2014 MLB Playoff And Awards Predictions

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

We have come to the end of the road. We have spent the past few weeks, sifting through my predictions for the 2014 season. I would like to once again thank all of the talented writers and editor across the FanSided MLB division that helped me along the way with analysis of their teams.

In case you missed the previous posts, here they are:

NL East
NL Central
NL West
AL East
AL Central
AL West

Now, here are my 2014 MLB playoff and awards predictions.

Wild-Card Games

Atlanta Braves def. San Francisco Giants

Los Angeles Angels def. Tampa Bay Rays

In a one-game, winner-take-all game, I like the Braves to take down the Giants. Ervin Santana should be the one game starter and in theory, should take care of business in what may be a 2-1 game.

In the AL, the Rays may go with David Price, assuming he hasn’t been traded by then, but I still think the Angels will overpower the Rays in a high-scoring affair.

NLDS and ALDS

Los Angeles Dodgers def. Atlanta Braves 3-1

St. Louis Cardinals def. Washington Nationals 3-2

Detroit Tigers def. Los Angeles Angels 3-0

Boston Red Sox def. Oakland Athletics 3-2

Once the Angels and Braves make it to their Division Series, they will both run out of gas having used their number one pitcher in the winner-take-all game.

The best series to watch in my opinion will be the Cardinals and Nationals. Top pitching, solid offense, solid defense. This will be a well-fought series with the deciding Game 5 coming down to the late innings.

NLCS and ALCS

Los Angeles Dodgers def. St. Louis Cardinals 4-3

Detroit Tigers def. Boston Red Sox 4-2

The Red Sox dream of repeating as champions ends on a cold October night in Detroit.  The Tigers’ pitching will prove to be too much for the Red Sox batters.

In the NL, the Dodgers and Cardinals will have a Game 7 that will rival the Game 7 of the 1991 World Series. Clayton Kershaw vs. Adam Wainwright. Game goes to the 10th as a 1-1 tie. Dodgers win on a sac bunt in the bottom of the 10th, scoring Yasiel Puig from 3rd.

World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers def. Detroit Tigers 4-3

In what will be the most-watched World Series of the past 20 years, the Dodgers and Tigers will do battle for seven intense nights. It culminates on October 30 in Los Angeles (because the NL will win the All-Star Game) as once again, Clayton Kershaw is in an epic battle, this time with Justin Verlander.

The game will go 12 innings in a scoreless tie, only to have an Ian Kinsler throwing error lead to the only run of the game, giving the Dodgers their first World Series title since 1988.

Awards

NL MVP: Hanley Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Cy Young: Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

NL Rookie of the Year: Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks
AL Rookie of the Year: Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees