Ranking the World Series Matchups Fans Most Want to See

We are one week away from the end of the MLB season. With a few teams having already clinched playoff spots and more to come over the next few days, fanbases are getting eager for the playoffs to start.

The AL and NL playoffs are both going to be exciting, but I want to look beyond that. What matchups do the fans most want to see?

Here's a look at some of the more popular picks among baseball fans.

7. Atlanta Braves vs. Cleveland Indians

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The Braves and Indians already met for a three-game series this year (which the Braves swept), but could you imagine the tomahawk chop coming from both sides for seven games?

The Indians are still fighting to make it into the wild card, but if they do, there's no reason to believe they can't make it all they way to the World Series. They've gotten this far when nobody believed in them, so why couldn't they do it again?

A series between these two teams would be a matchup of suspect offenses and pretty good pitching.

It would also be a rematch of the 1995 World Series, which, if you remember, is the only title the Braves had during their division title run.

6. Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

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There's nothing like having two teams who used to play in the same city meet for all the marbles.

Of course, the Braves haven't called Boston home since 1952, but that doesn't matter.

A matchup between the Braves and Red Sox would give fans a chance to see slugfests every game. Both teams love to hit home runs, but have also combined for 2,575 strikeouts on the year. Talk about pitchers getting a lot of strikeouts in this matchup.

More than anything, it would be a battle between two teams who have been the best in baseball through most of the year. While they have both had their struggles at times, there's no disputing that both were the best in their leagues for longer than anyone else.

A little side note: The 1948 World Series almost saw these two teams meet, but the Red Sox lost to the Indians in a one-game playoff to prevent an all-Boston World Series.

5. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Detroit Tigers

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Having the Cardinals and Tigers match up in the World Series would be great because you would see two teams in the Fall Classic who play good fundamentals.

Both teams are loaded in the rotation with Adam Wainwright, Shelby Miller and Lance Lynn for the Cardinals, and Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez for the Tigers.

Throw in names like Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Torii Hunter, Matt Holliday, Carlos Beltran and Allen Craig on offense, and you have a true heavyweight battle.

The two teams have met three times previously in the World Series. St. Louis won in four games in the 1934 World Series, while the Tigers won in seven games in the 1968 series. Most recently, the teams met in the 2006 Fall Classic, which the Cardinals won in five games.

4. Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds

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Fans out West might not care about this matchup, but seeing two Ohio teams compete in the World Series would be just as exciting as the Subway Series or Freeway Series.

Cleveland is a bunch of up-and-comers still trying to find its niche and qualify for the postseason. Cincinnati is all but in and is peaking at the right time.

This matchup would be a series between the big names of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Shin-Soo Choo against a young team that includes Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley.

Despite all of the success both teams have had in their history, they've never met in the World Series.

3. Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

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What makes this matchup intriguing is two different philosophies coming together. 

The Dodgers have shown they're trying to buy a world championship, while the A's have just tried to find good, cheap pieces to make a run at the World Series.

Both have talented starting rotations, although many would consider L.A.'s better. However, the A's continue to find ways to win games despite a roster that lacks star power.

Can "Moneyball" bring Oakland a title? Or will the free-spending Dodgers show you have to flash some green if you want the ring?

Either way, this series would get a lot of attention from the fans as two competing strategies go head-to-head.

2. Detroit Tigers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

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The pitching matchups in this one would make any fan's mouth water.

Imagine Clayton Kershaw facing Justin Verlander or Zack Greinke going up against Anibal Sanchez. Of course, most would put Max Scherzer in place of Verlander and have Verlander face Hyun-Jin Ryu. Still, the thought of that pitching duel gets me excited. 

Then you have offenses who are tough to beat when they're dialed in.

Heading into the playoffs, both teams are playing good baseball and will be picked by many to represent their leagues in the Fall Classic.

If this is the matchup, my only hope is that for one game, we would get to see Kershaw against Verlander. That has to be on the bucket list of any baseball fan.

1. Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

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There are a lot of fans who think the Dodgers and Red Sox are the two best teams in baseball, making a great reason to have them play each other for all the marbles. 

The Red Sox took two of three from the Dodgers in late August, with the final game being an 8-1 blowout in favor of Boston.

Both teams have the starting pitching and the hitting to make it an interesting series.

Adding to the intrigue is the blockbuster trade the two teams made last year when Boston sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett out west so it could rebuild the roster. It was a quick rebuild, as the Red Sox have gone from worst to first and has the best record in the AL.

If the teams do meet, it would be the first time they've done so since 1916 when L.A. was in Brooklyn and were known as the Robins.