The picks are in: Pundits predict the playoffs
Who will win the 2021 World Series? How will the postseason play out?
MLB.com's experts weigh in here with their predictions for every playoff series from the Wild Card Game through the Fall Classic.
JON PAUL MOROSI
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 5
ALDS: CWS-HOU, White Sox in 5
NLDS: LAD-SF, Giants in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Braves in 4
ALCS: CWS-TB, White Sox in 6
NLCS: ATL-SF, Braves in 6
WS: ATL-CWS, White Sox in 6
WS MVP: Dylan Cease
We haven’t witnessed a World Series rematch since the Dodgers and Yankees in 1977 and 1978, so I’m not too tempted to predict another Dodgers-Rays Fall Classic. The Braves and White Sox have had stretches of mediocrity this season, but both are peaking at the right time. Atlanta closed the regular season by winning 12 of its last 14 games -- even hotter than Seattle (11-3) over that stretch. Ian Anderson’s return should give the Braves the rotation depth needed to navigate the NL playoffs. But in the World Series, they’ll fall to the White Sox and Georgia native, Dylan Cease, who’s poised to star in Chicago's first title run since 2005.
SARAH LANGS
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, White Sox in 5
NLDS: LAD-SF, Dodgers in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 4
ALCS: CWS-TB, Rays in 6
NLCS: LAD-MIL, Dodgers in 5
WS: LAD-TB, Dodgers in 7
WS MVP: Max Scherzer
The current stretch without a repeat World Series champion is the longest drought in the history of MLB, NBA, NFL or NHL. And the Dodgers’ NL West-winning streak ended in a year in which they won 106 games. Somehow, this all adds up, to me, for this finally being the year the dry spell ends. The injury to Max Muncy, as well as Clayton Kershaw, puts some of their dominance into doubt, but we’ve seen crazier things happen than a 106-win team winning the Fall Classic. And if I’m wrong and the Giants win in five instead? Then I’d pencil them in for the World Series title. These two NL West teams are that good. Remember, this is the first time in MLB history that two 105-plus win teams have been in the same league, let alone the same division. The strength out West seems unmatched.
ANTHONY CASTROVINCE
ALWC winner: Red Sox
NLWC winner: Cardinals
ALDS: BOS-TB, Red Sox in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 5
NLDS: STL-SF, Cardinals in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Braves in 5
ALCS: BOS-HOU, Red Sox in 6
NLCS: STL-ATL, Cardinals in 7
WS: STL-BOS, Red Sox in 6
WS MVP: Rafael Devers
I stink at predictions, so I have taken the George Costanza approach. For every round, I made my choice and then wrote down the opposite. Costanza went with chicken salad on untoasted rye, and I’m going with Boston over St. Louis -- it’s 2013 all over again, except Jon Lester has changed sides. Were I not doing the opposite, I would be picking the Dodgers over the White Sox in a five-game World Series. Frankly, I don’t think the Red Sox have the bullpen to go on an extended run, and I think the Cardinals, for as well as they’ve played in the second half, are going to get ousted by the Dodgers. But because I think those things, the opposite is bound to happen. Bring on the chicken salad!
MARK FEINSAND
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 5
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 4
NLDS: LAD-SF, Dodgers in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 4
ALCS: HOU-TB, Rays in 6
NLCS: LAD-MIL, Brewers in 7
WS: MIL-TB, Rays in 6
WS MVP: Brandon Lowe
The Yankees or Red Sox will gain bragging rights from the Wild Card Game, but the Rays remain the class of the AL. As for the NL, I expect the Giants and Dodgers to give each other everything they have, while the Brewers cruise to a relatively easy win over the Braves, allowing Milwaukee to line up its pitching. That will be enough to get the Crew to the World Series, but this feels like the Rays’ year to me.
JESSE SANCHEZ
ALWC winner: Red Sox
NLWC winner: Cardinals
ALDS: BOS-TB, Rays in 5
ALDS: CWS-HOU, White Sox in 5
NLDS: STL-SF, Giants in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 5
ALCS: CWS-TB, Rays in 7
NLCS: MIL-SF, Giants in 7
WS: TB-SF, Giants in 6
WS MVP: Brandon Crawford
The Giants have been the best team in baseball all year and everyone is going to see why in October. Pitching wins in the postseason, and the Giants have shown they can pitch with the best of them. Add a solid offense, veteran leadership, and a capable manager in Gabe Kapler and it's hard to pick against them. The Rays will come up short for the second year in a row, but they are not going anywhere anytime soon.
WILL LEITCH
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, White Sox in 4
NLDS: LAD-SF, Dodgers in 4
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Braves in 5
ALCS: CWS-TB, White Sox in 7
NLCS: LAD-ATL, Dodgers in 5
WS: LAD-CWS, Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Mookie Betts
There is a very real possibility that Brandon Crawford will throw out a runner to end the 2021 World Series and my first thought will be, as it has been all year, “Oh, the Dodgers are still going to win this.” So I might as well triple-down on the Dodgers, who, even without Max Muncy and Clayton Kershaw, look historically great. There’d be something delicious about Tony La Russa going against Albert Pujols in the series (I wonder how many times TLR will intentionally walk him!), and the White Sox look well-positioned. I think the Astros are the perfect first matchup for them, all told. Also, the Devin Williams injury is exactly what tipped me towards Atlanta in the NLDS. The Braves have been sneakily fantastic over the last month. But in the end, I will forever believe in the Dodgers … and this time, they’ll get to do it at home.
