MLB Predictions 2014

We are officially 1 day away from the start of the MLB season (since I refuse to consider the Australian games true games). Here are our predictions for the 2014 season!

American League

AL East- Boston Red Sox
The defending champs lost Jacoby Ellsbury, but the resurgent Grady Sizemore should help fill that gap and youngster Jackie Bradley Jr. will prove to be a more than capable backup should Sizemore go down. A full season from Clay Buchholz will also help bolster the Sox staff, leading them to another AL East title.

AL Central- Detroit Tigers
The loss of Prince Fielder may hurt the offense a bit, but I see no real competition in the division for the Tigers. Their pitching staff is as strong as any teams and recent acquisition Ian Kinsler should be a potent force in the middle of the Tigers lineup.

AL West- Oakland A's
The AL West could be the most intriguing division in the AL this season. Many people like the Angels as a bounce-back team, but a lack of pitching depth will prevent them from capturing the West in my opinion. Likewise for the Rangers, who have 3 starters on their opening day roster with no major league experience whatsoever, pitching will be a major problem. While the A's are certainly not a perfect team, I see them winning 90-92 games behind Sonny Gray, who could be a sleeper candidate for the AL Cy Young this season.

Wild Card- Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays
Both teams are loaded with young talent and I think the pitching staffs are what will make the difference in the always competitive Wild Card race. The Rays staff is anchored by Matt Moore, David Price, Alex Cobb and Jeremy Hellickson while the Royals have James Shields and the flame-throwing Yordano Ventura in their rotation. I could also see the Angels making a run at a playoff birth should Albert Pujols rebound from his 2013 numbers.

League Champs- Boston Red Sox
Rookie of the Year- Xander Bogaerts
Cy Young- David Price
MVP- Mike Trout

National League

NL East- Washington Nationals
The Nationals will make the playoffs off the strength of their rotation, which will also be the X factor as to how far they can go in the playoffs. Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and Doug Fister could be the best playoff rotation in the league and if they can all stay healthy, this could be the year the Nationals make a run at the World Series title.


NL Central- St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals are returning just about everybody from last year's roster and will only be better with a full season of Michael Wacha to look forward to. There is no reason they shouldn't win the NL Central title.

NL West- Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers might spend more than any other team in the MLB but they certainly have the talent to justify it. Their lineup is full of all-stars, from Matt Kemp to Yasiel Puig to Hanley Ramirez to Adrian Gonzalez. Having the best pitcher in the league certainly doesn't hurt either.

Wild Card- Pittsburgh Pirates, Atlanta Braves

Both teams made the playoffs last year and they should both be even better this season. Gerrit Cole and Julio Teheran are two of the best young pitchers in the game and after a full season of experience in the majors, they will be ready to lead their teams to the playoffs once again.

League Champs- LA Dodgers
Rookie of the Year- Archie Bradley
Cy Young- Jose Fernandez
MVP- Hanley Ramirez

MLB Playoffs

World Series- Red Sox vs. Dodgers

The Red Sox and Dodgers boast two of the strongest lineups in the league and both have strong rotations as well. The Red Sox certainly have more depth which will could come back to hurt the Dodgers should one of their stars get hurt or underperform, but the strength of the Dodgers starting pitchers cannot be overlooked. Clayton Kershaw, Ryu and Zack Greinke are all great pitchers but only Kershaw has shown success in the postseason and with the amount of pitches he throws in a season, he won't be able to be effective by the end of the playoffs. I think this series will go 7 games with the Red Sox finally prevailing due to their pitching depth.

Top 20 MLB Free Agents

Here is our top 20 MLB free agents list! Our predictions for where each player will sign is in in parenthesis.


Some other notable Free Agents include: Chris Young, Brian Wilson, Roy Halladay, Corey Hart, Suk-Min Yoon (Korea), Josh Johnson, Kendrys Morales, and Scott Kazmir.

1. Robinson Cano (Yankees)
Cano is coming off another strong season in which he batted .314 with 27 homers. The Yankees second baseman is 31 years old and will command a high price on the open market. It is reported that he will be asking for a contract worth up to 300 million, but we feel that he will most likely sign for a contract around 7 years worth 215 million dollars.

