Predicting each round of the 2016 MLB Postseason
American League
ALDS: Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox
Getty
THE PICK: Red Sox in 4
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: While Cleveland might be a trendy pick to win the AL pennant, Boston certainly caught fire at the right time.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: If the Cavs did it, anything really is possible.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: It'll take a stellar pitching performance to wipe out Boston's lineup, and Cleveland's banged-up rotation probably won't fit the bill.
ALDS: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Texas Rangers
Getty
THE PICK: Rangers in 4
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Texas was consistently the best team in the American League from start to finish.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: Toronto's offense can be extremely dangerous -- and don't underestimate the momentum generated from such a dramatic win in the wild-card showdown against Baltimore.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: Texas' lineup has solid all-around hitters from top to bottom -- they struck out second-least often among playoff teams while stealing the second-most bases. We'll take the consistency.
ALCS: Boston Red Sox vs. Texas Rangers
Getty
THE PICK: Red Sox in 6
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Between Mookie Betts, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez, there's too much power for Texas to handle.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: The Rangers were consistently the best team in the American League all season, so why would that change now? Plus, Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish have the potential to put any team in a quick 2-0 hole.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: Texas in walking into a buzzsaw -- and we can't see David Ortiz's storied career ending at the hands of a club with a questionable rotation and shaky bullpen.
National League
Wild Card Game: San Francisco Giants vs. New York Mets
Getty
THE PICK: Giants
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Betting against Madison Bumgarner in an elimination game against a depleted Mets lineup doesn't seem ideal.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: Noah Syndergaard hasn't disappointed yet over the course of his young career when it comes to big-time performances, and the Giants have been a team in a freefall since the All-Star break.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: It's an even year.
NLDS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Washington Nationals
Getty
THE PICK: Dodgers in 5
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Here's an equation no Nats fan wants to read: No Stephen Strasburg, no Wilson Ramos, a banged-up Daniel Murphy and a Bryce Harper who hit .210 over the last month.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: Max Scherzer could pitch twice in this series. Also, remember Daniel Murphy's 2015 postseason?
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: Clayton Kershaw, and LA being one of the hottest teams since the second half began.
NLDS: San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs
Getty
THE PICK: Cubs in 4
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: It'd take some serious lightning in a bottle to knock off this year's Cubs team before they nab a pennant, and the last two months don't have the Giants looking like viable threats.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: As the Mets showed us last October, a few dominant innings could knock Chicago's starters out of the game early, putting their lineup on the ropes.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: Even if they get out to an early lead, the Giants' bullpen wouldn't be able to hold it.
NLCS: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
Getty
THE PICK: Cubs in 7
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Beyond Kershaw, we're not that confident in the Dodgers' playoff rotation.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: LA has peaked at the right time, finally getting healthy just in time for October. Have we seen the best of them yet?
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: We've seen this Cubs team be too good for too long to falter before they win a pennant.
World Series
Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox
THE PICK: Red Sox in 7
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY RIGHT: Chicago dominated the conversation through most of the season, but Boston's lineup may be the best one baseball has seen in recent years. A team .282 batting average and .810 OPS handily trump the Cubs' marks, while the Red Sox are also the superior defensive team.
REASON WHY WE'RE PROBABLY WRONG: It takes a lot to trust David Price and Rick Porcello to pitch you to a World Series title. Chicago's dominant lineup could easily knock Boston's starting pitching around, and the Cubs rarely lose a slugfest.
REASON WE WERE SWAYED: The David Ortiz narrative is too powerful -- and so is Boston's lineup. Even Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta will have a hard time keeping the Cubs in the driver's seat in what should be an epic series.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
The highest-paid players of the playoffs:
