Major League Baseball

2014 MLB postseason: Making a case for each team to move on to the World Series

Published Oct. 10, 2014 12:24 a.m. ET

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This year's MLB postseason has been everything and more for baseball fans so far. It's been quite an emotional roller coaster with crazy twists and turns in each round.

Of course with each round, the stakes get higher and with four teams now playing for their respective league's Pennant, we expect the drama to get even better -- if that's possible.

With the ALCS and NLCS kicking off this weekend, our MLB experts give their predictions for each series and make a case for each team to move on to the World Series.

Why the Giants will win:

This series should come down to pitching, as both clubs possess quality arms, a stellar bullpen and an ace in Wainwright and Bumgarner. Neither club hits a ton of home runs, but both possess the power to go deep at any given moment. When all is said and done, San Francisco's starting pitching, Bochy's October magic and it being an even year will prove to be the difference.

Why the Cardinals will win:

Yes, it's an even year (as Giants fans are quick to remind you endlessly), but the Cardinals' offense ran all over Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers' bullpen en route to a 4-game win in the NLDS. It's hard to imagine the Cards' hitters not continuing that string against the Giants, who will likely bring out Tim Hudson, Jake Peavy and Ryan Vogelsong in addition to ace Madison Bumgarner. Considering how their offense barely scraped together enough runs to dispatch the Nationals, look for the Giants to have a bit of a tougher battle against Matt Adams, Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and the Cardinals this time around.

Danny Farris: Giants in 7

Zach Benau: Giants in 6

Adrian Garro: Cardinals in 6

Lindsey Foltin: Giants in 6

Jason Lewis: Giants in 7

Why the Royals will win:

Both teams come in on the heels of impressive sweeps of division winners in the ALDS, so it should be fun to watch - but look for the Royals' speed (the Dyson/Gore combo is deadly) to score a few more runs that they otherwise wouldn't. And, if K.C. pitching can contain Nelson Cruz, the Royals just may book themselves a trip to the Fall Classic after all. Conventional wisdom might suggest that Ned Yost will make a mistake egregious enough to cost the Royals a game in this ALCS showdown with the Orioles - but then again, this postseason has been as unpredictable as any in recent years.

Why the Orioles will win:

This should be a fascinating series with the Royals small ball approach and the Orioles powerful lineup. The Orioles were demonstrably superior in the regular season. They have more ways to score and I believe have a huge edge in the dugout with Showalter. This all means a trip to the World Series for the O's for the first time since 1983.

Farris: Orioles in 5

Benau: Orioles in 6

Garro: Royals in 6

Foltin: Royals in 7

Lewis: Orioles in 6

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