2. Jacoby Ellsbury (Mariners)
Although Ellsbury’s bat has regressed from his great 2011 season, his outstanding defense and speed secure his spot at the top of this free agent class. Injuries have been a problem in the past but a .300/20/100 year with 50 steals and Gold Glove defense is always a possibility with this all-star center-fielder. Expect Ellsbury to sign a deal in the range of 7 years 150 million.

3. Masahiro Tanaka (Yankees)
Tanaka is probably the biggest question mark on this list. He has never played in the MLB before but scouts say he is the real deal. He absolutely dominated in Japan and had gone 30 consecutive starts without a loss earlier this year; although it is yet to be seen whether his abilities will translate into success in the MLB, he will certainly get paid like a star this off-season. We expect Tanaka to sign a 6-7 year deal at well over 20 million a year.

4. Shin Soo Choo (Mets)
Choo will be a major asset for whichever team that signs him. He has a very solid bat and an excellent eye and despite a decrease in defensive value in 2013 (he had to play a new position), in 2014 he should shift back to his normal spot in right field. Choo will most likely sign a deal in the range of 5 years 100 million.

5. Mike Napoli (Rangers)
Napoli had a strong season in 2013 for the Red Sox. While it remains to be seen whether he will resign with the Sox, his stock clearly rose over the past year and he should get a contract in the range of 3 years, 45 million.

6. Ubaldo Jimenez (Angels)
After an atrocious 2012 season for the former-ace, Jimenez made some serious mechanical changes in 2013 and they certainly paid off. Since April 29th, Ubaldo has pitched to an astounding 2.61 era and struck out 9.7 batters per 9 innings. As the best starter starter with MLB experience in this free agent class, Jimenez will be a hot commodity on the open market.

7. Ervin Santana (Nationals)
Santana had huge bounce-back season in 2013 and was one of the main reasons the Royals were in contention for the playoffs until mid-September. Although he only won 9 games this past season he posted an impressive 3.24 and will be a major asset for whatever team signs him. Expect Santana to sign a deal similar to that of CJ Wilson who signed for 5 years 80 million dollars.

8. Brian McCann (Red Sox)
McCann is solid behind the plate and is one of the strongest catchers offensively in the league. His leadership abilities are also attractive to teams and we predict that McCann will get a contract in the range of 4 years 65 million.

9. Curtis Granderson (Phillies)
An injury-plagued 2013 season certainly affected Granderson’s stock in a negative way. An off-season of rest, however, should benefit Granderson as he hopes to return to his old form for the 2014 season. While Granderson might not get as much money as he would have had he not been injured, he should still get a sizeable contract. Don’t be surprised if Phillies GM Ruben Amaro makes a run at Granderson, trying to sign him at a relatively discounted price. 4 years 60 million would be a fair deal.

10. Ricky Nolasco (Yankees)
A change of scenery certainly benefitted Nolasco as he posted a 2.07 ERA while striking out 62 in just 74 innings with the Dodgers after struggling for the Marlins earlier in the season. Although he struggled in his last 3 starts of the season, Nolasco will be a solid mid-rotation starter in 2014. We expect Nolasco to sign a deal around 4 years worth 55 million dollars.

11. Matt Garza (Phillies)
After being traded by the Cubs at the 2013 deadline, Garza struggled with his new team, the Rangers. His SO/BB ratio was a surprisingly high 3.36, the highest of his career. He let up more hits per 9 (9.5) in 2013 than in any season since 2007. Despite these regressions, he should still be paid well this offseason, perhaps by Ruben Amaro, the Phillies’ general manager, who constantly thinks his team can contend. 4 years 50 million dollars would be reasonable for Garza.

12. Stephen Drew (Pirates)
Stephen Drew might be the most overrated player on this list, but analysts still say that there will be major interest for his services. He struggles offensively and despite being known for his glove, Drew posted a -2 Rtot (Runs saved above the average league SS) during 2013. Shockingly, it is reported that Drew declined the QO offered by the Red Sox so he will be searching for a deal that most likely will fall within the range of 2-3 years at 15 million a year. If the Pirates do not end up signing Drew, don’t be surprised to see him at Busch Stadium in St. Louis next year.

