MLB Predictions
The MLB season has made its way to the Championship Series in both the AL and NL. In the American League you have the Boston Red Sox taking on the villains from Houston, the Houston Astros. In the National League you have the Atlanta Braves taking on the 200 plus million-dollar Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Astros, now playing in their 5th championship series in a row have made it back when remarkably the whole league and not to mention 90% of baseball fans were gunning for them. Found guilty of cheating in January of 2020, the Astros set out to prove that they can still win without the garbage cans, and whatever else they tried using. Still with a solid lineup that includes Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve, and AL batting champion Yuli Gurriel (.319) the Houston Astros can go toe to toe with anybody. The pitching isn’t quite filled with the big names like in the past, and with some forearm tightness from their ace Lance McCullers, Jr. the Astros may struggle. Framber Valdez will pitch game one, and we are waiting to see if Zack Greinke will get a start after being pushed to the bullpen. The Red Sox who struggled in 2020 going 24-36, coming off an 84-78 record in 2019 are back in the playoff spotlight. A big wild card win over the Yankees and then a series win over Tampa Bay has launched the Red Sox into the AL Championship. Boston is led offensively by J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, Xander Boegaerts, and Alex Verdugo. Kyle Schwarber who came over during the trade deadline gives Boston another potent bat. Chris Sale leads a Red Sox staff that I think will be able to not only match Houston but go longer into most games. Nathan Eovaldi and Eduardo Rodriguez are solid 2-3 starters in this series. I think it is safe to assume this series is going 6 or 7 games.
Prediction- Boston in 7. MVP-BOS-Alex Verdugo.
The Dodgers who seem to have unlimited resources have already made their way past what could be the toughest competition in the playoffs, the 107-win San Francisco Giants. In a tight, well played series the Dodgers were able to squeak by the only Major League team that had more wins than the Dodgers 106. The Dodgers are manned by a rotation that is as good as it gets. Max Scherzer, Walker Buehler and Julio Urias lead the way, but with Scherzer closing out game 5 and Buehler pitching on short rest in game 4 we may see Tony Gonsolin or David Price take the ball in game 1. Mookie Betts will lead a star- studded lineup that includes Clay Bellinger, Corey Seager, Will Smith, and playoff stud Justin Turner. The Dodgers have a ton of depth, even with Max Muncy sidelined, such as Chris Taylor who was the wild card hero against the Cardinals. The Braves are no slouches themselves led by veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman. No Ronald Acuna, Jr. really hurts the Braves to keep up with the high scoring Dodgers. The Braves will need a big series from their middle infielders Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson. Charlie Morton, Max Fried, and Ian Anderson will be counted on to match the Dodgers big three. One name to keep in the back of your mind is ex-Dodger Joc Pederson who now will be in the other dugout during the Championship Series
Prediction- Los Angeles in 6 MVP-LAD-Will Smith