MLB Playoffs 2013: Highlighting World Series Favorites

The Boston Red Sox sit atop most lists of World Series favorites. Considering they have baseball's best record, that is certainly understandable. They also lead baseball in run differential. However, the Red Sox have also allowed 649 runs this year.

Can this team really win the World Series with such anemic pitching and defense?

We will find out. I don't think they can, but then again, every team chasing after this World Series is flawed. This postseason is going to be wide open. 

Note: Top contenders were determined by MLB.com's expert power rankings.

Boston Red Sox 

The Red Sox will be trying to defy the old adage that "good pitching beats good hitting."

Boston received 95 quality starts this year. That was good for third in the majors. 

With a lineup featuring David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and a host of other quality bats, the Red Sox, led baseball with 842 runs, a .349 on-base percentage and a .446 slugging percentage. They were also second with a .276 average.

This is a team centered around offense, and if that offense doesn't click in the postseaosn, it is hard to see Boston surviving. 

Atlanta Braves 

The Braves' rotation sets up nicely for the postseason. Kris Medlen, Mike Minor and Julio Teheran is a strong trio for any series. 

While these arms will allow Atalanta to succeed whether the offense is firing on all cylinders or not, the Braves still have to be worried about offensive output. 

Atlanta finished the season 20th in average, 13th in on-base, and 11th in slugging. However, they also have reason to be optimistic about the sticks.

Jason Heyward looked strong since returning from a fractured jaw on Sept. 20. His ability to hit for power can spark this lineup to all the offense it needs to make a run to a World Series title. 

Oakland Athletics 

The A's narrowly missed out on home field advantage for the playoffs. All the fans who never attend their games must be crestfallen.

At any rate, it is astonishing this club was in that position to begin with. 

The A's rose to the top of the A.L. West with quality pitching and high-powered offense led by Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson and Jed Lowrie. 

The A's finished fourth in runs and slugging, but were just 14th in batting average. It will be interesting to see if this kind of lineup can succeed with the talented pitching it will face in the postseason. 

Of course, Oakland's pitching staff finished thrid in WHIP and fourth in batting average. So, this team won't need its offense to light up the scoreboard to win.