September is here so that means Postseason Baseball is right around the corner. The first MLB postseason was all the way back in 1884 but the first World Series was back in 1903 with the Boston Americans (now the Red Sox) defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates. Almost 120 years later and the World Series is still a major sporting event each year.

American League

Houston Astros- The Astros are the likely winners of the AL West and highest predicted team from the AL to make the World Series. The pitching staff led by Justin Verlander and Ryan Pressly in the bullpen have been killer all season leading the league in Hits allowed per game and in second for runs allowed per game and batting average. Offensively, led by Jose Altuve and Yordan Alverez the Astros are fifth in Home Runs hit and seventh in slugging percentage.

New York Yankees- Likely winners of the AL East, the Yankees are a team to watch for in the playoffs. Pitching staff led by Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes with Clay Holmes in the bullpen have led the Yankees to third in runs allowed per game, hits allowed per game and batting average. However the Offense is the Yankees strongest. AL MVP front runner Aaron Judge has led the Yankees to first in Home Runs hit and tied for third with runs per game.

Cleveland Guardians-  Predicted by many that they would finish with a negative record, the Guardians have proved many wrong currently leading the AL Central. Offensively led by Jose Ramierez, Andres Gimenez and rookie standout Steven Kwan, the Guardians are eleventh in batting average and tied for ninth in hits per game. On the pitching side of things the Guardians have been led by Shane Bieber and Tristan McKenzie giving the Guardians eighth in era  (earned run average) and tied for sixth in whip (walks And hits per inning pitched). Emmanuel Clase has been the guy in the bullpen for them leading the league in saves. The Guardians aren’t a favorite coming into playoffs but definitely could make some noise.

National League

Los Angeles Dodgers- The Dodgers loaded up in the offseason and it has shown having the best record in the MLB. Pitching staff led by Clayton Kershaw and Craig Kimbrel the bullpen, the Dodgers are first in runs allowed per game, hits allowed per game, batting average, era and whip. Hitting wise has been just as good, led by Will Smith, Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, the Dodgers led the league in runs per game, OBP (on base percentage) and slugging percentage. The 2020 World Series champions are the favorites to win the world series and for good reason.

New York Mets- Offensively the Mets have been great all season. Led by Jeff McNeil, Fransico Lindor and Pete Alonso, the Mets have the second best OBP in the league along with fifth in runs per game and batting average. Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer have led the Mets pitching staff too the second best strikeouts per nine innings and the seventh best era in the league. Edwin Diaz has been dominant all season out of the bullpen tied for seventh in saves. The Mets are a team that have the best chance to take down the powerhouse Dodgers in the National League.

St. Louis Cardinals- The NL Central leaders, the Cardinals have had an outstanding season based off what many predicted. Led by NL MVP front runner Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and a surprising 42 year old Albert Pujols, the Cardinals are third in OBP, slugging percentage and runs per game. The pitching staff led by Adam Wainwright and Ryan Helsley in the bullpen, the Cardinals are eighth in runs allowed per game and fourth in Home Runs allowed. The Cardinals also have the best fielding percentage in the league tied at .989 percent. The Cardinals are definitely a team to watch if they get hot.

My final World Series prediction is the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in 7 games. Who do you think will win?