MLB · 1 year ago

Predicting the MLB Playoff Bracket: Divisional, Pennant & World Series Picks

Ben DiGiacomo

Host · Writer

World Series: Philadelphia Phillies OVER New York Yankees in 6
Philadelphia vs. New York for the World Series — does it get better than this? These two teams met in Philly in July, and frankly, the New York Yankees embarrassed the Philadelphia Phillies as they swept them on their home field. Many have described that as the most defining series of the Phillies’ season, and I can’t imagine that this group of veterans would allow that type of loss to go unanswered. Looking at the makeup of this matchup, I give the Phillies the advantage in every area except for the top of the batting order, as it’s hard to beat out Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, but let’s not act like the Phillies at their best are far behind. Come on, we've seen more than enough evidence that Bryce Harper is built for October. Even though the odds didn’t always reflect it all season, it has felt like this year’s World Series was theirs to lose, and we expect them to finish the job after two seasons of coming up short. This team was built to win it all, and they’ve built a roster full of playoff performers. This time around, they have enough pieces to get it done. The Phillies will take a 3-2 lead back to Philly for Game 6, where the celebration begins with Zack Wheeler taking the mound to clinch the trophy.

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NLDS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 6 New York Mets in 3
With a rivalry that spans several decades, this weekend marks the first time that the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets will meet in the postseason, and man, this will be must-see TV. Both fanbases can’t stand each other, both teams understand the rivalry, and the New York team embodies the underdog spirit that Philadelphia has always had. This time, the Philadelphia team looks like Goliath. Can the Mets keep this run going?

This series will all come down to Game 1, in my opinion, as the Phillies are a vibes-based team that rides with momentum more than most contenders, and the Mets need to land the first punch to be in this series, given the stark talent differences between the two clubs. Game 1 will feature Zack Wheeler on the mound, who has been the best postseason pitcher for the past two years. He enters Saturday’s start with 11 straight games under his belt of at least six innings, allowing two runs or fewer. Too many people don’t understand how ridiculous that kind of run is. I don’t expect Wheeler to lay an egg, so I’ll count on the Phillies taking Game 1 and then being on their way, as they’ll have pitching advantages in both Games 2 & 3. Game 3 in Queens will be pure cinema, with the Phillies likely ahead 2-0, and with Aaron Nola expected to be moved back in the rotation, the road environment won’t faze him. Bring out the brooms.