13. AJ Burnett (Pirates)
Burnett’s age (37) will certainly play a factor in negotiations with teams. He has posted a WAR of 3 or above in 3 of his past 5 seasons and had a strong 2013 campaign, posting a 3.30 ERA on a strong Pirates team. According to Fangraphs he has the most valuable curve ball in the league which is a major asset because he will still have that weapon even as his velocity declines. Burnett will be seeking a 1-2 year deal at 15 million per year.

14. Bartolo Colon (A’s)
Colon’s value might be the hardest to pinpoint on this list. Despite his age (he is 40 years old), he posted outstanding numbers in 2013. Advanced statistics suggest that this was not a fluke as for the most part his peripherals were on par with the rest of his career. For example, opposing hitters had a .295 BABIP against Colon in 2013 while his career average is just .296. Colon will most likely sign a 1 year deal worth around 12 million dollars.

15. Carlos Beltran (Red Sox)
Despite his age, Beltran will be a very popular player this offseason. Teams know what they are getting with him; an above average bat with solid power as well as an ample amount of playoff experience. He would be the perfect fit for a team like the Red Sox who will contend in 2014 and have holes to fill in the OF. A one year, 15 million dollar deal would be appealing to both sides.

16. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Toronto)
The switch-hitting catcher enjoyed a career year in 2013 with a .273/.338/.804 batting line and 14 homers -- excellent numbers for a catcher considering the replacement level for the position. It is unlikely that he maintains such numbers considering his .372 batting average on balls in play (.322 career BABIP). Given the market for catchers (McCann, Ruiz, Navarro, and Pierzynski are only viable starting options), it is very likely that Saltalamacchia is given more than he is worth, think something around 4 years, 55 million.

17. Hiroki Kuroda (Yankees)
Kuroda enjoyed another fantastic year with the Yankees, posting a 3.31 ERA and 150 strikeouts. The 38 year old Kuroda (He turns 39 on February 10) has been the definition of consistent production, averaging more than 200 innings in the past 4 years while maintaining an ERA below 3.40 and striking out at least 150 each year throughout that span. However, due to Kuroda’s age, it appears as though he will either sign with the Yankees or leave the MLB (either returning to NPB or retiring for good). Expect a 1 or 2 year deal with an average annual value of between 8-9 million for Kuroda.

18. Dan Haren (Padres)
After finishing 7th in the Cy Young voting in 2011, the former All-Star starter suffered a precipitous decline in his first season in the nation’s capitol. Haren posted a very poor 4.67 ERA but the ERA does not tell the full story as Haren’s peripherals remained solid and he struck out 8.0 batters per 9 innings and walked only 1.6/9. The advanced metrics also suggest that Haren had been unlucky, his Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) was 4.09 and his Expected Fielding Independent Pitching (xFIP) was an even better 3.67. Chalk on the fact that he pitched to an excellent 3.29 ERA in his final 87 ⅔ innings (from July 1 on) and you have an excellent ‘buy low candidate on a one-year incentive-laden deal, whichever team that signs him could be looking at the steal of 2014 free agency.

19. Nelson Cruz (Rangers)
Before being suspended for being part of the Biogenesis scandal, Cruz was enjoying a fine season in which he was elected to his 2nd career all-star game. The former 4-A player was on pace to eclipse his career high of 33 homers set in 2009 but ended his season with 27 through just 109 games. Although some of his over-the-wall power in 2013 was just a lucky HR/FB% (21.3% in 2013, 16.6% in career), teams should about the same contributions from Cruz. Cruz’ age, history with PEDs, and injury problems (has played at least 130 games only once in the majors) will limit his free agent value, don’t be surprised if the Rangers re-sign him at a rather suitable price (perhaps 2 years 18 million?).

20. Jhonny Peralta (Cardinals)
The comparisons between Peralta’s 2013 and Melky Cabrera’s 2012 are plentiful: both players enjoyed career years, both players were suspended for PEDs, and both players had insanely high BABIPS. Cabrera’s 2012 BABIP was .379, .069 points higher than his career averages while Peralta’s 2013 BABIP is .374, .059 points higher than his career average. Much like Cabrera’s 2013 season, expect a drop in production from Peralta- not due to PEDs but due to his BABIP reverting to the mean. Peralta will digress from his performance in 2013 but he will still be a valuable 15 homer player with the ability to play at many different positions. It will be interesting to see whether he or any of the other biogenesis players view a drop in their value this off season due to their relationship with drugs but I still think that a team like the Cardinals would be willing to sign him to a multi-year contract for about 10 million per season. If the Cardinals are unable to acquire Peralta, the Mets seem like they could be a possible fit.



