Finally…. Four
Now is where the stars come out. There are four teams left, and each team is four wins away from the World Series. The league championship series are seven game series, to make sure that the true best team wins. In both leagues the number one seed won and the number three seed won. The one seeds will be hosting games one, two, and if needed, games six and seven. The first two games of the series will be key for these number one seeds, because losing one game at home in the first two means there might not be another game on their home field.
National League Championship Series
#1 St. Louis Cardinals v. #3 Los Angeles Dodgers
Game 1
Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Joe Kelly 10-5 with a 2.69 ERA this season (5.1 innings gave up 2 earned runs against Pittsburgh in the NLDS; no decision)
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Zack Greinke 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA this season (6 innings gave up 2 earned runs against Atlanta in the NLDS; loss)
Cardinals X-Factor: Matt Holliday .300 AVG, .333 OBP, 1 HR, 2 RBI in the NLDS in 20 ABs (.300 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI in 20 AB against Zack Greinke lifetime)
Dodgers X-Factor: Carl Crawford .353 AVG, .421 OBP, 3 HR, 5 RBI in the NLDS in 17 ABs (.481 AVG, .533 OBP, 0 HR, 1 RBI against St. Louis this season in 27 ABs)
Projection: Crawford wore the Cardinals out this year, and even more bad news is coming for the Cardinals, because Crawford hit his stride in the NLDS and will look to help the Dodgers flip home field advantage. Kelly was good in his start against the Pirates, but he will need to be great to keep up with Greinke and one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Unless the Cardinals are able to get to Greinke, which teams haven’t done often this year, this series is starting off on a bad foot for the Red Birds.
Cardinals 0-Dodgers 1
Game 2
Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Michael Wacha 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA this season (7.1 innings, one earned run in the NLDS against Pittsburgh; win)
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA this season (13.0 innings, one earned run in two games started against the Braves in the NLDS; one win, one no decision)
Cardinals X-Factor: Carlos Beltran .222 AVG, .333 OBP, 2 HR, 6 RBI in the NLDS in 18 ABs (.227 AVG, .280 OBP, 0 HR, 1 RBI against Kershaw in his career)
Dodgers X-Factor: Yasiel Puig .471 AVG, .500 OBP, 2 RBI, 5 Runs in the NLDS in 17 ABs
Projection: The Dodgers have never seen Michael Wacha, so one of the hottest pitchers in baseball will have a chance to surprise the Dodgers. Puig was a machine in the NLDS, and all it might take in this game is one run from Puig (5 in the NLDS) or Crawford (6 in the NLDS) for Kershaw to feel like he has a big lead. Don’t bet against Clayton Kershaw.
Cardinals 0-Dodgers 2
Game 3
Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Adam Wainwright 19-9 with a 2.94 ERA this season (16.0 innings pitched, two earned runs in the NLDS against Pittsburgh; both wins)
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Hyun-Jin Ryu 14-8 with a 3.00 ERA this season (3.0 innings pitched, four earned runs in the NLDS against Atlanta; no decision)
Cardinals X-Factor: David Freese .188 AVG, .278 OBP, 1 HR, 4 RBI against Atlanta in the NLDS, 16 ABs (one of two Cardinals with two hits against Ryu)
Dodgers X-Factor: Brian Wilson 0.66 ERA this season in 18 games (3.0 innings, 0 earned runs in the NLDS against Atlanta; one win)
Projection: The Dodgers will more than likely have to use some bullpen in this game, and it will need to be nearly flawless seeing as Wainwright is on the mound for the Cardinals. The Cardinals offense will feel the urgency of being down two games to zero and realize they might only need to scrape together one or two runs to win. St. Louis will continue the trend in the series of the road team winning It’s first road game.
Cardinals 1-Dodgers 2
Game 4
Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Lance Lynn 15-10 with a 3.97 ERA this season (4.1 innings, 5 earned runs in the NLDS against Pittsburgh; loss)
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Zack Greinke
Projection: Lynn struggled in his start against Pittsburgh in the NLDS, and if he thought that was tough, try facing the Dodgers. Lynn will be on the road this time against a better offense, and will be matched up against Greinke. Greinke will be pumped up on short rest to take a commanding lead in the NLCS.
