ALCS/NLCS Predictions

By: Kelly Byrnes

We are down to the Final Four. Not too many surprises here with 3 of 4 teams being 1 or 2 seeds. The Astros crashed the party and many fans are not happy about it. In a normal year the Astros would have been on the outside looking in but this is far from a normal year. Will the Rays play the hero part and get rid of the villain before we get to the final scene? Only time will tell. Until then enjoy the final couple of weeks of baseball games because who know what 2021 will bring.

ALCS: 1) Tampa Bay Rays (40-20) vs 6) Houston Astros (29-31)

Rays are looking to exact some revenge on the Astros as they knocked them out of the postseason last year in ALDS. The Rays were able to get past the Yanks in Game 5 without using Blake Snell so he will get the ball for Game 1. Framber Valdez will start for the Astros and he has looked great so far this postseason. The Astros looked lost all year but have found their groove at the right time. Randy Arozarena played outside his mind in the ALDS and he will need to stay hot. Brandon Lowe is going to have to show up to give Arozarena some help if the Rays want to take down the Astros. The Astros bullpen is not deep and that hurts in series where there are no days off. After beating the Twins and A’s the Astros are hoping to knock off a third small market team this postseason but it will not happen. The Rays advance and 28 other teams rejoice. 

ALCS MVP: Austin Meadows 

NLCS: 1) Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) vs 2) Atlanta Braves (35-25)

The Braves walked through the Wild Card round and NLDS winning 5 straight with 4 of them being shut outs but they haven’t seen a offense like the Dodgers all season. I am sure Max Fried, Ian Anderson and company are up to the challenge. The Dodgers will start with Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 and Game 2, same as the last 2 rounds. In a possible 7 game series each team will need 4 starters. Tony Gonsolin could come up big for the Dodgers as a 4th starter but he hasn’t pitched yet this postseason. These are 2 of the better offenses in baseball but Globe Life Field plays “Grand Canyon” like. The Dodgers have the advantage of playing there 5 games this season and took down the Padres with only hitting 1 HR. Unlike past years they have learned how to manufacture runs and they makes them about as complete of a team that I have seen. Betts, Bellinger, Turner and company win in a hard fought series and return to the World Series. Dodgers advance. 

NLCS MVP: Corey Seager