Here are my predictions for the MLB Divisional Round series's of the 2016 postseason.
American League
(A1) Texas Rangers vs (A4) Toronto Blue Jays: Here is the much anticipated series rematch from a year ago. The Rangers have homefield advantage this time around and their a better team now than they were a year ago. Yu Darvish is healthy now and they have him and Cole Hamels atop their rotation, although their bullpen is dicey. Both teams can hit the ball out of the park as well. The Jays starting pitching has been very good all season and their bullpen has been inconsistent. That said, I like the Rangers to get revenge in another great series between these now rivals.
Prediction: Rangers in five games.
(A2) Cleveland Indians vs (A3) Boston Red Sox: Terry Francona against his former team is a nice storyline in this series and Francona deserves credit for winning division because he lost his best player in Michael Brantley and Danny Salzar and Carlos Corrasco have been injured most of the season and won't be available for the series. The Red Sox look like the team to beat in the American League along with the Rangers thanks to David Price looking like an ace again down the stretch and their explosive offense led by David Ortiz and Mookie Betts. This would have been a more fun series had the Indians rotation been healthy. Cleveland will hang around, but the Sox will move on.
Prediction: Red Sox in three games.
National League
(N2) Washington Nationals vs (N3) Los Angeles Dodgers: Washington is another team that's pretty banged up at the wrong time with Stephen Strausburg on the shelf and Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy dinged up. The Dodgers are getting healthy at the right time with Clayton Kershaw rounding back in to forum after coming back from his back injury. The Dodgers bullpen has been outstanding during their late season surge toward the division title and the Nats bullpen has been decent most of the season and I didn't mind their trade for Mark Melancon. Both teams can hit the ball, but the Nats aren't that healthy offensively and with Kershaw back and healthy for the Dodgers, they should advance to the National League Championship Series.
Prediction: Dodgers in four games.
(N1) Chicago Cubs vs (N5) San Francisco Giants: Now this is going to be fantastic. Baseballs best team against a team that's won the World Series the last three even numbered years. Both teams can hit the ball well. Both teams can pitch well too. The Giants bullpen isn't great and with the trade acquisition of Aroldis Chapman, the Cubs bullpen is very good. That will be the difference in this series, but don't sleep on Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, and the Giants, who like I said love to win in even numbered years.
Prediction: Cubs in five games.
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