MLB Award Predictions

As the season comes to a close it's time for baseball experts around the country to make their decisions for awards. Here are our predictions for who will take home the hardware.

Rookie of the Year:

AL
Who will win? Wil Myers
Who should win? Wil Myers
Runner-up? Jose Iglesias
Top 5? Myers, Iglesias, Chris Archer, Dan Straily, Cody Allen

Despite joining the Rays in mid-June, Myers led all rookies with 53 RBI to accompany his 13 homers. Jose Iglesias is the only other rookie that stands out in the American League but a lack of offensive prowess will hurt Iglesias in the vote department. Chris Archer, Dan Straily and Cody Allen round out the top 5.

NL
Who will win? Jose Fernandez
Who should win? Jose Fernandez
Runner-up? Yasiel Puig
Top 5? Fernandez, Puig, Ryu, Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran

The biggest name in this category is rookie sensation Yasiel Puig. After joining the Dodgers in early June, Puig went on a 4 month tear that the Dodgers rode right into the playoffs. Puig annihilated NL pitching, batting .319 with 19 homers and 11 SB in just 104 games. The most deserving rookie, however, is clearly Marlins starter Jose Fernandez. Fernandez was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past few months of the season and finished with a 2.19 ERA with 12 wins on an atrocious Marlins squad. He had 187 K's in just 172 IP as well. While the argument for both candidates is strong, Fernandez will win the ROY.

Cy Young:

AL
Who will win? Max Scherzer
Who should win? Max Scherzer
Runner up? Koji Uehara
Top 5? Scherzer, Uehara, Darvish, Felix Hernandez, Anibal Sanchez

The AL Cy Young race will be one of the most interesting races to watch. Max Scherzer is the favorite to win the award and he certainly deserves it, going 21-3 with 240 K's for the Tigers. The race gets interesting after that. With no clear favorite for runner up, we predict Koji Uehara will sneak his way into the spot. Uehara had the single best season from a reliever ever and his stats reflect it. From the time he took over the closer role in June until the end of the season, Uehara let up just 3 earned runs. 3. At one point during the stretch, Uehara retired 37 straight batters, shattering the previous record.

NL
Who will win? Clayton Kershaw
Who should win? Clayton Kershaw
Runner-up? Matt Harvey
Top 5? Kershaw, Harvey, Fernandez, Adam Wainwright, Zack Greinke

Kershaw is the clear candidate for Cy Young this year. He was undoubtedly the best pitcher in the MLB this season, throwing 236 innings while maintaining a measly 1.83 ERA along with his 16 wins. Kershaw will look to win the award for the second time in 3 years. As for runner up, Matt Harvey seems to be the most logical choice. Harvey was dominant this season before injuring himself in September, holding opposing hitters to a 2.35 ERA while winning 9 games with little run support. ROY candidate Jose Fernandez, Adam Wainwright and Zack Greinke close out the contenders.

Most Valuable Player:

AL
Who will win? Miguel Cabrera
Who should win? Miguel Cabrera
Runner-up? Chris Davis
Top 5? Cabrera, Davis, Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson, Koji Uehara

After his historic 2012 campaign, Cabrera put up nearly identical numbers in 2013. Chris Davis broke out this season, hitting 53 home runs with 138 RBI, and we predict that he will be the runner up for the MVP. After that the race is a toss-up but we predict that Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson and Koji Uehara will round out the top 5. Max Scherzer and Robinson Cano could also be in the mix.

NL
Who will win? Andrew McCutchen
Who should win? Clayton Kershaw
Runner-up? ClaytonKershaw
Top 5? McCutchen, Kershaw, Carlos Gomez, Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman

The NL MVP is truly a toss-up between McCutchen and Kershaw. While both put up worthy numbers, we feel that Kershaw was more valuable to his team and should win the award over McCutchen. We predict, however, that the voters will give the title to McCutchen. Part of this is due to the Pirates historic season but McCutchen's numbers certainly help as well. He hit .317 with 21 homers during the season along with 27 SB and 84 RBI. After McCutchen and Kershaw, we predict that Carlos Gomez, Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman will round out the top 5.

