After 182 days, 2430 games, and six division races, the playoffs are all set to get underway. The Royals are making their first playoff appearance in 29 years, while the Tigers have won four straight division titles. The Angels surged to dominance in the AL West, while the Athletics limped into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Pirates only narrowly missed the chance to steal the division crown away from the Cardinals, who take it home for the second straight year.
Now, though, getting to October isn’t enough. What happens for the next month will send 9 teams home with nothing, while one team brings home the hardware.
Here is the Major League Baseball Playoff Predictions, brought to you by the ZP: Left Fielder.
AL Wild Card Game
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| The As will go as far as Lester can pitch them...which may only be until the 7th. |
The As have the starting pitching to make a 5 game series look painful for an opponent, but they only have one shot here. Jon Lester takes the mound against a Royals team that has stuck around all year long. While both Lester and KC’s James Shields will pitch well, this game will be decided in the seventh inning or later. After that, it is the Royals who’s lineup is dominant enough to find their spots, and a bullpen that can seal the deal.
ZPLF pick: Royals
NL Wild Card Game
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates
The Giants’ starting lineup has been hobbled by injuries, while the Pirates are in full-on attack mode. The Buccos will also see a huge home-field advantage, as the Pittsburgh fan-base has grown rabid about their team. I think this will get ugly early, and the Pirates will cruise to the next level.
ZPLF pick: Pirates
ALDS
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| Trout has been a megastar every step along the way. Why not also in the playoffs? |
The scrappy Royals do what it takes to win, while the bashing Angels hit their way into victories. The Royals pitching is good, but not good enough to keep the Angels quiet. The Angels won’t have anything to worry about, in terms of their own pitching. It will do the tirck.
ZPLF pick: Angels
Detroit Tigers vs. Baltimore Orioles
I had written this whole post saying the Orioles would win this series. I had filed it away for publication. Then, I saw the Tigers rotation for this series. I don't know why seeing it in ink (ok, on a screen) had such an effect on me, but I just can't bet against Scherzer, Verlander and Price in a five game series. Those are the three wins you need right there. The Orioles are good, but nobody is as good as the Tigers rotation at their best.
ZPLF pick: Tigers
NLDS
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Washington Nationals
All that I said about the Pirates before stands, but the Nationals are the real deal. Their pitchers have been unhittable, their offense has been consistently dominant, and they seem to have all of the pieces coming into play at the absolute best possible time. The Pirates will walk away from this series knowing they were starting pitching away from greatness.
ZPLF pick: Nationals
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| Puig will be the difference maker, one way or another. |
Yasiel Puig is the secret to this series. People like to say that he will lose two games with base running errors and and gaffes, but he will win the other two with his superstar abilities. Kershaw vs. Wainwright will be fun to watch, and you can never count the Cardinals out, but this St. Louis team isn’t nearly as dominant as the one that played a tough series against the Dodgers a year ago.
ZPLF pick: Dodgers
ALCS
Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Angels
The league's best pitchers against the best offense in baseball. This is the kind of series that will be easy to predict after seeing the ALDS, but I have to go with a high-flying offense. If any team can make Verlander and Price look like they did in August, it is the Angels.
ZPLF pick: Angels
NLCS
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals
These are the two best pitching staffs in the game, and they will square off in absolutely dominant performances. The Nationals are the more offensively clever team, and they will find ways to scratch across runs. Kershaw will be dominant, but he will only win two of the game necessary to make the World Series. The Nationals will represent the Senior Circuit.
ZPLF pick: Nationals
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| Harper will play a key role in bringing Washington to the promised land. |
Washington Nationals vs. Los Angeles Angels
The first team along the road with the pitching to stifle the Angels, the Nationals have the ability to stymie the best hitters in baseball. The Angels will win game one before falling behind 3-1. They’ll get back into it with a win, before going down in Game 6. Nationals win.
ZPLF pick: Nationals
Throughout the year, the Nationals have proven to be a well-rounded team, both offensively and on the rubber. The most successful teams are not the ones with one or two superstars (the Angels) or a lights out ace (the As, Tigers, and Dodgers), but the team that can run a team out every night that will find ways to beat you. The Nationals will put up the 11 “W”s they need to put a big ole’ W on the World Series.
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