The 2015 MLB playoffs are now underway, and already some experts’ predictions have been rendered useless. (So much for the Pirates winning the World Series.) But there’s still a lot of time for the experts to be proven right, though.
While waiting, let’s check out exactly whom these experts from the top sports media outlets around picked, from the wild-card games all the way to the World Series.
Also, you might be interested to check out Top Bet’s own picks and predictions for the entire ALDS and NLDS.
[sc:MLBArticles ]2015 MLB Playoffs Experts Picks
ESPN
| NL Wild Card | AL Wild Card |
|---|---|
| Cubs – 13 Pirates – 9 |
Astros – 13 Yankees – 9 |
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Worldwide Leader polled a whopping 22 experts and personalities (like Buster Olney, Tim Kurkjian, Jayson Stark, etc.) for their picks throughout the playoffs, and the majority got it right on both wild-card games. The Cubs and Astros, who eventually won beat the Pirates and Yankees, each got 13 votes. Perhaps these experts really do know what they’re talking about.
| ALDS 1 (Royals/WC) | ALDS 2 (Blue Jays/Rangers) | NLDS 1 (Cardinals/WC) | NLDS 2 (Dodgers/Mets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royals – 18 Astros – 4 |
Blue Jays – 22 Rangers – 0 |
Cubs – 6 Pirates – 6 Cardinals – 10 |
Dodgers – 16 Mets – 6 |
It’s no surprise to see the majority of votes going to the favorites – the Royals, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Dodgers – but it is surprising to see their overwhelming confidence in Toronto. All 22 experts picked the Blue Jays to beat the Rangers. Perhaps these experts haven’t noticed just how often upsets occur during the MLB playoffs.
| AL Pennant | NL Pennant | World Series |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays – 16 Royals – 5 Astros – 1 |
Dodgers – 10 Cardinals – 4 Cubs – 4 Pirates – 3 Mets – 1 |
Blue Jays – 11 Dodgers – 4 Cubs – 4 Pirates – 2 Cardinals – 1 Mets – 1 Royals – 1 |
After garnering 100 percent of the votes to move on to the ALCS, 16 more experts have the Blue Jays capturing the AL pennant. And of those 16, 11 have gone for the Blue Jays to go all the way and win the World Series.
The Dodgers received just over half the votes to claim the NL pennant. However, only four believe they could go on to win the title, as many votes as the Cubs got to finally end their 107-year World Series drought. Well, if Jake Arrieta continues throwing complete game shutouts like he did against Pittsburgh, it may not be too far-fetched after all.
SB Nation
| NL Wild Card | AL Wild Card |
|---|---|
| Pirates – 10 Cubs – 6 |
Astros – 9 Yankees – 7 |
SB Nation held a similar poll of 16 writers and editors, 10 of which incorrectly picked the Pirates to beat the Cubs. Although, the slight majority did get the Astros right.
| ALDS 1 (Royals/WC) | ALDS 2 (Blue Jays/Rangers) | NLDS 1 (Cardinals/WC) | NLDS 2 (Dodgers/Mets) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royals – 12 Astros – 3 Yankees 1 |
Blue Jays – 13 Rangers – 3 |
Cardinals – 10 Cubs – 2 Pirates – 4 |
Mets – 10 Dodgers – 6 |
The SB Nation people shared the optimism for the Blue Jays, with 13 picking them to get past the Rangers, the most votes out of the four division series. The Royals had the second-highest votes with 12, while the Mets got 10 votes to oust the Clayton Kershaw- and Zack Greinke-led Dodgers. That’s a lot of confidence in a very talented (but young and inexperienced) Mets rotation to get the job done against the two NL Cy Young candidates.
| AL Pennant | NL Pennant | World Series |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Jays – 11 Royals – 4 Rangers – 1 |
Cardinals – 7 Dodgers – 3 Cubs – 2 Pirates – 2 Mets – 2 |
Cardinals – 5 Blue Jays – 4 Dodgers – 3 Cubs – 2 Royals – 1 Pirates – 1 |
The Blue Jays love affair continues with 11 voters picking them to claim the AL pennant. On the other side, seven sided with the Cardinals to win the NL yet again. However, it’s perhaps a reflection of just how wide open the NL is that the Dodgers, Cubs, Pirates and Mets all got at least two votes. Of course, the Pirates are already out, so forget about them.
Despite getting 11 of the votes to reach the World Series, though, only four actually have Toronto to win the title. Instead, the most votes went to the Cardinals, who got five.
Fox Sports
| SERIES | Ken Rosenthal | Jon Morosi | Rob Neyer | CJ Nitkowski |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL Wild Card | Astros | Yankees | Yankees | Astros |
| NL Wild Card | Cubs | Cubs | Cubs | Cubs |
| ALDS | 1. Royals over Astros 2. Blue Jays over Rangers |
1. Royals over Astros 2. Rangers over Blue Jays |
1. Astros over Royals 2. Blue Jays over Rangers |
1. Astros over Royals 2. Blue Jays over Rangers |
| NLDS | 1. Cubs over Cards 2. Dodgers over Mets |
1. Cubs over Cards 2. Dodgers over Mets |
1. Cubs over Cards 2. Dodgers over Mets |
1. Cubs over Cards 2. Dodgers over Mets |
| ALCS | Blue Jays over Royals | Royals over Rangers | Blue Jays over Astros | Blue Jays over Astros |
| NLCS | Cubs over Dodgers | Dodgers over Cubs | Dodgers over Cubs | Dodgers over Cubs |
| World Series | Blue Jays over Cubs in 6 | Royals over Dodgers in 6 | Blue Jays over Dodgers in 6 | Blue Jays over Dodgers in 6 |
Fox Sports’ panel of four experts got off to a good start by successfully picking the Cubs over the Pirates. All four, who were pretty in sync with their picks in general, also picked the Cubs to get past the Cardinals in their NLDS matchup, where they’ll face the Dodgers. However, only Ken Rosenthal had the Cubs going back to the World Series, where he ultimately had the Blue Jays emerging victorious in 6.
That same sentiment was shared by Rob Neyer and CJ Nitkowski, who also see the Jays winning in six, but beating the Dodgers in the process. Their predictions are still capable of coming true, but Toronto will probably need David Price to snap out of his postseason rut soon. Price has now lost all six of his playoff starts in his career.
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