MLB Divisional Series Predictions Here:
http://www.davesdime.com/mlb-divisional-series-predictions/

In the last round, I took a few shots and picked a few upsets. I was spot-on with my Texas in 5 prediction, but missed on my Atlanta over San Francisco upset. The series actually went a lot like I expected it to, very little offense and coming down to a few bounces; but those bounces went San Francisco’s way. They were the better team, and they deserved it.

I also pegged Philadelphia in 3, but gave Minnesota a game too much credit in my New York in 4 pick. So what’s on tap in the Championship Series?

American League

New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

If there is going to be an upset in the Championship round, this is the series it would likely come in. There isn’t a very large gap between these two teams as both have outstanding offenses, a reliable ace, and question marks through the rest of the rotation.

It’s always tricky to try to predict these experience VS. inexperience types of series. On the one hand, you could argue that New York has so much more experience than Texas that they should be able to use that to their advantage and persevere. But on the other hand, you could also argue that Texas’s inexperience and their “nothing-to-lose” attitude is what makes them so dangerous.

So in the end, I just have to go with what I believe is the better baseball team, and that is the New York Yankees. Despite the fact that Texas has an outstanding lineup of their own, New York’s is noticeably deeper and stronger, especially with guys like Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson hitting the ball well around that deadly infield (Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez). Texas’s staff hasn’t pitched well against the Yankees in the past (who has?), and with the exception of Cliff Lee, I don’t trust any of them to slow down the Yankees despite the fact that they’ve been very solid up to this point.

Having their rotation set is also an added bonus for New York. I think the advantage CC Sabathia has over CJ Wilson is more substantial than Cliff Lee’s over Andy Pettitte, who has been great this season and is a proven postseason winner. Pitching AJ Burnett in Game 4 will be scary for Yankees fans, but at least the game comes at home where the offense should be able to manufacture runs on Tommy Hunter.

Should be a great series with a lot of offense with the Yankees coming out on top.

Prediction: Yankees in 6

National League

San Francisco Giants vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The San Francisco Giants have one of the best and deepest pitching staffs in the entire league, and in a seven game series can out-pitch just about anyone.

The key words in that sentence being “just about” anyone. The Phillies will be able to match the Giants amazing staff with one of their own.

Tim Lincecum VS. Roy Halladay should be a treat to watch, as this is two of this generation’s greatest pitchers. Jonathan Sanchez VS. Roy Oswalt and Matt Cain VS. Cole Hamels also make great undercard matchups; there will be no shortage of elite pitching in this series.

But Philadelphia’s noticeable advantage on offense tips the scales heavily in their favor. Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey lead an offense that got timely hits all year to give their pitchers the small leads they needed, but going up against the likes of the Phillies, scraping out a few runs may not be enough. Philadelphia has such a strong lineup from top to bottom, even San Francisco’s staff will have trouble getting by unscathed.

With Lincecum, Sanchez, Cain, and Bumgarner on the mound, the Giants are never going to be a heavy underdog to anyone. That said, I do think they will be the underdog in every game this series when you consider Philadelphia’s equally impressive Halladay-Oswalt-Hamels connection and the offense that comes with it. San Francisco may steal a few, but Philadelphia should be able to come out on top and earn their third straight NL Pennant.

Prediction: Phillies in 6