MLB Playoffs 2013: Predicting Friday's American League Clashes

The American League divisional round of the 2013 MLB playoffs kicks off on Friday, featuring some explosive offenses and some impressive pitching staffs.

The Boston Red Sox look to cool down the red-hot Tampa Bay Rays, while the Oakland Athletics try to put some runs on the board against the Detroit Tigers and their ace Max Scherzer. The Rays beat the Texas Rangers in a one-game tiebreaker to advance to the playoffs, then beat the Cleveland Indians to advance to the divisional round.

Who will ultimately emerge victorious in these AL clashes?

Read on.

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Tampa Bay Rays at Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox have a lot going for them headed into the series opener at Fenway Park. 

They have baseball's best offense, baseball's best run differential, the American League's best record and two-time All-Star Jon Lester on the hill.

Lester has been stellar since the All-Star break, accumulating a 7-2 record with a 2.57 ERA. That includes going 5-1 with a 2.22 ERA in his last eight starts.

That being said, the Rays have won 10 of their last 12 games, including a 4-0 shutout of the aspiring Cleveland Indians in the Wild Card Game on Wednesday.

They also have Matt Moore on the mound, who has had an impressive second full season in the major leagues. The lefty is 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA this season. That includes 143 strikeouts in 150.1 innings. He's gone 9-1 in his last 13 starts.

On top of that, Moore has gone 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA against the Red Sox in 2013. He's held them to a .103 batting average.

But I like Lester at home against the Rays, and I like Boston's offense better than Tampa Bay's. Lester allowed three runs in 13.1 innings against the Rays at home this season (Boston won both games).

Prediction: Red Sox 5, Rays 3

Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics

People aren't giving the Athletics a whole lot of credit after yet another magical season

The A's went 96-66 this season, capturing the AL West for the second year in a row. They ranked third in the AL in runs, and second in ERA. They also scored the second-most runs in the AL after the All-Star break.

The main thing, though, is the fact that the Tigers will be starting 21-game winner Max Scherzer in Game 1. 

Scherzer was phenomenal during the regular season, posting a 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 240 strikeouts in 214.1 innings. He ranked first among qualifying AL starting pitchers in wins, first in WHIP, second in strikeouts and fifth in ERA.

He has recorded a 4.91 ERA in two starts against the Athletics this season, but he pitched six innings of two-run ball in Oakland (one earned). In fact, he's been better on the road than at home this season, recording a 2.28 ERA away from Comerica Park.

Detroit also ranked third in the AL in runs and ERA after the All-Star break. 

Athletics starter Bartolo Colon continues to chug along at the ripe age of 40, but I think the Tigers ultimately edge Oakland in Game 1 behind Scherzer.

Prediction: Tigers 5, Athletics 4