Usually, in a 162-game MLB regular season, the playoff race is set and the matchups are for the most part decided with weeks to go. However, in the AL Wild Card this season, it all came down to game 162, with four teams in contention for the two wild card positions. For the Yankees and Red Sox it was simple: win and you’re in. For the Blue Jays and Mariners, who were both a game back, they needed a win and a loss by one of the two other teams to force a complicated tiebreaker scenario. Luckily this wasn’t needed, as Aaron Judge hit a walk-off single to give the Yankees a 1-0 win over the Rays, while the Red Sox rallied from a 5-1 deficit to beat the Nationals 7-5.
This sets the stage for a new chapter in the biggest rivalry in all of sports: Yankees vs. Red Sox at Fenway Park in a one game, winner-take-all wild card game with a spot in the American League Divisional Round on the line. This game should be the start of an electric MLB postseason, and I’m here to give you my full playoff predictions.
AL Wild Card: Yankees vs. Red Sox
My pick: Yankees
In a one-game series, pitching is vital, and the Yankees have the advantage there with their 324 million dollar ace, Gerrit Cole, taking the mound. Combine this with the fact that the Yankees have been the better team as of late and Fenway is perfect for the bats of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and the rest of the bombers, and I expect the Yankees to win this one.
NL Wild Card: Cardinals vs. Dodgers
My pick: Dodgers
The defending champion Dodgers won 106 games this year and have the second-best record in baseball, but end up in the wild card game because of the Giants, their intra-divisional rivals, who shocked everyone by winning an MLB-best 107 games. Even though they’re in the Wild Card, this is a great Dodgers team that retained most of their championship squad, and they should have little trouble beating the Cardinals in this one.
AL Divisional Round
Yankees vs. Rays
My pick: Rays win series 3-2
In a rematch of last year’s ALDS, the Yankees will take on the Rays in the divisional round, which is a best three-out-of-five series. Even with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, the Rays put together a 100-win season and look poised for another deep run. I think they simply have the Yankees number and will ride their elite bullpen to win the series.
White Sox vs. Astros
My pick: Astros win series 3-1
The White Sox are a solid team, but they really got unlucky with their divisional round opponent. The Astros powerful offense matches up great against the White Sox pitchers, and I see Houston scoring enough runs to overcome their somewhat suspect pitching to win this series.
NL Divisional Round
Dodgers vs. Giants
My pick: Giants win series 3-1
The popular pick here is to take the Dodgers, as they won the World Series last season and have one of the most powerful offenses in baseball, as well as solid pitching. However, the Giants won the season series against the Dodgers, and I expect them to get ahead in games early and ride their bullpen to wins.
Braves vs. Brewers
My pick: Brewers win series 3-0
The Braves have the worst record of all playoff teams and only made the playoffs due to how bad the NL East was. They wouldn’t have made it in any other division. Also, as I have said multiple times, in the playoffs pitching is what really matters, and the Brewers have three elite starters in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. I expect these three to start the first three games and stymie the Braves offense, so this series will end quick.
American League Championship Series
Astros vs. Rays
My pick: Rays win series 4-2
In another rematch of last year’s playoffs, the Astros will take on the Rays in the ALCS. Just like last year, I expect the Rays to take care of business against the Astros and reach their second straight World Series. Look for this series to be very low-scoring with runs being hard to come by, but the Rays will do just enough on offense to win.
National League Championship Series
Brewers vs. Giants
My pick: Giants win series 4-3
The Giants had the best record in baseball for a reason, and ended the season strong going 8-2 in their last ten games. Brandon Belt led the team in home runs in the regular season but fractured his left thumb in September, and they expect him to return for this series. The Brewers have one of the weaker bullpens out of the playoff teams. Look for Belt and the Giants offense to put up a lot of late inning runs and win this series.
World Series
Rays vs. Giants
My pick: Giants in 7
This is a tough series to predict and it is almost too close to call, as both teams have over 100 wins and pair solid offenses with elite bullpens. However, the Giants roster is made up of a group of wily veterans with ample experience playing in and winning World Series, as well as having home field advantage in this series. I give them the slight edge over the Rays and predict that they will win the 2021 World Series.