The 2014 MLB playoffs start tonight. We are going to try and predict the postseason and the outcome. If we recall this is a series that we have done through out the year. This is the last one before the offseason. It has been a good year with many surprises. Let's get started.
Wild Card Round
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Oakland Athletics vs Kansas City Royals (September 30th)- This is going to be a good game. Even though the Athletics faded a lot after they traded Cespedes, Lester will prove that he is worth the trade. He will be solid, going 7 innings and giving up two runs. Meanwhile, James Shields will also be solid, but only lasts for 6 innings and will surrender 4 runs. Oaklands' bullpen will blow that lead, but they will come back in the 10th for the win.
Final Score: 5-4 Oakland
Winner: Oakland Athletics
Final Score: 5-4 Oakland
Winner: Oakland Athletics
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San Francisco Giants vs Pittsburgh Pirates (October 1)- The Pirates look to make it farther this year in the playoffs, after losing in the Division Round last year. They are putting the ball in the hands of Edison Volquez. Volquez has been a bit of a revelation this year, particularly in the second half. Hopefully he can carry that hot streak into the playoffs. The offense shouldn't be a problem for them either. Sadly for them, Madison Bumgarner is taking the mound against them. Bumgarner has been very good this year. I am not sure I trust the Giants offense enough to win, though.
Final Score: 6-3 Pittsburgh
Winner: Pittsburgh
Final Score: 6-3 Pittsburgh
Winner: Pittsburgh
Division Series
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Oakland Athletics vs Los Angeles Angels (October 2-8 if needed)- This should be one of the better series of the playoffs. Oakland has the pitching. LA has the offense. This series will definitely come down to the weak points of each team. LA has the worst pitching staff of anyone in the playoffs. I wouldn't trust the threesome of Shoemaker, Weaver, and Wilson to win the series for me. The offense certainly has the firepower to take on the A's, but Oakland has shut down pitching. Sonny Gray has been near unhittable lately, Lester is a beast in the playoffs, and Samardzija isn't that bad either. If the A's can put up some runs, they will win the series.
Winner: Oakland in 4 games
Winner: Oakland in 4 games
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Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles (October 2-8 if needed)- Someone the Baltimore Orioles ended the year as one of the best teams in the majors. They made it with their pitching finally stepping up. Their pitching staff is still a scary thing to take into the playoffs. I am not sure how much I trust the Orioles rotation of number 3 starters. The Tigers on the other hand have the superior starting staff. Price, Scherzer, and Verlander are scary names on paper. Price has been pretty bad since the trade, though, and Verlander hasn't been himself for a while. This series will come down to the offense. The Tigers have a great offense, but I feel the Orioles are deeper top to bottom, especially with Miguel Cabrera not playing up to his standards. The Tigers bullpen will blow the series for them.
Winner: Baltimore in 5
Winner: Baltimore in 5
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals (October 3-9 if needed)-After fighting their way through the Wild Card round, the Pirates still have something to prove. They will put up a fight, but the red hot Nationals will shut them down. Specifically the Nationals pitching will shut down the Pirates offense. The Nationals offense will be good enough to get the lead, and then the pitching will keep the Pirates subdued.
Winner: Washington in 4
Winner: Washington in 4
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St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers (October 3-9, if needed)-
The Cardinals somehow fought their way into the playoffs again. They are a gritty team. They will definitely put up a fight, but the Dodgers are just to complete of a team for the Cardinals to deal with. Kershaw will shut down St. Louis twice, and the offense will tear up the Cardinals pitching.
Winner: Los Angeles in 5
The Cardinals somehow fought their way into the playoffs again. They are a gritty team. They will definitely put up a fight, but the Dodgers are just to complete of a team for the Cardinals to deal with. Kershaw will shut down St. Louis twice, and the offense will tear up the Cardinals pitching.
Winner: Los Angeles in 5
Championship Series
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Oakland Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles (October 10-18 if needed)- The Orioles will find their way into the ALCS, but won't go any farther.Their pitching will collapse, and the A's pitching would shut down the Baltimore bats. The A's pitching will completely stop the Orioles offense and emerge as the MVPs of this series.
Winner: Oakland in 5
Winner: Oakland in 5
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Los Angeles Dodgers vs Washington Nationals (October 11-19 if needed)- This will be the Championship series to watch. The two best teams in the NL will meet. The Nationals statistically have the better pitching, but you will see them choke in the playoffs once again. The Dodgers will ride to the World Series on backs of Kershaw, Ryu, and Grienke. The offense will be subdued, but do enough to win.
Winner: Los Angeles in 6
Winner: Los Angeles in 6
World Series
Los Angeles Dodgers vs Oakland Athletics (October 21-29 if needed)- This will be a pretty forgettable World Series. The A's will finally collapse completely after playing some solid baseball for a few weeks. The A's won't be able to contain the Dodgers offense, and the A's offense will be shut down by the Dodgers dominant pitching.
Winner: Los Angeles in 5
Winner: Los Angeles in 5