We are three weeks away from the MLB season being completed, and four teams have punched their tickets to the championship series. The American League representatives are the Seattle Mariners and the Toronto Blue Jays, while the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers will battle for the National League title. Here are my predictions for the championship series and the World Series.
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Mariners in six games
After a dramatic 15-inning victory over the Tigers in the divisional series, the Mariners are riding high into the league championship series. With the amount of power bats in Seattle’s lineup, I think they can slug their way to the World Series behind Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Josh Naylor. George Kirby and Luis Castillo will be enough to get the Seattle pitching staff over the hump. The last time the Mariners were in the ALCS was 2001. They are the only team in Major League Baseball that has never made a World Series. It’s destiny — give me the Mariners taking this series in six games.
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Dodgers in six
The Brewers punched their ticket to the NLCS on Saturday with a victory over the Cubs in a do-or-die game. The Dodgers are on a quest to defend last year’s World Series title. Milwaukee does a great job of hitting with runners in scoring position. Brice Turang, William Contreras and midseason pickup Andrew Vaughn have been stellar pieces of the lineup. The Brewers also have home-field advantage in this series. But with the experience this Dodgers roster has, I think they come away with the series in a close one. History shows the Brewers haven’t been able to get over the hump to the World Series lately — the last time being 1982. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will get the job done for Los Angeles in six games.
World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Seattle Mariners — Dodgers in five
It’s a battle of two West Coast teams. Of the four remaining postseason clubs, the Dodgers have the most talented roster and the most experience. I think starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto will bring a spark to the pitching staff that the team didn’t have in last season’s title run. The Dodgers get it done and become the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.
