2011 LDS Predictions

The 2011 MLB Regular Season has come to an end and the playoffs are just about to start. We all thought Atlanta and Boston would have made the playoffs on September 1st with 8 and ahalf and 9 game leads on St.Louis and Tampa Bay, respectively but both teams collapsed in September and gave away their playoff spots on the final day of the season. Instead, the Rays and Cardinals caught the Redsox and Braves. Philadelphia won the NL East, Milwaukee won the NL Central, Arizona won the NL West, and St.Louis won the NL Wild Card. In the AL, the Yankees won the East, Detroit won the Central, Texas won the West, and Tampa Bay won the Wild Card. Our LDS matchups are as follows, Tigers @ Yankees, Rays @ Rangers, Cardinals @ Phillies, Diamondbacks @ Brewers. Now, I will make my predictions for each series and see who will advances to the LCS.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Texas Rangers - The Rays barely got into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. They have tabbed rookie pitcher Matt Moore to start game 1 against the Rangers and C.J Wilson. The Rangers have a very tough offense that consists of reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton, Adrian Beltre, Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz, and Mike Napoli. That is a tough offense for Moore to face in his second career start, his first playoff start. In Moore, first start, against the Yankees, on September 14th, he went 5 innings and struck out 11. Tampa will pitch James Shields,David Price, and Jeremy Hellickson in games 2,3, and 4, respectively. The Rays pitching against the Rangers hitting is going to be fun to see and it should be a great series. My prediction: Tampa Bay over Texas in 5 games.

Detroit Tigers @ New York Yankees - Justin Verlander, the likely AL Cy Young winner against C.C Sabathia in game 1 at Yankee Stadium is going to be an epic battle. it'll be interesting to see how both rotations will work each high powered offense. Yankees rookie Ivan Nova gets the ball in game 2 and veteran Freddy Garcia gets game 3 for New York. Doug Fister,Max Scherzer, and Rick Porcello will get games 2,3, and 4 for Detroit, respectively. This will be another great series, it'll be hard to decide who wins this. My prediction: Detroit over New York in 5 games.

St.Louis Cardinals @ Philadelphia Phillies - Just like Tampa Bay, the St.Louis Cardinals barely got into the playoffs on the final day of the year. Philadelphia finished with the best record in the MLB at 102-60. They got a rotation filled with THREE Cy Young candidates and arguably the best offense in the playoffs. Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is starting game 3 at home. The Phillies rotation sets up as follows, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, and then Roy Oswalt for a game 4. Kyle Lohse will get game 1 and Edwin Jackson gets game 2. I just think the Phillies rotation and offense is too strong for St.Louis to overpower and I see Philadelphia headed back to the NLCS. My prediction: Philadelphia over St.Louis in 3 games.

Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers - The surprise of the NL playoffs is the Diamondbacks, who finished dead last in the NL West in 2010 and now they're division winners in 2011. They have Cy Young candidate Ian Kennedy starting game 1 against Brewers ace, Yovani Gallardo. The problem is, is that the Brewers just do not lose at home, finishing with the most home wins in the MLB in 2011 and more home wins then the Houston Astros had wins at home or on the road all year! Milwaukee finished 57-24 at home, the Astros finished 56-106 all year. Milwaukee has MVP candidates Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder hitting 3-4 in the lineup and that, in my opinion, is the best 3-4 in the MLB. Not to mention, you got Rickie Weeks, Nyger Morgan, and Corey Hart in the lineup too. Zack Greinke gets the ball in game 2 for Milwaukee with Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf getting games 3 and 4, respectively. Greinke would pitch a game 5 at home, if nessicary. Daniel Hudson will pitch game 2, Joe Saunders gets game 3, and Josh Collmenter game 4 for Arizona. I think this series will be very exciting and anything can happen. Like Philadelphia, I think Milwaukee's offense is too strong, rotation is too good and bullpen is crazy good for Arizona to overcome. My prediction: Milwaukee over Arizona in 4 games.

There you have it, my LDS predictions. That means my LCS will be Milwaukee @ Philadelphia and Tampa Bay @ Detroit.