2012 MLB Predictions: Teams That Will Benefit Most from New Postseason Format

With Major League Baseball reportedly set to expand the postseason format for the 2012 season, there are a lot of teams feeling a lot more confident about their chances when the games start in less than one month. 

The Wild Card has changed the postseason for the better, but adding another one to the mix is going to create chaos among all 30 teams. More teams will be in the race longer, and the final weeks of the season could be thrilling.

Here are the teams that are smiling the widest with the news of the postseason expansion.

Boston Red Sox

For the first time in a long time, the Red Sox enter the season as the third-best team in the American League East.

With Tampa Bay and New York loading up for an epic battle atop the division, the Red Sox had an unusual offseason. They didn't sign a starting pitcher and plan to use their best reliever (Daniel Bard) to plug the holes in the back of the rotation. 

They aren't exactly depleted—they would be the best team in almost every other division—but they are clearly behind the Rays and Yankees. 

With the addition of an extra playoff spot, they don't have to worry about keeping up with them. Conspiracy theorists will undoubtedly say that this change was made to get them in the postseason. 

Texas Rangers/Los Angeles Angels

Since I haven't decided who will win the American League West, I will put both the Rangers and Angels in this spot. 

Between these two teams, the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Tigers, there are six World Series contenders battling for five spots. 

The loser of the American League West is going to hope that the three AL East teams just beat on each other so much that they don't have to worry about winning the division to get in the playoffs. 

Of course, they are strong enough on paper to ignore whatever happens with the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees. 

Atlanta Braves

In the National League, everything starts with Philadelphia, Arizona and St. Louis. After those three teams, there are a cluster of teams locked in a battle for the final two spots. 

Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Atlanta and Washington could all be fighting for control of the Wild Card spots. 

The Braves have the best chance to get at least one of those spots, because they have the deepest rotation, the bullpen is lights out and they can put up a lot of runs if Jason Heyward, Freddie Freeman and Chipper Jones are able to stay healthy. 

Their window of opportunity is wide open as long as their stars can play in 140-150 games. They collapsed last season because of injuries and poor performances. Don't expect it to happen again. 

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