AL East
Current Leader: Boston Red Sox
In the Hunt: New York Yankees
The AL East could go either way this year. Who knows if the Sox or Yankees really want to win this division? But I still say I'd rather have home field than not have it. I like the Red Sox to stay healthy and win this division.
Winner: Boston Red Sox
AL Central
Current Leader: Detroit Tigers
In the Hunt: Cleveland Indians
Chicago White Sox
The Tigers have the league's best pitcher while the Indians seem to be getting healthy. And you can't forget about the White Sox either. That being said, the Tigers will never have a long losing streak because of Justin Verlander and they will manage to hold off both the Indians and White Sox.
Winner: Detroit Tigers
AL West
Current Leader: Texas Rangers
In the Hunt: Los Angeles Angels
Texas is deep at every area of the game which is why they're in the lead. I love the Angels pitching however and I think they are capable of putting together a long win streak at any time. But something is missing with this Angels team, which is why they fall just short in the end.
Winner: Texas Rangers
AL Wild Card
Current Leader: New York Yankees
In the Hunt: Los Angeles Angels
The Yankees have too much of a lead. It would take a ridiculous run to end the season for a team other than the Yankees or Red Sox not to be the wild card.
Winner: New York Yankees
ALDS
Boston Red Sox v.s. Detroit Tigers
This sets up to be a very attractive series. In Game 1, it will most likely be a Jon Lester-Justin Verlander matchup at Fenway. I'll take the Sox in a tight 4-2 game where they get to the Tigers bullpen late to sneak by. In Game 2, the Sox win going away because of Josh Beckett 8-2. In Game 3 at Comerica Park, the Tigers get a win late in the game 5-4. In Game 4, the Tigers steal another one as Justin Verlander throws a complete game, 1 run gem as the Tigers win 5-1. But in Game 5 at Fenway, I like Josh Beckett to come up big as the Sox win 8-3 to move onto the ALCS.
Red Sox in Five
Texas Rangers v.s. New York Yankees
A rematch of last years ALCS. The Yankees grab Game 1 5-3 as the Yankees offense musters enough to get past Texas. Texas will rebound however in Game 2, lighting up Ivan Nova to win 11-4. In Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, Bartolo Colon does the job, pitching 7 innings and only allowing 2 runs as the Yankees win 7-2. In Game 4, the Yankees have the Rangers beat but Texas puts together some magic off of Mariano Rivera and win in 12 innings 8-6. In Game 5, the Rangers carry that mojo and the Yankees crack after failing to close out Game 4. Texas advances to the ALCS once again and the questions about the Yankees getting older come into question once again.
Rangers in Five
ALCS
Boston Red Sox v.s. Texas Rangers
In Game 1 at Fenway, Jon Lester out duels C.J. Wilson and the Sox win 7-3. In Game 2, the Rangers offense gets to Josh Beckett early and Texas wins handily 10-5. However, the Red Sox retake the series lead in Game 3 when John Lackey comes up huge with 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs and the Red Sox escape with a 3-2 win. In Game 4, Texas evens the series, winning on a walk off home run by Josh Hamilton off Jonathan Papelbon to win 6-5. In Game 5, Jon Lester gets hit hard early and often as the Rangers win easily 11-6 to head back to Fenway up 3-2. Back at Fenway in Game 6, Josh Beckett pitches well enough as the Red Sox force a Game 7, winning 7-5. In Game 7, John Lackey can't rekindle the magic and Texas' lights out bullpen shuts down the Red Sox talented lineup late to win 8-6 and head back to the World Series.
Rangers in Seven
ALCS MVP: Josh Hamilton
NL East
Current Leader: Philadelphia Phillies
In the Hunt: None
It's safe to say the Phillies have this locked up.
Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central
Current Leader: Milwaukee Brewers
In the Hunt: St. Louis Cardinals (kind of)
Like the Phillies, the Brewers will also be a division champion.