NLCS Game 1 Preview

After an exciting first round of playoffs in which we correctly picked 3 of the 4 winners, we will be predicting every single game of the NLCS and ALCS! Check back every day for new predictions!

St. Louis Cardinals vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1: Joe Kelly vs. Zack Greinke
Game 1 of the NLCS looks to be a pitchers duel from the start with former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke taking the mound for the Dodgers and 25 year old Joe Kelly, who had a stellar 2.69 ERA this season, taking the mound for the Cardinals. Greinke pitched well in his start for the Dodgers in the NLDS letting up 2 ER over 6 innings pitched, striking out 3 in the process. Greinke ended up taking the loss as the Dodgers offense was shut down by opposing starter Mike Minor. It was the only game in the series that the Dodgers struggled offensively as they put up 26 runs in just 4 games. Rookie Yasiel Puig was a big contributor in the series, racking up 8 hits in 4 games and Hanley Ramirez continued his hot streak, batting .500 with a HR. It's worth noting that Greinke only threw 83 pitches in his start and has had 6 days of rest so he will look to come out strong Friday night. Joe Kelly was inefficient in his start in the NLDS series vs. the Pirates giving up 3 runs and walking 4 batters in just 5.1 innings pitched. He was not charged with a loss but the Cardinals did end up losing the game 5-2. The Cardinals offense struggled during the NLDS, only scoring 21 runs in 5 games against a Pirates rotation that certainly isn't as strong as the Dodgers. Notoriously clutch postseason hitter Carlos Beltran was one of the only batters who performed for the Cardinals in the NLDS, hitting 2 home runs with 6 RBI's. Yadier Molina had a .400 OBP in the series as well.  The Cardinals will go as far as their pitching takes them this postseason.
Prediction: Dodgers get to Kelly early and don't look back.  7-3 win for the Blue Crew.

2013 MLB Playoff Predictions: Division Series

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Atlanta Braves

Dodgers: Anchored by one of the best rotations in baseball the Dodgers look to be a formidable threat come playoff time. Ace Clayton Kershaw, the best pitcher in the entire MLB, can shut down any lineup in the game and Hyun Jin Ryu has looked fantastic in his first full season in the majors with 14 wins and a sub 3 ERA. Zack Greinke has also been dominant with one of the best ERA's in the game to accompany his 15 wins. The Dodgers rotation is rounded out by Ricky Nolasco and Edison Volquez, both of whom are certainly capable of thriving in the post-season. While some may be concerned about the loss of Matt Kemp for the entire post-season, the Dodgers lacked Kemp for much of  the regular season and their outfield is very solid even without him. Rookie sensation Yasiel Puig looks to be the NL Rookie of the Year and Carl Crawford has found success following his departure from the AL East last year. The Dodgers lineup is also anchored by first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, short stop Hanley Ramirez and the seemingly-ageless Juan Uribe who has been "murdering" the ball lately with 5 hrs in the past month. The Dodgers are one of the hottest teams in baseball and come playoff time, momentum can be the deciding factor between a deep playoff run and a first round departure.

Braves: The self proclaimed "under dogs" have already begun to gripe about how much attention the Dodgers are getting in this series. After an off-season filled with blockbuster transactions such as the Upton brothers the Braves came into the season as one of the favorites to win the NL East and a playoff run seemed likely. An incredibly disappointing season by BJ Upton certainly hindered the offense but the Braves finished the regular season with an impressive 96 wins. Julio Teheran has proven to be one of the most promising young pitchers in the game and Kris Medlen has been lights-out over the past month. The return of Jason Heyward should provide a spark in the offense that has struggled at times. Dan Uggla is in the midst of a 6/52 slump and starting pitcher Mike Minor has been inconsistent as of late with a 4+ ERA over the past month. First baseman Freddie Freeman and third baseman Chris Johnson have been solid throughout the season and outfielder Justin Upton, one of the streakiest players in the MLB, could catch fire at any moment. If the Braves get hot at the right time they could be a real threat in the playoffs.

