The Wild Card game continued to serve its purpose, as it provided some intense baseball if not dramatic. In the end, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays survived their winner take all games and advanced to the Division Series. When the season began, I picked the LA Angels to win the World Series. Well, the Angels finished below .500 and therefore didn't even qualify for the playoffs. Hopefully my picks are better in the postseason. Here is how I expect the Division Series to play out.
ALDS
Tampa Bay (91-71) vs. Boston (97-65)
Red Sox won season series 12-7
Tampa Bay Season Stats
BA - .257
RPG - 4.32
ERA - 3.74
Boston Season Stats
BA - .277
RPG - 5.27
ERA - 3.79
The Tampa Bay Rays have already staved off two elimination games to get to this point. They beat Texas just to get into the Wild Card, then disposed of my Cleveland Indians to advance to the ALDS. They will meet their AL East rival, Boston Red Sox. Boston had a huge bounce back year after 2012's embarrassment. The Red Sox did it with their bats all season. These two teams have won in completely different ways this year. I like Boston to keep winning.
Prediction - Boston over Tampa Bay 3-2
Detroit (93-69) vs. Oakland (96-66)
A's won season series 4-3
Detroit Season Stats
BA - .283
RPG - 4.91
ERA - 3.61
Oakland Season Stats
BA - .254
RPG - 4.73
ERA - 3.56
The A's proved to have staying power as they surpassed 90 wins again in 2013. I wasn't sure that Oakland could get back into the postseason, but they did it with relative ease. They will face off with detroit in the ALDS for the second consecutive year. The Tigers once again possess the AL's best pitcher and hitter. The only difference from last year is that Maz Scherzer was the league's best pitcher, not Justin Verlander. I've tossed and turned about this pick, but I'm going with the Tigers.
Prediction - Detroit over Oakland 3-2
NLDS
St. Louis (97-65) vs. Pittsburgh (94-68)
Pirates won season series 10-9
St. Louis Season Stats
BA - .269
RPG - 4.83
ERA - 3.42
Pittsburgh Season Stats
BA - .245
RPG - 3.91
ERA - 3.26
The Pirates are back in the postseason for the first time since 1992. They intend to make it worth everyone's wait. The Cardinals are well acquainted with playoff baseball. The Cardinals have won two World Series since 2006. These teams battled throughout the entire season, with the Cardinals eventually winning the NL Central and therefore earning home field for this series. The Pirates won the season series though. I made an adjustment at the All-Star break and said I thought the Cards would win another World Series. I don;t know how I feel about that now, but I do think they end the Pirates dream season.
Prediction - St. Louis over Pittsburgh 3-1
Atlanta (96-66) vs. LA Dodgers (92-70)
Braves won season series 5-2
Atlanta Season Stats
BA - .249
RPG - 4.25
ERA - 3.18
LA Dodgers Season Stats
BA - .264
RPG - 4.00
ERA - 3.25
Atlanta was my preseason pick to represent the NL in the World Series. They played like it for much of the year. The Braves pitching staff was outstanding and they always seem to get some timely hitting. The Dodgers were dead in the water when summer began. But then they went on a run never seen before that completely turned their season around. LA sputtered down the stretch though. Can they find their summer swagger? I don't think they will against this pitching staff.
Prediction - Atlanta over LA Dodgers 3-1
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