Well, I never thought I'd be the one starting this thread. Initial gut feeling says Phils/Tigers. Phils are just too strong when actually caring and I just think Verlander is good enough to carry the Tigers. I'm still dreaming of a Cards/Yankees Series in my lifetime though, but not happening this year.
From my Yankee fan perspective, I'm terrified of the Tigers. Seeing Verlander multiple times is never a good thing.
fyp. Maybe it's my anti-Texas bias, but I'm picking: AL Tampa over Texas Detroit over NYY Detroit over Tampa NL Milwaukee over Arizona Philly over St Louis Philly over Milwaukee WS Philly over Detroit in Six
If it gets to seven games the Tigers are going to do everything they can to get Verlander pitching and I could see them taking it. I'm a huge Verlander fan because he came from Old Dominion so maybe I'm biased, but the numbers back it up: His stuff is absolutely filthy sick. Philly is the obvious pick which tells me they aren't winning it all, but I just don't know who else to take right now. I think Milwaukee can give Philly some serious trouble if Philly's offense starts to struggle (which it's prone to do). I'm not saying Milwaukee's offense will be scary, but they'll still put runs on the board regardless of Philly's pitching staff. If they can get to Philly's middle relievers, Philly will be in trouble.
I don't really have a dog left in the hunt, and I have no love for the Yankees, but CC vs. Verlander has the makings of something epic.
I agree with the Philly love, but I don't think any NL team really wants the Cardinals right now, either.
Tigers and Rangers seem to be hitting on all cylinders in September. Hard to pick against them. Not sure how the Phils could lose this, the Brewers and D-Backs are such good stories though, wouldn't shock me to see the Brewers make a run.
As a few others have mentioned, I'm scared to go with the Phillies because of their offense, especially against ramped up pitching. We saw what they did last year against a great staff.. That starting rotation though, damn. I'd honestly rank the Yankees fourth of the AL teams still alive. That pitching between Sabathia and Rivera is just underwhelming. Phillies over Cardinals Brewers over Diamondbacks Rays over Rangers Tigers over Yankees Phillies over Brewers Tigers over Rays Phillies over Tigers. Going with Philly's arms to carry the bats, despite concerns about the latter.
Tonight is one of the few non-Cardinal games I am deliberately sitting down to watch because of that potential. Probably means it will be 9-8 and both will be chased by the 4th.