DAVID VENN
ALWC winner: Red Sox
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: BOS-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 3
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 4
NLDS: LAD-SF, Dodgers in 4
ALCS: HOU-TB, Astros in 6
NLCS: LAD-MIL, Dodgers in 7
WS: LAD-HOU, Dodgers in 6
WS MVP: Trea Turner
Despite the loss of Clayton Kershaw (piling onto their other injuries), the trio of Max Scherzer, Julio Urías and Walker Buehler will power the Dodgers’ starting pitching throughout October. The Giants’ magic will flame out at Dodger Stadium in the NLDS, while the Brewers’ own “power trio” of starters -- Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta -- will stymie the Braves’ powerful offense. In the NLCS, Los Angeles will have its hands full, but will ultimately prevail over Milwaukee, much like in 2018. In the AL divisional round, Tampa Bay will exploit Boston's suspect pitching, while the possible “farewell tour” of the Jose Altuve-Carlos Correa double-play combo in Houston will help sweep Chicago. In the ALCS, the Rays’ reliance on the “three outcomes” will catch up to them, as the home runs will dry up and the strikeouts will pile up in a six-game loss to the Astros. The World Series will reward Dodgers fans on two fronts: Their “revenge” for 2017 will be complete, and the club will celebrate this time in front of the home crowd at Chavez Ravine, thanks in no small part to Turner’s hot bat.
ALYSON FOOTER
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 5
NLDS: LAD-SF, Giants in 4
ALCS: HOU-TB, Rays in 6
NLCS: MIL-SF, Giants in 6
WS: TB-SF, Giants in 7
WS MVP: Brandon Crawford
I’ve spent the past five months waiting for the Giants to come back down to Earth and finish in third place in the NL West, just as most of us predicted when the season started. “They’re a first-half team!” “They’re too old to withstand a full season!” “Their rotation is patchwork with a bunch of No. 3s!” Boy were we wrong. (And by we, I mean, me.) So mark me down as firmly on the San Francisco bandwagon. Meanwhile, in the AL, I think the Astros will beat the White Sox in the ALDS -- I just don’t think it’ll be easy. I believe Carlos Correa, a phenomenal postseason performer who is soon hitting free agency, is going to put on quite a show. That’ll give them the edge until the balanced lineup of the Rays wears out a Houston rotation that just isn’t that strong.
ANDREW SIMON
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 5
NLDS: LAD-SF, Giants in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 4
ALCS: HOU-TB, Rays in 6
NLCS: MIL-SF, Giants in 5
WS: TB-SF, Rays in 7
WS MVP: Joey Wendle
Could the Dodgers repeat? Absolutely. But nobody has done that in 21 years for a reason, and their postseason path is extremely hazardous. Plus, it hurts to lose Clayton Kershaw and especially Max Muncy. Instead, it’s San Francisco making its fourth World Series trip in the past 12 seasons. Whatever the preseason expectations were, it’s long past time to accept that this is an extremely good baseball team. In the end, though, we’ll say that this is the Rays’ year. Tampa Bay nearly won its first title in 2020, and Kevin Cash’s club remains deep, talented and tested -- if not exactly filled with brand-name stars. While 20-year-old rookie sensation Wander Franco and 41-year-old slugger Nelson Cruz will make an impact, the versatile and overlooked Wendle feels like the “Rays-iest” MVP.
MIKE PETRIELLO
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: CWS-HOU, Astros in 5
NLDS: ATL-MIL, Brewers in 4
NLDS: LAD-SF, Giants in 5
ALCS: HOU-TB, Rays in 6
NLCS: MIL-SF, Giants in 6
WS: TB-SF, Rays in 7
WS MVP: Wander Franco
The playoffs are chaos. No more, no less. Predicting the playoffs -- when all the teams are good, and all the series are short -- is a little like trying to jump from one car to another, when the cars are going in opposite directions, and also you’re wearing a parachute. Anyway, the most interesting matchup here is Dodgers-Giants (assuming L.A. survives St. Louis, which is hardly a sure thing). While both sides are missing their excellent first basemen, the Dodgers are also down Clayton Kershaw, which hurts the one clear advantage they had over the Giants -- the rotation. That will leave us with the Evan Longoria Revenge Series (or the Matt Wisler Revenge Series, if you’re a real one), during which Kevin Cash will infuriate everyone by removing Shane McClanahan or someone while he’s “dealing” in Game 6. This time, though, he’ll call in the right reliever. It’ll work. The world will know Wander Franco.
NATHALIE ALONSO
ALWC winner: Yankees
NLWC winner: Dodgers
ALDS: NYY-TB, Rays in 4
ALDS: HOU-CWS, White Sox in 5
NLDS: LAD-SF, Giants in 5
NLDS: MIL-ATL, Braves in 5
ALCS: TB-CWS, Rays in 6
NLCS: SF-ATL, Giants in 5
WS: SF-TB, Giants in 7
WS MVP: Buster Posey
After an uneven regular season, the Yankees will topple the Red Sox in the Wild Card Game. But from there, the Rays will remind us why they won 100 regular season games. Tampa Bay will eliminate New York and draw the White Sox in the Championship Series (Houston’s pitching won’t hold up against Luis Robert and Co.) and with strong showings from Nelson Cruz and Wander Franco, the Rays will advance to the World Series for the second time in many years. In the National League, we’ll get another round of Dodgers-Giants and it’ll be a close series, but the loss of Clayton Kershaw will ultimately prove costly for L.A. The 107-win Giants didn’t defy expectations all season long to fall short when it counts, so they’ll defeat the Braves in the Championship Series with relative ease to make it to the World Series. And while it’s not an even-numbered year, Buster Posey will continue his renaissance in the Fall Classic and lead the Giants to glory one more time, though the deep, balanced Rays won’t make it easy.