MLB Playoffs 2016: Latest World Series Bracket, Predictions and Odds

Oct/16

MLB Playoffs 2016: Latest World Series Bracket, Predictions and Odds

Just four teams remain in Major League Baseball’s quest for the 2016 World Series as the American League and National League Championship Series get underway.

The Cleveland Indians (1948), Toronto Blue Jays (1993), Chicago Cubs (1908) and Los Angeles Dodgers (1988) have all had some sizable championship droughts, some much longer than others, as one dry spell is about to come to an end this October.

Before we delve into each team’s odds to win it all and who will duke it out in the Fall Classic, here is how the postseason bracket looks heading into the championship series:

Odds Guide

Odds to win World Series (via Odds Shark)

ALCS Teams

Cleveland Indians: 9-2

Toronto Blue Jays: 9-4

NLCS Teams

Chicago Cubs: 29-20

Los Angeles Dodgers: 5-1

Predictions

Who makes the World Series:

Chicago Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians

Who wins the World Series:

Chicago Cubs

As the pressure continues to build in the postseason, stress on a team’s depth at each position becomes more and more magnified.

For the Toronto Blue Jays, an offense that is reliant mostly on the long ball is just one cold stretch away from being put in an ALCS deficit too deep to dig out of.

This season, the Blue Jays belted 221 home runs, ranked fourth in the majors. The last time a team ranked in the league’s top five in home runs went on to win the World Series was 2009, when the New York Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies.

So power doesn’t equate to postseason success, even if the Indians pitching staff gave up 186 home runs this season.

However, Cleveland’s offense provides more options outside of the power department. While Carlos Santana and Mike Napoli each provided 34 home runs on the season, the Indians’ team batting average of .262 was tied for fifth in the league.

While it might be enough to get past the Blue Jays, it’s doubtful they’ll be able to stop the Cubs.

Chicago has been the class of the majors all season with a 103-58 record and young talent that has put up some big numbers:

That talent headlined an offense that was ranked third in the league with 4.99 runs per game, and it found ways to plate runs in the NLDS in clutch situations:

Supporting a pitching staff that boasts ERA king Kyle Hendricks alongside Jon Lester and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta, the Cubs look like they can end a 108-year wait in the coming weeks.

Kuzul

Online Sports Council