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The playoffs are here, and it’s time to make some predictions. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic and Dalton Johnson explain who they think will face off in the World Series and which player will be crowned MVP of the Fall Classic.
Alex Pavlovic
American league
Astros on White Sox in 3
Spokes on the Red Sox in 4
Rays on Astros in 6
Explanation: In a four-team 90-game division, the Rays went 100-62 and easily finished with the best record in the American League. They are the gold standard and they are proven in battle after losing the World Series last year. They will return to the final round.
National league
Giants on Dodgers in 5
Braves on Brewers in 5
The Giants vs. the Braves in 7
Explanation: Look, the Dodgers have the most talented roster in baseball, even without Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw. They also spent four months chasing the Giants and never found a way to clear the final hurdle. There was just something about this run – the Giants always managed to win at the very last second. On the other side, the bet here is that Max Fried and Charlie Morton match Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff enough for the Braves roster to pull through.
A few weeks ago, the Giants didn’t seem to have enough starting pitchers. But their four guys throw well and it was the most dangerous fast hitting formation in the league. After seven #torture games, they will win the Ehire Adrianza Bowl.
World events
Rays on the giants in 6
Explanation: Remember that 2014 Royals team that Madison Bumgarner prevented from winning a title? It was really well built, and the following year this group came back and won it all. The Rays won’t repeat Blake Snell’s mistake, and it’s assumed here that they have too many pitchers for anyone coming out of the National League.
World Series MVP: Franco Stroll
Explanation: Because you can’t give it to a whole bullpen, we’ll go with the 20-year-old who had a base percentage of 0.372 and a 0.500 strike in the second half.
Dalton johnson
American league
The White Sox vs. the Astros in 5
Rays on the Red Sox in 3
White Sox on Rays in 6
Explanation: I’m already terrified of playing against the Rays. I think Wander Franco will be a playoff star, but so will Luis Robert. The White Sox didn’t look exactly like World Series contenders on the home stretch, but they’re now almost at full power and they’re an extremely scary team when they have all of their pieces intact. This could be just the start for this White Sox team.
National league
Giants on Dodgers in 5
Braves on Brewers in 5
The Giants vs. the Braves in 6
RELATED: Kapler’s Vision for Coaching Staff Helped Quickly Turnaround
Explanation: Well, the Giants and Dodgers have faced each other 19 times. The Giants won 10, the Dodgers won nine. The Giants won 107 games, the Dodgers won 106. Giants in five.
The Giants and Braves have shared a six-game streak this year, and two of the Giants’ losses came in games pitched by Anthony DeSclafani. The question mark for the Giants is their pitching staff after Logan Webb and Kevin Gausman, but offense carries them and Camilo Doval looks like 2002’s Francisco Rodriguez.
World events
The White Sox vs the Giants in 6
Explanation: The White Sox were second for Team ERA in AL and the Giants were second in NL. But the White Sox have led the AL in strikeouts and a deep pitching team of Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and Carlos Rodón could make the difference. Add a box of relievers from Liam Hendriks, Craig Kimbrel, Garrett Crochet and Michael Kopech, as well as healthy bats from Robert and Eloy Jimenez, and the ultra-talented White Sox might be too much for the extremely deep Giants.
A Tony LaRussa coaching match against Gabe Kapler would be fascinating to watch.
World Series MVP: Louis robert
Explanation: Robert has been limited to just 68 games this season. In that sample size, it reached 0.338 with 13 circuits, a .946 OPS, and a 155 OPS +. He’s a future MVP that’s going to remind a lot of people just how talented he is in the playoffs.
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