MLB League Championship Series Picks

Well after an incredible League Divisional Series in which all four (4) series went to the maximum five games, we are set up with a pretty good looking League Championship Series in both the American and National Leagues. All four teams are no strangers to the postseason; in fact, the last three World Series Champions are all involved in this LCS, and the lone squad has a few titles to hold their claim too also. The ALCS kicks off in about a half hour so I'll bring that prediction first, and then bring you the NLCS prediction before tomorrow's game.

vs.

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

Game 1 | TBS | 8:07 PM ET | Saturday Oct. 13 

Game 2 | TBS | 4:07 PM ET | Sunday Oct. 14 

Game 3 | TBS | 8:07 PM ET | Tuesday Oct. 16

Game 4 | TBS | 8:07 PM ET | Wednesday Oct. 17 |

Game 5 (If Necessary) | TBS | 4:07 PM ET | Thursday Oct. 18

Game 6 (If Necessary) | TBS | 8:07 PM ET | Saturday Oct. 20

Game 7 (If Necessary) | TBS | 8:07 PM ET | Sunday Oct. 21

We have ourselves a rematch of last year's American League Divisional Series. Frankly I can't say that I am shocked that these two teams are playing against each other. Despite me missing the mark on how many games they played against their foes in the last round, these two teams are the two that I picked to win, and are arguably the two best teams that the AL had to offer this season. The Yankees and Tigers, despite their great offenses during the regular season, both struggled to get runs across the board in their respective series, but you've got to imagine that both teams will wake up now that they know that there is no turning back anymore. The Tigers and Yankees both used their aces in Game 5, so they will be held until Game 4 and for a possible epic matchup in Game 7, should the series go that far. Derek Jeter is the active leader in the clubhouse for batting after hitting .364 in the ALDS. Omar Infante was the leader for the Tigers (.353) and also had a very solid .801 OPS. They're going to need to get the big guns going in the series as both Robinson Cano and Miguel Cabrera had less than stellar series. 

Pick: The train has not left the station on the Yankees yet, even though the Reds train left this past week. I am going to stick to my guns, whether or not it comes off as biased, and say that the New York Yankees win their 41st pennant. I see the bats coming alive this series, for both teams really, and both pitching staffs will really be pushed and when it comes down to it I like the Yankees staff as a whole more than the Tigers. But I will say this: New York can't afford this series to go the full 7 because Justin Verlander may be the x-factor of all x-factors.

Result: New York Yankees in 6 games

vs.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. San Francisco Giants

Game 1 | FOX | 8:15 PM ET | Sunday Oct. 14

Game 2 | FOX | 8:07 PM ET | Monday Oct. 15

Game 3 | FOX | 4:07 PM ET | Wednesday Oct. 17

Game 4 | FOX | 8:07 PM ET | Thursday Oct. 18

Game 5 (If Necessary) | FOX | 8:07 PM ET | Friday Oct. 19
Game 6 (If Necessary) | FOX | 4:45 PM ET | Sunday Oct. 21 

Game 7 (If Necessary) | FOX | 8:07 PM ET | Monday Oct. 22

So I was not exactly on with the NLCS as much as I was with the ALCS. But, that's okay. It seems fitting that the last two World Series Champions will be meeting in this NLCS, and both of them have the same type of mantra following them. The Cardinals were down 6-0 in the deciding Game 5 against the Washington Nationals, and put forth an unprecedented comeback effort to get here. Meanwhile, the Giants took two losses at home to the Cincinnati Reds, and willed their way back to the NLCS after a three game win streak on the road to oust the Big Red Machine. We've got ourselves a matchup of probably the two best catchers in all of baseball and both of them, coincidentally enough, are two MVP candidates. The pitching in this series is pretty darn good, too.

Pick: It seems crazy to count out the Cardinals who continue to win elimination game after elimination game. However, it also seems crazy to count out the Giants who since the second half of the season have been an unbelievable 51-30 (including the last series). So I'm going to say that the San Francisco Giants return to the Fall Classic. Their pitching, I believe is better than the Cardinals and they will stifle their tremendous AL-like offense and win in a classic NLCS in 7 games.

Result: San Francisco Giants in 7 games