Full MLB Postseason Predictions Entering Second Half

Baseball returned from the All-Star break Fridaywith plenty to be decided in the second half.

That has us thinking: What will the playoff field look like when this MLB season comes to an end?

Let’s dive into it and make some predictions.

American League
1. Detroit Tigers (AL Central Champions)
2. New York Yankees (AL East Champions)
3. Houston Astros (AL West Champions)
4. Boston Red Sox (1st Wild Card)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (2nd Wild Card)
6. Seattle Mariners (3rd Wild Card)

First Team Out: Tampa Bay Rays

National League
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West Champions)
2. Philadelphia Phillies (NL East Champions)
3. Chicago Cubs (NL Central Champions)
4. New York Mets (1st Wild Card)
5. San Diego Padres (2nd Wild Card)
6. Milwaukee Brewers (3rd Wild Card)

First Team Out: San Francisco Giants

Wild Card Series
Cubs over Brewers (Four games)
Mets over Padres (Three games)
Red Sox over Blue Jays (Two games)
Astros over Mariners (Three games)

Division Series
Tigers over Red Sox (Five games)
Yankees over Astros (Four games)
Dodgers over Mets (Three games)
Phillies over Cubs (Four games)

League Championship Series
Tigers over Yankees (Six games)
Phillies over Dodgers (Six games)

World Series
Phillies over Tigers (Seven games)

What are the takeaways?

The wild-card teams will shuffle before the end of the season. The Rays and Giants could each make noise but will likely fall just short of postseason berths. Pitching matters in October. The Phillies are due to finally cash in on a prolonged championship window over the last four seasons.

There’s a lot of baseball to be played between now and then. The trade deadline could impact these predictions significantly in two weeks.

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