MLB Playoffs Predictions 2011

We just witnessed one of the most epic finishes to the regular MLB season of all-time.  With the playoffs scheduled to start on Friday, let’s take a look at each matchup and I’ll give my predictions on each series.  The full betting odds for each matchup can be found at our baseball lines feed.

American League

Tigers vs Yankees - What decides this series is whether or not the Yankees can get to Justin Verlander in any of his starts.  He’s been the best pitcher in the Majors this season and Detroit absolutely has to win in his starts if they want any chance to advance to the ALCS.

I like backing good pitching in the playoffs, which the Yankees don’t have a lot of in their rotation, but they do have a very good bullpen and an offense that put up the second-most runs in baseball this year.  I’ll take the Yanks in 5 games.

Rays vs Texas - The biggest question here is whether or not the Rays can keep the momentum swinging their way.  It’s a lot to ask out of a team to go on the kind of run that they did and continue it into a playoff environment.

Nobody scores more runs than the Rangers do at home, meaning Tampa’s pitching staff will need to be sharp throughout the series.  The Rays have the pitching talent to make a run, but my feeling is that Texas won’t struggle against them, particularly at home.  It would be a great story, but I don’t see the Rays advancing.

National League

Cardinals vs Phillies – I think most people assume that the Phillies will represent the NL in the World Series, and their probably right.  Much like the Rays, the Cardinals come into this series on the high of an incredible finish to get in the playoffs.  The big difference here is that St. Louis simply doesn’t have the pitching to realistically compete with the Phillies in this series.

The Cardinals went 6-3 against Philadelphia in the regular season, but the Phillies rotation is so much better than the rest of the league it’s hard not seeing them in the Fall Classic this year.

Diamondbacks vs Brewers – Milwaukee had the best home record in baseball in the regular season, that’s a huge advantage in a five-game series.

I like what I’ve seen out of the Diamondbacks this year, who basically came from nowhere to win the NL West.  The problem is that not only do the Brewers have home field advantage, I also think they have the better team.  Milwaukee in 4 games.

Check back as the series progress for more predictions!