League Division Series
Angels vs. Royals
For the better part of the past two months, it's looked as though everyone else is playing a different game than the LA Angels. They've played better than .600 baseball during that stretch, and save a freak injury to Garrett Richards, have the most complete team in the American League. A balanced offense and the experience of Jered Weaver propel them past the feel-good Royals, who enjoy their first postseason series since they captured the 1985 World Series, but make little noise against the team with the best record.
Orioles vs. Tigers
This is going to be an interesting series featuring two very different kinds of teams. Detroit, one of the juggernauts of the AL for the past few years, hasn't cashed in, while the Orioles have had a quiet yet very successful season under Buck Showalter. Baltimore, led by MVP candidate Nelson Cruz, who is
Nationals vs. Pirates
It doesn't matter which team wins the NL Wild Card game - the way the Nationals' pitching rotation has shined, they coast into the next round on the heels of Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, and he-of-the-Game-162-no-hitter Jordan Zimmermann. Washington has been atop the NL East for a majority of the season, but they have their sights set much higher in 2014.
Dodgers vs. Cardinals
This will surely be a highly-anticipated rematch of the 2013 NCLS, which the Cardinals took in six games. Saint Louis hasn't had the firepower this season, but got hot at the right time. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have cruised through this season, largely in part to the best pitcher in the game, Clayton Kershaw. The dude went 21-3, and this was after missing SIX starts to begin the year. Los Angeles went 24-3 in Kershaw's starts, and will go 2-0 en route to another NCLS berth.
League Championship Series
Angels vs. Orioles
There are two interesting World Series that I could set up, although my 2012 Orioles-Nationals World Series didn't quite pan out as I had hoped. It's tough for me to conceive of a team beating the Angels in a best-of-seven series, but if there's a team that can do it, it's Baltimore. Unfortunately, I don't think they will. The Angels are too strong across the board, so unless the Orioles catch a lot of breaks over the next few weeks, the top seed from the American League will advance to the World Series.
Nationals vs. Dodgers
Last season featured a World Series in which each league's best team represented in the final matchup. Skeptics may say it's unlikely for it to happen again. I say nay! At the beginning of the season, I picked Washington to win the World Series, and they haven't disappointed thus far. I don't think either team gets a two-game lead in this series, but I do think that Washington takes it eventually. If we can get this series to happen, it could be the best one of the playoffs.
World Series
Angels vs. Nationals
As exciting as a Trout-Kershaw World Series would be, a Trout-Harper World Series is probably the next best thing (from an individual standpoint). Two of the game's brightest young stars could face off for baseball glory, but until now, not much has been made of the Angels' pitching staff beyond their ace. These two teams match up very evenly on paper - well-rounded offenses, deep pitching staffs, and an excellent bullpen. We've seen that outstanding pitching rotations doesn't guarantee victories (read: 2013 ALCS), and when you've got Mike Trout and Albert Pujols in the same lineup, you have to feel confident about scoring runs in any game. The Angels, who have had one losing streak longer than two games (four, August 5-8) all season long, will be the 2014 World Series Champions.
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