Bottom Line: The Braves are simply over-powered by the top of the Dodgers rotation.
Dodgers in 3


Oakland Athletics vs. Detriot Tigers

Tigers: The Tigers enter the playoffs as one of the most feared teams in the MLB due to their balance on offense and on the mound. AL Cy Young candidate Max Scherzer has finally harnessed the skills that scouts knew he always possessed and Anibal Sanchez has put together the strongest year of his career. Justin Verlander has started to look more like himself as of late, striking out 22 batters in his past 12 innings, after a series of rough patches during the season. If this series goes 4 games, Doug Fister will get the start for the Tigers at home. The Tigers offense, led by MVP Miguel Cabrera, is one of the most high-powered in the league and has scored the 2nd most runs so far this season. Hampered by injuries as of late, Cabrera has seen a sap in power recently and Tigers fans should start to worry about Cabrera's health during the playoffs. Jose Iglesias, one of the best defensive SS's in the league, slugger Prince Fielder and utility-man Omar Infante round out the infield for the Tigers. 38 year old Torii Hunter has put together a strong offensive year for the Tigers in right field batting 304 with 17 homers. Hunter and Austin Jackson have anchored the outfield with the 3rd spot still uncertain as the playoffs approach. The Tigers bullpen has been shaky as of late with closer Joaquin Benoit blowing 2 saves in under a week.

A's: Billy Beane's A's always seem to be in contention come September and October. Without any true stars the A's are just an all-around solid ball club. After being tossed around between 4 teams in a span of 4 years forty year old Bartolo Colon has been an ace for the A's with an outstanding 2.65 ERA to accompany his 18 wins. Youngsters Jarrod Parker, Sonny Gray and AJ Griffin have been very consistent throughout the year and helped anchor one of the best starting rotations in the league with an AL leading 3.44 ERA. The Athletics offense has also been one of the leagues best, scoring 767 runs. Cuban Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss have provided much of the power for the squad while Coco Crisp, Josh Donaldson and Jed Lowrie have also contributed quite a bit at the plate. If the A's can minimize their K's against the Tigers starters and drive up the pitch count, a victory seems like a good possibility.

Bottom Line: One of the most evenly-matched series in the playoffs goes 5.
Oakland, led by 2 brilliant starts from Bartolo Colon, prevails.


St. Louis Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates: The cinderella story of the playoffs this year, this is the first time the Pirates will be playing in October in over 20 years. This is due largely in part to their impressive pitching staff, led by starters Fransisco Liriano, AJ Burnett, Charlie Morton and rookie Gerrit Cole. Liriano has found success in his first year at PNC Park after signing with the Pirates with the offseason, while 36 year old AJ Burnett has put up stats similar to last year's with the Pirates. Charlie Morton has been one of the best pitchers in the league after the all-star break and Gerrit Cole has been brilliant in his rookie season, putting up a 3.22 ERA over 130 innings. Led by MVP-candidate Andrew McCutchen the Bucs offense also looks to be a threat come October. After battles with concussions Justin Morneau has provided a boost to the Pirates lineup as well and he is joined by Neil Walker, Pedro Alvarez and Clint Barmes in the infield. Starling Marte, Marlon Byrd and Russell Martin round out the lineup for the Bucs. If the Pirates' rotation continues it's success and the lineup continues to produce at the rate it has been, the Bucs cinderalla story may have a happy ending after all.

