Commentary: MLB Playoffs — Byrd Predicts The Postseason

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Lincoln Byrd, Author

 

With the Divisional Series already over, the Championship Series in the 2017 MLB postseason is just around the corner. The series includes the top two teams from the American League and the National League. The winners of the Championship Series will face off in the 2017 World Series, which is a best-of-seven series.

Here’s how I see the postseason playing out.

In the American League Championship Series (ALCS), we have the New York Yankees facing the Houston Astros. The Yankees have been the most surprising team this postseason, starting off in the Wild Card round and then shocking the world in an upset over the number-one seeded Cleveland Indians, who had had a record-breaking season. Many thought the Yankees wouldn’t even make the playoffs, but they were wrong.

Most of the Yankees’ success has come with All-Star rookie Aaron Judge, who broke the MLB record for most home runs in a season, beating Babe Ruth. Judge, who made history this season, will face a tough task entering the series against a strong Astros team.

The Astros were the most impressive team this year, finishing with a 101-61 record, a huge bounce-back season after missing the playoffs last year with an 84-78 record. The Astros controlled the AL for most of the season but just lost first place to the Cleveland Indians on their historic run.

But despite the Yankees’ success in this postseason, I’m going with Houston to advance to their first World Series since 2005. The Astros have never won a World Series, so we know they’re hungry and ready to shine. I predict the Astros will knock off the Yankees 4-2, after six games.

Now, turning to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), we’ve got a rematch of last year’s NLCS, with the defending champions Chicago Cubs taking on the number-one seeded Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers were the best team in the league this year, finishing with a 104-58 record. The Dodgers have the home-field advantage throughout the postseason, and it would be a no-brainer to take them over the Cubs.

The Cubs, who just came from winning an exciting series over the Washington Nationals, made plenty of history with last year’s amazing run. The Cubs may have beat the Dodgers 4-2 in the NLCS last year and won the 2016 World Series, but I believe things will change this year. The Dodgers have completely dominated baseball this season, and the Cubs have a tough challenge ahead. I’m taking the Dodgers 4-1, in five games, over the Cubs, and I predict the Dodgers will move on to the 2017 World Series.

So, I predict that the World Series will be the Houston Astros vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both are powerhouse, 100-plus-win teams, and I hope it goes all seven games.

But who will win?

The Dodgers are a spectacular team, but the Astros have never won a World Series and are hungry, so let’s not sleep on them. I’m taking the Astros to beat the Dodgers in the World Series in six games, 4-2.