Winner: Milwaukee Brewers
NL West
Current Leader: Arizona Diamondbacks
In the Hunt: San Francisco Giants
Colorado Rockies
This is certainly the tightest division in the National League. The Giants recently lost Jonathan Sanchez indefinitely, so it will come down to whether the Giants can maintain their pitching and have their offense get going. The Diamondbacks will need to keep playing the way their playing and not have a tail off like the Padres did last year. As for the Rockies, they would need to have a run like they did in 2007. I still think that Diamondbacks keep up their pace and win the NL West crown even with the defending champions on their tails.
Winner: Arizona Diamondbacks
NL Wild Card
Current Leader: Arizona Braves
In the Hunt: San Francisco Giants
The Braves have too much of an advantage to have a bad September and find themselves out of the playoffs.
Winner: Atlanta Braves
NLDS
Philadelphia Phillies v.s. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Phillies, like last year, have an easy playoff matchup on paper. I'm going to predict a shocker in Game 1 with the Diamondbacks getting four runs off of Halladay and Ian Kennedey pitches a gem for the Diamondbacks to steal Game 1 5-1. In Game 2, the Phillies come back with a sense of urgency and win easily 8-0 with Cliff Lee tossing 7 shut out innings. In Game 3, the Phillies win easily once again 9-2 with Ryan Howard providing a ton of offense. In Game 4, the Phillies close it out behind Roy Oswalt as the Phillies win 6-3.
Phillies in Four
Milwaukee Brewers v.s. Atlanta Braves
This looks to be a very competitive and close series. In Game 1 behind Yovani Gallardo and the big bats of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun, the Brewers win 7-2. In Game 2, the Braves are once again stifled, this time by Zack Grienke as the Brewers win very easily 12-1. Down and out, the Braves manage to bounce back in Atlanta, winning Game 3 behind strong defense and timely hitting 5-4. Then they come back and win Game 4 putting the pressure back on Milwaukee with a 8-2 victory. With Zack Grienke facing Tim Hudson in Game 5, the Brewers win 3-2 behind an electric atmosphere in Milwaukee to send them to the NLCS.
Brewers in Five
NLCS
Philadelphia Phillies v.s. Milwaukee Brewers
The Phillies and the Brewers, the two best teams in the NL throughout the season, meet up in a war to determine who goes to the World Series. In Game 1, Roy Halladay bounces back after a disappointing outing against Arizona and defeats the Brewers 5-1. In Game 2, Cliff Lee is too much for the Brewers stout offense as the Phillies win 7-2. Behind a raucous atmosphere in Game 3, Zack Grinke continues his stellar pitching and shuts down the Phillies 7-2 to get the Brewers back in the series. In Game 4, the Phillies get a great outing from Roy Oswalt who tosses 8 innings of 2 run ball to lead his Phillies past the Brewers 5-2 to put them one game away from heading back to the World Series. In Game 5, the Brewers will not go down easy as the put on one last show for the Milwaukee faithful, whacking Roy Halladay and winning 14-4. But back in Philadelphia for Game 6, the Phillies close out the Brewers behind another great performance by Cliff Lee. But its the offense who gets it done with a walk-off single by Chase Utley to send the Phillies back to the World Series with a 4-3 win.
Phillies in Six
NLCS MVP: Chase Utley
World Series
Texas Rangers v.s. Philadelphia Phillies
Another great World Series matchup. Since the National League won the All-Star game, Philadelphia has home field advantage. In Game 1, Philadelphia overpowers and out-pitches Texas to win 9-3. In Game 2, it is much of the same, with Philadelphia winning 6-4. In Game 3, Philadelphia just about nails Texas' coffin, winning in extras 12-11 in a wild game. In Game 4, Texas doesn't just lie down, they win 6-1. But in Game 5, Philadelphia wins their second World Series title in 4 years, beating the Rangers
7-6.
Phillies in Five
World Series MVP: Ryan Howard
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