With a wide-open MLB playoff field set to begin play next week, the excitement is ready to begin. It’s hard to imagine who will come out on top of a loaded field, but there are some teams with clear advantages over others. This is how the 2015 MLB playoffs will shake out in the end.
AL Wild Card Game: Houston Astros @ New York Yankees
Getty ImagesPrediction: Yankees win game 4-2.
This will be a very interesting match up as it pits one of the league's oldest teams against one of the league's youngest. Houston has the better pitcher in Dallas Keuchel, but will be playing on the road. This Yankees team will be desperate with their championship window closing and the Astros have plenty of great seasons ahead of them. That adds up to the Bronx Bombers squeaking out a close win.
Prediction: Yankees win game 4-2.
This will be a very interesting match up as it pits one of the league's oldest teams against one of the league's youngest. Houston has the better pitcher in Dallas Keuchel, but will be playing on the road. This Yankees team will be desperate with their championship window closing and the Astros have plenty of great seasons ahead of them. That adds up to the Bronx Bombers squeaking out a close win.
NL Wild Card Game: Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates
Getty Images
Prediction: Cubs win game 3-1.
It's extremely hard to pick against Jake Arrieta right now, even if he's facing the Pirates, who might be the most complete team in the National League. He has a 0.41 ERA since the start of August and has been all but unhittable. Just last week, he took a perfect game into the seventh inning against these same Pirates. Pittsburgh can't seem to figure the ace out and that puts them at a distinct disadvantage.
Prediction: Cubs win game 3-1.
It's extremely hard to pick against Jake Arrieta right now, even if he's facing the Pirates, who might be the most complete team in the National League. He has a 0.41 ERA since the start of August and has been all but unhittable. Just last week, he took a perfect game into the seventh inning against these same Pirates. Pittsburgh can't seem to figure the ace out and that puts them at a distinct disadvantage.
ALDS: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
Tommy Gilligan, USA Today SportsPrediction: Royals win in four games.
The biggest concern for the Royals going into this playoff run is their starting pitching. Luckily for them, the Yankees' pitching staff is in even worse shape. They will have to use Masahiro Tanaka to even get to this game, so the Royals have the clear advantage. Since they have home-field advantage in the series, expect them to win both games at 'The K' and finish it off at some point in the Big Apple.
Prediction: Royals win in four games.
The biggest concern for the Royals going into this playoff run is their starting pitching. Luckily for them, the Yankees' pitching staff is in even worse shape. They will have to use Masahiro Tanaka to even get to this game, so the Royals have the clear advantage. Since they have home-field advantage in the series, expect them to win both games at 'The K' and finish it off at some point in the Big Apple.
ALDS: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers
Peter Llewellyn, USA Today SportsPrediction: Blue Jays win in five games.
This is a tough draw for Toronto as the Rangers have the deepest pitching staff of the American League playoff teams. They might be the only team that can stifle the Blue Jays' electric offense for an extended period of time. Still, Toronto is a team on a mission heading into the playoffs and they'll find a way to win a decisive Game 5 at home, despite being tested more than expected.
Prediction: Blue Jays win in five games.
This is a tough draw for Toronto as the Rangers have the deepest pitching staff of the American League playoff teams. They might be the only team that can stifle the Blue Jays' electric offense for an extended period of time. Still, Toronto is a team on a mission heading into the playoffs and they'll find a way to win a decisive Game 5 at home, despite being tested more than expected.
NLDS: New York Mets vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Brad Penner, USA Today SportsPrediction: Mets win in five games.
This has the potential to be an all-time classic series with two great rotations going up against each other. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke head up the Dodgers' rotation while Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard lead the Mets. This will be an extremely close series, but the Mets will find a way to edge out L.A. with that same magic they've seemed to have all season long. That starts with Yoenis Cespedes having a monster series.
Prediction: Mets win in five games.
This has the potential to be an all-time classic series with two great rotations going up against each other. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke head up the Dodgers' rotation while Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard lead the Mets. This will be an extremely close series, but the Mets will find a way to edge out L.A. with that same magic they've seemed to have all season long. That starts with Yoenis Cespedes having a monster series.
NLDS: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs
Getty ImagesPrediction: Cubs win in four games.
With the momentum of the wild card game behind them, the Cubs will come in ready to knock off their long-time rivals. Jon Lester gets Game 1 and needs to be strong. He will likely go in a potential Game 4 as well, which could be a close-out game. The Cardinals have the killer instinct everyone needs in October, but the Cubs have a bunch of young guys starting to believe. They will stun their rivals and move on to the NLCS.
Prediction: Cubs win in four games.
With the momentum of the wild card game behind them, the Cubs will come in ready to knock off their long-time rivals. Jon Lester gets Game 1 and needs to be strong. He will likely go in a potential Game 4 as well, which could be a close-out game. The Cardinals have the killer instinct everyone needs in October, but the Cubs have a bunch of young guys starting to believe. They will stun their rivals and move on to the NLCS.
ALCS: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals
Getty ImagesPrediction: Blue Jays win in five games.
Even though this is a matchup of the two best teams in the American League, this is quite the mismatch. Toronto has a truly elite offense and the Royals are dealing with a lack of pitching depth. Despite opening the series on the road, if the Blue Jays can even win one of the first two games in Kansas City, they will cruise to a series win to earn them a berth in the World Series.
Prediction: Blue Jays win in five games.
Even though this is a matchup of the two best teams in the American League, this is quite the mismatch. Toronto has a truly elite offense and the Royals are dealing with a lack of pitching depth. Despite opening the series on the road, if the Blue Jays can even win one of the first two games in Kansas City, they will cruise to a series win to earn them a berth in the World Series.
NLCS: New York Mets vs. Chicago Cubs
Tommy Gilligan, USA Today SportsPrediction: Mets win in six games.
Even though the Cubs beat the Mets in all seven regular-season meetings this season, New York has an advantage in this series because of their pitching depth. While the Cubs have Arrieta and Lester at the top, they don't have much beyond that. The Mets, meanwhile, have four pitchers capable of pitching well in a playoff game. That gives them the edge in a series nobody would have predicted coming into this season.
Prediction: Mets win in six games.
Even though the Cubs beat the Mets in all seven regular-season meetings this season, New York has an advantage in this series because of their pitching depth. While the Cubs have Arrieta and Lester at the top, they don't have much beyond that. The Mets, meanwhile, have four pitchers capable of pitching well in a playoff game. That gives them the edge in a series nobody would have predicted coming into this season.
World Series: Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Mets
Evan Habeeb, USA Today SportsPrediction: Mets win in six games.
All season long, it has seemed like the Mets were a team of destiny and they will seal the deal this fall. A battle between Toronto and New York would be interesting because it would be a clash of great pitching and great offense. They say defense wins championships and that will prove to be true as the Mets knock off the Blue Jays and win the third World Series title in franchise history.
Prediction: Mets win in six games.
All season long, it has seemed like the Mets were a team of destiny and they will seal the deal this fall. A battle between Toronto and New York would be interesting because it would be a clash of great pitching and great offense. They say defense wins championships and that will prove to be true as the Mets knock off the Blue Jays and win the third World Series title in franchise history.
