NL PLAYOFFS
The Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs will repeat. The San Francisco Giants edge out the rival L.A. Dodgers in the west.
Those three reach the 2017 postseason. There they will be joined by the Dodgers and the New York Mets as the NL Wild Card clubs. I am predicting the exact same five clubs to take part in the National League playoffs as a year ago.
However, I am also predicting a different ending. The Nats and Cubs will duke it out in the NLCS this time. The Nationals finally reach the World Series after a dramatic, hard-fought seven-game battle royale.
AL PLAYOFFS
The Red Sox find the pitching to make it, albeit with some struggles along the way. Boston, Cleveland and Houston win their divisions. I am predicting Texas and Baltimore to reach the American League postseason as the AL Wild Card teams.
In the ALCS, look for the BoSox to overcome the Indians. It won’t be easy. Just as in the National League, this one could be a dramatic seven-game barn-burner.
Next: MLB CENTER FIELDERS SET TO BECOME STARS IN 2017
WORLD SERIES
The Washington Nationals franchise has never won a world championship. That finally comes to an end this year, and perhaps just in time. In the next couple of years, the Nats will see a number of stars aging or leaving via free agency. Call this a last hurrah.
The Red Sox present a formidable challenge. This Fall Classic could very well resemble the 1975 series between Boston and the ‘Big Red Machine’ for drama.
With both the NLCS and ALCS going a full seven games, why stop there? Let’s call it Washington in seven games over Boston in the 2017 World Series. What an October in MLB!