Experts’ Picks for the MLB Playoffs 2014

After two action-packed Wild Card playoffs, it’s time to take a look at the remaining games in the 2014 MLB postseason. What better way is there than to consult the trusty experts at FOX Sports, SB Nation and CBS Sports? Read on as we breakdown how several baseball experts have predicted the MLB playoffs will unfold.

Aside from the different experts here, you can also read our own picks and predictions for baseball’s playoffs. Check out our complete previews for the first games of the National League Division Series’ between the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals.
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Experts Pick the Winners for the 2014 MLB Playoffs

FOX Sports

Series | Jon Morosi
ALDS | Royals over Angels
ALDS | Tigers over Orioles
ALCS | Tigers over Royals
NLDS | Cardinals over Dodgers
NLDS | Nationals over Giants
NLCS | Nationals over Cardinals
World Series | Nationals over Tigers

FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi believes that the Kansas City Royals will ride their Wild Card-winning momentum to defeat the Los Angeles Angels in the American League Division Series. They certainly can do so with Billy Butler, Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer hitting a combined 7-of-12 against the Athletics. Meanwhile, Angels starting pitchers C.J. Wilson (4.76 ERA in September) and Hector Santiago (6.20 ERA in September) were shaky ending the regular season.

[sc:MLB240banner ]Meanwhile, Morosi believes that the Detroit Tigers’ formidable rotation of the past three years’ AL Cy Young Award winners (Max Scherzer, David Price and Justin Verlander) and Rick Porcello can cool Baltimore’s hot bats. From there, experience takes over as the Tigers end the Royals’ fairy tale early.

Over in the National League, Morosi picked the Nationals’ solid pitching (.303 team ERA, first in NL) to cool the Giants’ bats, while the Cardinals oust Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers early. However, Dodgers batters are firing on all cylinders with Matt Kemp hitting .347 with nine home runs and 25 RBIs while scoring 21 runs in September. The Dodgers are very solid across the field. Yet, the Cardinals have their 2013 NLCS win over Los Angeles to keep themselves confident.

Nevertheless, even with a win against the Dodgers, Morosi picks the Nationals to defeat last year’s World Series runners-up to set up a meeting with the Detroit Tigers. From there, he has the Nationals winning their first-ever World Series title.

SB Nation

Series | Pick
AL Wild Card | Athletics over Royals
NL Wild Card | Giants over Pirates
ALDS | Athletics over Angels
ALDS | Tigers over Orioles
ALCS | Tigers over Athletics
NLDS | Nationals over Giants
NLDS | Dodgers over Cardinals
NLCS | Nationals over Dodgers
World Series | Nationals over Tigers

SB Nation released their picks for the MLB World Series earlier. Unfortunately, one of their picks to make the American League Championship Series, the Oakland Athletics, has already been eliminated in their Wild Card playoff against the Kansas City Royals. With that said, the Royals may take over the A’s place and upset the Los Angeles Angels (much like FOX Sports prediction).

Meanwhile, unlike FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi, SB Nation picked the Dodgers to defeat the Cardinals to make the NLCS. However, that’s how far the Dodgers go as they bow down to the NL-leading Washington Nationals. The National League champions then win their best-of-seven series against the Detroit Tigers for the World Series.

CBS Sports

Series | Mike Axisa | Dayn Perry | Matt Snyder
ALDS | Angels over Royals | Angels over Royals | Angels over Royals
ALDS | Orioles over Tigers | Orioles over Tigers | Orioles over Tigers
ALCS | Orioles over Angels | Orioles over Angels | Angels over Orioles
NLDS | Giants over Nationals | Nationals over Giants | Nationals over Giants
NLDS | Dodgers over Cardinals | Dodgers over Cardinals | Dodgers over Cardinals
NLCS | Dodgers over Giants | Dodgers over Nationals | Nationals over Dodgers
World Series | Dodgers over Orioles | Orioles over Dodgers | Nationals over Angels

CBS Sports’ Eye on Baseball Crew, which consist of Mike Axisa, Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, have differing views when it comes to their World Series picks. Mike Axisa believes that the Dodgers will reign supreme in the NL, defeating the Cardinals in the division series and the Giants in the championship series.

Dayn Perry agrees with Axisa that the Orioles and Dodgers will meet in the World Series. However, he believes that the Orioles can find a hole in the Dodgers’ pitching to take home the Commissioner’s Trophy.

The third member of the crew, Matt Snyder has a different take. Snyder predicts the Angels will take home the American League championship, while the Nationals will make their first World Series appearance after taking home the National League crown. The World Series will then be a matchup between the best teams in each of the leagues, where Snyder likes the Nats to wrap up baseball’s final action of the year.
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