Well, I don't think anyone could have predicted these two matchups before the season. I also don't think anyone would've predicted these matchups at the beginning of the postseason. The Tigers and Cardinals pulled the biggest shockers while it seems that the Brewers and Rangers have the most mojo going into these LCS's matchups. Here are my previews and predictions.
ALCS
Detroit Tigers v.s. Texas Rangers
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| Jose Valverde |
This will be a real interesting matchup. In the ALDS, both teams out pitched the opposition for nine innings and they had timely offense. Both teams relied on the home run, so I think the team that allows the least amount of home runs will be in control of the series. The key player in this series is certainly Justin Verlander. He can take over the series while there isn't one player on the Rangers that can single handily take it over, at least I don't expect one too. The Rangers will need to take a game or two from Verlander if they want to move to the World Series. I could see them taking one, but given Detroit's pitching depth and lights out bullpen, I like the Tigers to move to the World Series.
Detroit in Six
ALCS MVP: Miguel Cabrera, 1B Tigers
Series Complexion (Italics marks Road Win)
1 DET 5-3 2 TEX 6-1 3 TEX 9-3 4 DET 7-0 5 DET 5-4 6 DET 7-6
NLCS
St. Louis Cardinals v.s. Milwaukee Brewers
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| John Axford and Jonathan Lucroy |
Both of these two teams do not like each other, which is why I am really looking forward to this matchup the most. The Brewers have the spark; they can provide the fireworks with the longball or they can shut you down with their pitching and their lights out bullpen. So do the Cardinals really stand a chance against the Brewers on paper? Well on paper, not really. But the Cardinals have something that will keep them in this series. Remember, they don't even have Adam Wainwright, their best pitcher. This has been a remarkable job by the Cardinals and a remarkable managing job by the legendary Tony LaRussa. In this series, it will be important that the Cardinals take one of the first two in Milwaukee. Once in St. Louis, the Cardinals will need to continue to hit the ball well and get Milwaukee's starters out early. Maybe they could use some squirrel magic as well. You can't not be excited to watch this series. I'm going to go out on a limb and say it, I expect and hope for one brawl. As for my prediction, I think the Brewers will remain unstoppable at home and the Cardinals magic just runs out of gas in the end.
Milwaukee in Seven
NLCS MVP: Ryan Braun, OF Brewers
Series Complexion
1 MIL 4-2 2 MIL 12-9 3 STL 4-3 4 MIL 6-2 5 STL 7-5 6 STL 3-2 7 MIL 9-4
2011 World Series
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| Zack Greinke |
Detroit Tigers v.s. Milwaukee Brewers
We got an interesting World Series matchup. Assuming this prediction holds true unlike my other ones, I think Milwaukee has the upper hand offensively, defensively and with pitching. The Tigers won't be easy to beat in Detroit and we've seen that Milwaukee isn't great on the road. That being said, I think Milwaukee has put it all together. They built the pitching staff, they stocked the bullpen with lights out relievers and the offense is one of the most explosive in baseball. The Brewers will be World Series champs.
Milwaukee in Six
World Series MVP: Zack Greinke, P Brewers
Series Complexion
1 MIL 5-2 2 MIL 6-0 3 MIL 7-4 4 DET 10-5 5 DET 2-0 6 MIL 7-2
ALDS Predictions: 0-2
NLDS Predictions: 1-1
Total: 1-3
ALDS Game by Game Predictions: 3-6
NLDS Game by Game Predictions: 6-4
Total: 9-10
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