Cardinals 1-Dodgers 3
Game 5
Cardinals Starting Pitcher: Joe Kelly
Dodgers Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw
Projection: Kershaw at home is really tough. Even on a game short rest, he will be the favorite to close out the series at home. Kelly was a bit wild in game one, and if he doesn’t get that under control it won’t even be close. It probably will be close, but the Dodgers potent offense will be able to get to him.
Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
American League Championship Series
#1 Boston Red Sox v. #3 Detroit Tigers
Game 1
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester 15-8 with a 3.75 ERA this season (7.2 innings pitched, two earned runs against Tampa Bay in the ALDS; win)
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Anibal Sanchez 14-8 with a 2.57 ERA this season (4.1 innings pitched, five earned runs against Oakland in the ALDS; loss)
Red Sox X-Factor: David Ortiz .309 AVG, 30 HR, 103 RBI this season (.385 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI in 13 ABs against Tampa Bay in the ALDS)
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Joaquin Benoit 2.01 ERA this season as the Tigers part-time closer (3.1 innings, two earned runs against Oakland in the ALDS)
Projection: Even though it is game one of the ALCS, it will probably include some good hitting. Both pitchers will probably be on the ropes against these potent offenses. Lester is better, and is used to Fenway, so Boston will have the home field advantage in game one as the difference.
Boston 1-Detroit 0
Game 2
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholz 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA this season (6.0 innings pitched, three earned runs against Tampa Bay in the ALDS; no decision)
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Max Scherzer 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA this season (9.0 innings pitched, three earned runs against Oakland in the ALDS; two wins)
Red Sox X-Factor: Jacoby Ellsbury .298 AVG, 9 HR, 53 RBI this season (.500 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI against Tampa Bay in the ALDS)
Tigers X-Factor: Austin Jackson .100 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 20 ABs in the ALDS (.263 AVG, 1 HR against Clay Buchholz in 19 career ABs)
Projection: Jackson struggled badly against Oakland in the ALDS, and the Tigers will need him to continue his career success against Buchholtz if they want to have a shot at stealing one in Boston. Scherzer was the best pitcher in the MLB this year, arguably, but had his problems against Oakland. Boston will hand Scherzer a rare loss to take a commanding lead in the series.
Boston 2-Detroit 0
Game 3
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: John Lackey 10-13 with a 3.52 ERA this season (5.1 innings pitched, four earned runs against Tampa Bay in the ALDS; win)
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Justin Verlander 13-12 with a 3.46 ERA this season (15 innings pitched, 0 earned runs against Oakland in the ALDS; one win/one no decision)
Red Sox X-Factor: Mike Napoli .259 AVG, 23 HR, 92 RBI this season (.154 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI against Tampa Bay in the ALDS in 13 ABs)
Tigers X-Factor: Alex Avila .227 AVG, 11 HR, 47 RBI this season (.133 AVG, 0 HR, 1 RBI against Oakland in the ALDS in 15 ABs)
Projection: Although it would be nice if he got a hit, Avila finds himself as the x-factor because it is his job to catch Justin Verlander. As good as Verlander has been, all it takes is a marginal game called on Avila’s part and Detroit’s former Cy Young Award winner should shut down the Red Sox.
Red Sox 2- Tigers 1
Game 4
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: Jake Peavy 12-5 with a 4.17 ERA this season (5.2 innings pitched, one earned run against Tampa Bay in the ALDS; no decision)
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Doug Fister 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA this season (6.0 innings pitched, three earned runs against Oakland in the ALDS; no decision)
Projection: In a game where the pitching is close on both sides, this one will come down to the bats. A team at home with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder has good chances, Boston will give a terrific run at this one, but Detroit will be able to tie this up.
Boston 2- Detroit 2
Game 5
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: Jon Lester
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Anibal Sanchez
Projection: A rematch of game five, this time taking place in Detroit. The Tigers players will be hungry to take the lead in front of their home crowd, but the Red Sox will give them a challenge. This will be a higher scoring game than the others and probably come down to the bullpens. Boston has the better bullpen and will be able take back the lead in this series.
Boston 3- Detroit 2
Game 6
Red Sox Starting Pitcher: Clay Buchholtz
Tigers Starting Pitcher: Max Scherzer
Projection: Scherzer and Buchholtz will go stride for stride in this one, but against the high powered lineups, again this one will be turned over to the bullpens. The better Red Sox bullpen will close out this series, and the home fans will see their Red Sox on their way to the World Series.
Winner: Boston Red Sox