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ALDS: No. 1 New York Yankees OVER No. 5 Kansas City Royals in 5
The New York Yankees have to love how the AL Wild Card round broke for them as both the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros fell, who many believed to be their two biggest competitors for the pennant. Can the Kansas City Royals keep their run going? Many have criticized the Orioles’ offense for coming up with nothing against the Royals, but I don’t think that’s fair to the Royals pitchers, who have been grossly underrated all season. This rotation is deeper than what the Yankees trot out, and I’d also argue that the Royals have the better bullpen. However, the top of the Yankees lineup is far too powerful for me to expect them to lose three of five games against a Royals’ offense that often is very streaky. Thanks to their pitching, I still expect the Royals to send this series to Game 5, where I think the Yankees will find a way to win at home.
NLDS: No. 4 San Diego Padres OVER No. 1 Los Angleles Dodgers in 4
Honestly, I’d be shocked if the San Diego Padres fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in this series. I’m confident that the Padres will pull this “upset” off, and I think it will finally be when every baseball fan sees how unbelievable this ballclub is. The Padres have no weakness as their starting rotation is deep, their offense can hit from one through nine, and their bullpen is elite. Of course, the Dodgers are the Dodgers, and I can’t discount the magic that Shohei Ohtani can bring, but who will pitch for this team? Should I believe in Jack Flaherty to lead this rotation to a World Series? Not a chance. Plus, it’s not like they have an elite bullpen to back them up. The Padres have far too much talent, and I can’t bet on Ohtani to do it all alone.
ALDS: No. 6 Detroit Tigers OVER No. 2 Cleveland Guardians in 5
How about the Detroit Tigers? We were on them to continue their memorable late-season surge and knock off the Houston Astros, and they did just that. Heading into the ALDS, I’d argue that the Astros are the better team than the Cleveland Guardians, so I can’t sit here and expect the Guardians to roll the Tigers out. The Tigers are clicking on all cylinders and aren’t afraid of everyone. Looking at the setup of this series, I’m reasonably confident in saying that the Tigers will win the two games where Tarik Skubal starts, likely Games 2 & 5, and from there, I trust AJ Hinch to find a way to win one more game with the rest of pitching staff. It’s as simple as that.
NLCS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 7 San Diego Padres in 6
A clash between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres would be a series of great baseball and something we should all be rooting for. I believe these two teams are more equally matched than the odds reflect, but at the end of the day, this has just felt like the Phillies’ year all season long. Looking back at the Phils’ 2023 postseason run, they choked away the NL pennant last year when they lost both Games 6 & 7 at home to the Arizona Diamondbacks, something they’ve often reminded themselves of all season long. I expect this series to go back to Philly with ideally a 3-2 series lead, where I can’t see the Phillies dropping two straight games at home after what they did last year. If the Padres want to win this series, they’d have to do it within five games, which won’t happen.
ALCS: No. 1 New York Yankees OVER No. 6 Detroit Tigers in 6
Who would have thought it would have been the Detroit Tigers meeting the New York Yankees for the AL pennant? Well, we did, as we picked this matchup last week, so we’re sticking to it. Ultimately, as great as the Tigers’ run has been, the Yankees have too much talent to overcome the Tigers. If Tarik Skubal could start in three games this series, maybe it would be a different ending for the Tigers, but AJ Hinch can only work magic with his bullpen for so long. Eventually, they’ll start to wear down, and the Yankees are not the type of team you want to face a fatigued bullpen. The Tigers are building something great in the Motor City, but it won’t come together fully this postseason.
World Series: Philadelphia Phillies OVER New York Yankees in 6
Philadelphia vs. New York for the World Series — does it get better than this? These two teams met in Philly in July, and frankly, the New York Yankees embarrassed the Philadelphia Phillies as they swept them on their home field. Many have described that as the most defining series of the Phillies’ season, and I can’t imagine that this group of veterans would allow that type of loss to go unanswered. Looking at the makeup of this matchup, I give the Phillies the advantage in every area except for the top of the batting order, as it’s hard to beat out Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, but let’s not act like the Phillies at their best are far behind. Come on, we've seen more than enough evidence that Bryce Harper is built for October. Even though the odds didn’t always reflect it all season, it has felt like this year’s World Series was theirs to lose, and we expect them to finish the job after two seasons of coming up short. This team was built to win it all, and they’ve built a roster full of playoff performers. This time around, they have enough pieces to get it done. The Phillies will take a 3-2 lead back to Philly for Game 6, where the celebration begins with Zack Wheeler taking the mound to clinch the trophy.

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NLDS: No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies OVER No. 6 New York Mets in 3
With a rivalry that spans several decades, this weekend marks the first time that the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets will meet in the postseason, and man, this will be must-see TV. Both fanbases can’t stand each other, both teams understand the rivalry, and the New York team embodies the underdog spirit that Philadelphia has always had. This time, the Philadelphia team looks like Goliath. Can the Mets keep this run going?

This series will all come down to Game 1, in my opinion, as the Phillies are a vibes-based team that rides with momentum more than most contenders, and the Mets need to land the first punch to be in this series, given the stark talent differences between the two clubs. Game 1 will feature Zack Wheeler on the mound, who has been the best postseason pitcher for the past two years. He enters Saturday’s start with 11 straight games under his belt of at least six innings, allowing two runs or fewer. Too many people don’t understand how ridiculous that kind of run is. I don’t expect Wheeler to lay an egg, so I’ll count on the Phillies taking Game 1 and then being on their way, as they’ll have pitching advantages in both Games 2 & 3. Game 3 in Queens will be pure cinema, with the Phillies likely ahead 2-0, and with Aaron Nola expected to be moved back in the rotation, the road environment won’t faze him. Bring out the brooms.

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Predicting the MLB Playoff Bracket: Divisional, Pennant & World Series Picks

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