C Alex Avila
8. SS Jhonny Peralta
9. 2B Ramon Santiago
Detroit Probable Rotation
1. Justin Verlander
2. Max Scherzer
3. Rick Porcello
4. Doug Fister
Prediction - Texas over Detroit 4-2
NLCS
Milwaukee (-125) vs. St. Louis (+110)
Season series tied 9-9
Milwaukee Probable Lineup
1. RF Corey Hart
2. CF Nyjer Morgan
3. LF Ryan Braun
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. 2B Rickie Weeks
6. 3B Jerry Hairston
7. SS Yunieski Betancourt
8. C Jonathan Lucroy
9. P Zack Greinke
Milwaukee Probable Rotation
1. Zack Greinke
2. Shaun Marcum
3. Yovani Gallardo
4. Randy Wolf
St. Louis Probable Lineup
1. SS Rafeal Furcal
2. CF Jon Jay
3. 1B Albert Pujols
4. RF Lance Berkman
5. LF Matt Holliday
6. C Yadier Molina
7. 3B Doug Freese
8. 2B Ryan Theriot
9. P Jamie Garcia
St. Louis Probable Rotation
1. Jamie Garcia
2. Edwin Jackson
3. Chris Carpenter
4. Kyle Loshe
Prediction - St. Louis over Milwaukee 4-3
No comments:
Post a Comment