The TBLA staff recently took the time to predict who will win the World Series and how far the Dodgers will go. Here are the predictions...
ERIC STEPHEN:
Dodgers lose to Cardinals in 6 games in NLCS. Tigers over Cards in World Series in 6 games.
Maybe this is the hangover from the Matt Kemp injury news, but I think the Dodgers' ultimate quest falls just a bit short. The Cardinals look like the best team in the National League and while the loss of Allen Craig hurts that lineup is still loaded. Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke give the Dodgers a chance though, and maybe I can be wrong again like I was in May when I said the season was over.
BRANDON LENNOX:
World Series: Dodgers over Red Sox in 6 games
Behind the dominate one-two punch of Kershaw and Greinke, the Dodgers will win the world series. All four wins in the series will come when the two aces pitch, with the only bad news being that the club has to celebrate their championship on the road. To get to the World Series the Dodgers will have a tough time with the Braves as that series will go 5 games, but will then sweep through the Pirates who make a surprise run to the NLCS. Kershaw, of course, will be the World Series MVP.
CRAIG MINAMI:
World Series: Los Angeles vs. Boston - Dodgers win 4 games to 1
As noted in my World Series prediction, the Dodgers will win the World Series in fives games. Clayton Kershaw will be named World Series MVP after pitching two complete game shutouts.
I could take a long exhausted look at the teams in the playoffs, but I decided this is what I would like to see happen given that this is best combination of pitching and lineup the Dodgers have had since those 70s teams.
Boston will use its home field advantage to outlast the other AL teams, the Dodgers will probably have to vanquish both St. Louis and Atlanta (though I would not be opposed of playing the Wild Card team in the NLCS since that would give me a better opportunity to see those games at Dodger Stadium).
In the end, it will probably be on a Ellis key hit that the Dodgers advance at some point and Hanley Ramirez will make a key defensive play to win a game. Finally, Juan Uribe will hit a key home run in Game 5 of the World Series.
DAVID YOUNG:
World Series: Dodgers win the World Series, 4 games to 1, over the Oakland Athletics.
The Los Angeles pitching staff provides several dominant starts and strong short relief as they lead the Dodgers' march through St. Louis and Atlanta to the National League pennant. The Dodgers lose only one game to the Cardinals and two to the Braves, as the offense provides the punch in a game or two when the pitching falters slightly. Oakland emerges from the American League to create a rematch of the 1974 and 1988 World Series, but they run into a buzzsaw as Clayton Kershaw rides two dominant starts to being named the MVP of the World Series.
RONIT SHAH:
World Series: Dodgers over Red Sox
The playoffs can certainly be a crapshoot, and I wouldn't be surprised if just about any of the playoffs teams win it all. With that being said, I look for teams that are excellent run prevention clubs. To me, the Dodgers and Red Sox are those teams in their respective leagues, with each possessing top of the rotation starters as well as outstanding relievers in the backend of their bullpens.
BEN HABER:
World Series: Dodgers over Tigers in 6.
Dodgers win the World Series
The Dodgers roster will be optimal for the postseason, with three reliable starters headlined by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Meanwhile, the boys in blue have proved to be the best team in the MLB when healthy. Thanks to Don Mattingly resting the starters down the stretch, Hanley Ramirez is at full strength. In my opinion, the St. Louis Cardinals have the best chance of ending the Dodgers' season.
DAVID LAUTERBACH:
World Series: Dodgers over Tigers in 7 games.
Los Angeles will win the World Series after defeating Atlanta in four games in the NLDS and St. Louis in six games in the NLCS. Clayton Kershaw will dominate everyone he faces with Zack Greinke doing the same thing one game later. The biggest threat to the Dodgers in the National League is the Cardinals. The NL Central champions have a dominant pitching staff and a deep lineup. The biggest American League threat to Los Angeles is Detroit. The Tigers have the second-best one-two punch in the playoffs behind the Dodgers. If Justin Verlander dominates and Miguel Cabrera swings a hot bat in the playoffs, Detroit might defeat Los Angeles in the World Series.