American League

Minnesota Twins vs. New York Yankees

Offense: The Twins are a pesky team. They can score on the Yankees in a hurry, but can they do it for an entire series? Joe Mauer is the force in the lineup and Michael Cuddyer has been great down the stretch for the Twins. The top of their lineup is solid with Denard Span and deadline acquisition Orlando Cabrera. After that, the lineup is a little thin. They will miss Justin Morneau. The Yankees have the best lineup in the postseason by far. Derek Jeter, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez bring constant production to the lineup. The keys for New York will be Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui. They must be productive to take pressure off their big three. Advantage: Yankees

Pitching: There is no Johan Santana for the Twins. Just a bunch of no names (no offense) that pitched great down the stretch for the underdog Twins. Lefty Brian Duensing, righties Nick Blackburn and Scott Baker are the top three in this series. Blackburn and Baker will be the ones that Minnesota will need to be at their best to have a chance. Minnesota’s bullpen is and always has been their strong suit. If they can get to closer Joe Nathan, it is a likely win. New York has the over $200 million dollar combined starters at the top in C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. Andy Pettite is a nice addition, but all eyes will be on the big money pitchers. The Yankees pen is deeper, but unless they get to Philip Hughes and Mariano Rivera late. It could be a long day for the pinstripes. Advantage: Yankees

Prediction: Clearly on paper this looks like a one sided affair. The Yankees play three of five in the jet stream that is Yankee Stadium. The Twins after spending so much emotion and energy just to get here, are looked at as the road block to the mighty Yankees. This is not an ordinary team or organization for that matter. The Twins are a good team. You don’t get here by being average. The Yankees will win the first two, but I think Minnesota will make it a series back in the twin cities. By that I mean winning one game. Yankees in 4.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels

Offense: The Angels led the majors in average and were second to only the Yankees in runs. All the analysts have said that Boston has their number and the Angels have in the back of their heads the past two years of being beaten by Boston. Well this year looks to be different. The Angels from top to bottom have a great lineup that can hit for base hits, homers and can steal a base at any given moment. Chone Figgins is looking to capitalize on a career year with a great postseason. Bobby Abreu has been a fantastic pickup and with Torii Hunter and Vlad Guerrero both healthy, the lineup is stacked. Boston doesn’t have any slouches either. Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia at the top are as good as any 1-2 hitters in the game. Victor Martinez, Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jason Bay will be a problem if runners are on base. The Red Sox are a different team on the road than at home. The same can be said when the Angels play in Boston. Six of the nine games between these two this year have been decided by one run. Advantage: Angels

Pitching: Boston has a great rotation to deal with. Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and Clay Buchholz will be the first three. Daisuke Matsuzaka could go in Game 4 depending on the state of the series. The Angels don’t have any average starters. John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders would be a number one or two starter in most rotations. These four with Ervin Santana were the pitching for the Angels this year. Bullpen definitely goes to Boston. The Angels have had success, but they are young and the inconsistency of closer Brian Fuentes has been troubling. The Red Sox have Hideki Okajima and Billy Wagner to go with closer Jonathan Papelbon. There is no doubt Boston has the advantage late, but will it ever get to that? Advantage: Red Sox

Prediction: The saying goes third time is the charm. This is the third straight season that the Angels have played against the Red Sox in the postseason. Boston plays different around this time as does the Angels. Specifically Boston finished below .500 on the road. The Angels looked good everywhere except in Boston. The key is in Anaheim. Lackey and Weaver must be on their game to give the Angels a chance to go up 2-0. Kendry Morales must continue the career year with his great power numbers. Boston will need the pitching to be their catalyst to keep the Angels speedsters of the bases and their big bats quiet. Angels in 4.

National League

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Offense: The Rockies are the same team except for the fact that they no longer have Matt Holliday in the middle of their lineup. They’re a younger and faster team that relies on the small ball. Which playing in the National League you have to. Outfielders Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez are solid for the top of their order. Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe complement each other well in the middle of the order. They have a deep bench that will serve them well in key situations against the Phillies who are vulnerable in the bullpen. Philadelphia has to score to have a chance at repeating. Chase Utley and Ryan Howard are their RBI machines. Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino have to get on base consistently. They don’t have as deep a bench as last year, but the offense is still formidable with Jayson Werth and Raul Ibanez able to get hits in the clutch. Advantage: Phillies

Pitching: Colorado doesn’t have the greatest pitching, but it gets them results. Ubaldo Jimenez is a stud, but after that it gets dicey. Aaron Cook has to be able to get 6-7 innings for his starts. Their bullpen is deep and the reason why they are back in the postseason. Closer Huston Street was shaky down the stretch, but is capable of getting the job done in his first postseason. Colorado will need to keep the Phillies bats quiet. Philadelphia has two great pitchers to start this series in lefties Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels. It is safe to say that Philadelphia would be a lock to win the first two games, but Colorado was doubted two years ago and swept the favorite Phillies out of the Division series. Who will be the closer for the defending champs? Brad Lidge? Ryan Madson? Heck, why not Pedro Martinez? Charlie Manuel will be going with Madson, but how long will it last? This is a big weak spot that wasn’t addressed before the postseason. Things will get dicey late in games for the Phillies. Advantage: Rockies

Prediction: The Rockies have the advantage in the most important categories, pitching and defense. Philadelphia is not terrible, just not better than Colorado there. Can Colorado take away home field from the Phillies? Will the Phillies be able to contain the speed threat of the Rockies? Those are just some of the questions that will be interesting to see the answers to in this series. I like the underdog factor that Colorado brings, but the defending champs are too talented to lose to the Rockies. Phillies in 5.

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

Offense: It starts and ends with Albert Pujols for the Cards. He is the most likely MVP and a definite Gold Glove recipient. With Matt Holliday batting behind him, the Cards have a great lineup that warrants no intentional walks. Ryan Ludwick and Mark DeRosa need to produce for the Cards to not rely so much on Pujols and Holliday. The Dodgers have a balanced lineup that starts with Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier. Manny Ramirez was out of sync down the stretch and if it weren’t for Matt Kemp and Casey Blake, the middle of the order would’ve suffered. The advantage would go to the Dodgers if Manny was his old self, but a team with Pujols has to be favored. Advantage: Cardinals

Pitching: The Dodgers have a shaky rotation at best. Rand Wolf and Clayton Kershaw are good starts, not great for an opening round series. Vicente Padilla is going to start in Game 3? Yikes Torre. I feel sorry for you. The bullpen though is where it’s at for LA. Two lefties, George Sherrill and Hung Chi Kuo to set up closer Jonathan Broxton. Can’t get better than that. The Cards have two Cy Young candidates in Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright to start this series. Joel Pineiro to go in Game 3 is a good move to. The Cards pen is shaky leading up to closer Ryan Franklin, but it got them a division title and a chance to get the best record in the National League. Advantage: Cardinals

Prediction: Now with the advantage going to the Cards in almost every category, you would think that they would be the favorites. Yes they are, but I can’t go with them. The bullpen is suspect, not as bad as Philadelphia, but still not great. After Pujols and Holliday the lineup is vulnerable. The Dodgers have too much balance on offense and the rotation will be helped by their deep bullpen. Hopefully Joe Torre didn’t overwork the pen during the season because he will need them to bailout his starters. Dodgers in 5.

ALCS
Angels in 7

NLCS
Dodgers in 7

World Series
Angels in 7