League Division Series
Yankees vs. Tigers
Detroit has had their best season since 2006 when they made it to the World Series, and with Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Doug Fister (combined 47-15 in the regular season) on the hill for the Tigers, it seems like enough to stop the Yankee offense. After losing their last four games of the regular season, the momentum on each side of the matchup stays the same, and Detroit moves on.
Rangers vs. Rays
Rays Baseball has done it again, and Joe Maddon will be taking his team into the postseason for the third time in four years. Tampa Bay and Texas went five games in the ALDS last year, with the road team winning each game. However, with no Cliff Lee to win two out of the three games they need, Texas falters to the revitalized Rays team.
Phillies vs. Cardinals
How can anyone pick against Philadelphia? They've been the best team in baseball since mid-May, and behind the arms of Halladay, Hamels, and Lee, who the hell is going to score enough runs against them? All three have win percentages higher than .600, an ERA under 2.80, and a WHIP under 1.04 (which is absolutely insane). In a rare occurrence, Roy Halladay does not have fewer walks than starts (yeah, that's right...starts), but the highly-touted pitching staff will face no challenge in the Cardinals offense.
Brewers vs. Diamondbacks
This might be the unsung hero of the LDS; the Brewers have made the playoffs twice since 1983 (2008, 2011), which this is only Arizona's second trip since 2002. Milwaukee has the upper hand with home-field advantage, going 57-24 in the regular season, as well as a more well-rounded team. Ian Kennedy and his 21 wins aren't enough to propel the D-Backs into the NLCS, as Milwaukee moves on.
League Championship Series
Tigers vs. Rays
If you heard at the start of the 2011 season that these two teams would be facing off in the ALCS, you probably wouldn't have believed it. I'm still not sure I would, but it's certainly possible with the kind of baseball these teams play. They wear you down, but still have the energy and talent to pull out the wins in the end. Tampa Bay finds a way around Justin Verlander and use small ball to get themselves back into the World Series.
Phillies vs. Brewers
The Phillies also won over 50 games at home (52), and won six more games than the Brewers did in the regular season. While Milwaukee has the outstanding home record, it is the only playoff team to have more losses than wins on the road. Philadelphia continues to roll, as they move past the Brewers and go to their third World Series in four years.
World Series
Phillies vs. Rays
In a rematch of the 2008 World Series (which Philadelphia won in 4.5 games), Philadelphia remains unchallenged in the postseason, capturing their third World Series title. Tampa Bay gave it all it had, as it did three years ago, but the Phillies prove that they were the best team in baseball all year long. They use the excellent pitching and timely hitting that left them with the highest win total in franchise history, and Cliff Lee wins his first World Series title, despite making it to the Fall Classic in three consecutive years.
Major props to baseball-reference, which continues to be the greatest website on the face of the earth.
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