Cardinals: Arguably the most experienced team in the playoffs, the Cards know how to handle the pressure that comes with October baseball. The Cardinals finished the regular season as one of the hottest teams in the league and look to maintain that momentum in the NLDS. Ace Adam Wainwright leads the rotation with Lance Lynn filling the #2 slot. Wainwright has 19 wins to go along with a 2.94 ERA and Lynn has also pitched quite well for the Cards, winning 15 games this season. Rookie Shelby Miller has thrust his name into the NL Rookie of the Year debate after winning 15 games this season while maintaining a 3.06 ERA. Manager Mike Matheny will have to make a tough decision concerning the 4th starter as both Michael Wacha and Joe Kelly are more than qualified for the spot. Joe Kelly seemingly had the spot locked up after a dominant stretch from July to September but then Wacha came along. In the month of September Wacha threw 31 and 1/3 innings while posting a 1.72 ERA and holding opponents to a .198 batting average. The highlight of this stretch came on September 24th when Wacha came one out away from no hitting the Nationals. An infield-single from Ryan Zimmerman in the bottom of the 9th prevented Wacha from becoming the 3rd pitcher this season to throw a no-hitter. The Cardinals offense is also very experienced in the playoffs and many players on the team actually perform better under pressure. Carlos Beltran might be the most notable post-season performer. Over 124 postseason AB's Beltran has hit 363 with 14 homers. Beltran is joined by Jon Jay and Matt Holliday in the OF, both of whom have ample playoff experience. Matt Carpenter, Matt Adams, Daniel Descalso and David Freese make up the infield for the Cards. As many remember, David Freese has thrived in October in recent years, specifically in 2011 when he won the NCLS and World Series MVP awards. The post-season experience of the Cards looks to be a major asset against the Pirates in the NLDS.

Bottom Line: This Cinderella story does not have a happy ending.
Cardinals in 4


Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Red Sox: After a lackluster 2012 season the Red Sox have shushed all the critics in 2013. New manager John Farrell has done wonders with the Sox lineup and a series of acquisitions have totally reshaped the Red Sox roster this year. Newcomers Jonny Gomes, Shane Victorino, Jake Peavy, Mike Napoli, David Ross, Ryan Dempster and Stephen Drew are all responsible for a big part of the Sox's success this year and will continue to be come playoff time. Gomes and Victorino along with Daniel Nava will team up with Jacoby Ellsbury in the outfield for the majority of the postseason, with Gomes and Nava most likely splitting time. Mike Napoli, a pleasant surprise for most Sox fans after concerns over a hip defect nearly led to the prevention of his acquisition, will bring postseason experience to first base and will look to continue his hot streak after batting .333 with 6 HRs and 16 RBI in September. He will be joined by Dustin Pedroia at 2nd base who also provides ample postseason experience with 115 AB's including many from the 2007 postseason where the Red Sox took home the championship. The left side of the infield will be composed of Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks who have combined for over 30 RBI in the past month. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be behind the plate for the Sox with starters Lester, Lackey, Buchholz and Peavy on the mound. After a brutal 2012 season Lester has found his old form and has been a solid #1 starter for the Sox. After not pitching in 2012 following 2 subpar years for the 34 year old, Lackey has won 10 games for Boston to accompany a 3.52 ERA in 189 innings. Peavy and Buchholz have both been hot as of late but certainly not as hot as closer Koji Uehara. Over the past 3+ months Uehara has put together one of the most dominant stretches in the history of the MLB. Allowing just 1 run in over 40 innings as a closer, Uehara led the league with a 1.09 ERA (minimum 50 innings) and set the MLB record for lowest WHIP (also minimum 50 innings) with a .57 WHIP, shattering the old record of .61. The Red Sox have as much potential as any team in the playoffs and if their offense can keep producing at the rate it has been, no one will be able to stop Boston.

Rays: After a 4-0 victory over Cleveland Wednesday night in a 1 game playoff, the Rays earned a spot against the mighty Red Sox in the ALDS. Just a few weeks ago the Rays playoffs hopes seemed dismal but they won 15 of 20 and finally secured a chance at a playoff spot. Alex Cobb shut out the Indians and Matt Moore will look to maintain the momentum Friday night when he pitches game 1. Cy Young winner David Price will take the mound for game 2 and the Ray's starter for game 3 is TBD. If the series goes 4 games Cobb will most likely get the start. The Rays offense has struggled at times during the season and averaged a full run less than the Red Sox. David DeJesus, Desmond Jennings and rookie slugger Wil Myers offer a good combination of speed and power in the outfield and Yunel Escobar, Ben Zobrist, Evan Longoria and ex-Red Sox first baseman James Loney make up the infield. Veteran Jose Molina will play behind the plate for the Rays and will add playoff experience to a Rays lineup that has a lot of young players. The Rays will go as far as their pitching takes them in the playoffs.

Bottom Line: Tampa's pitching is good but the Red Sox offense is even better.
Red Sox in 4