2011 MLB Playoffs: B/R Columnists Break Down the Pennant Races

The 2011 MLB playoffs are right around the corner and the only team in firm control of their division are the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.

Either way, with only 40 games left in the regular season, it's finally starting to feel like October baseball.

Five of the six division's remain up for grabs as we look forward to some heated, intense ball games while team's make their drive at the pennant. Who will come out on top?

Well, two minds are better than one, and 10 minds are better than two—so I've asked 10 of my esteemed colleagues here at B/R to break down how each division and the Wild Card races will shake out over the last month and a half.

The results are in—will your team be playing baseball come October?

NL West: Youth vs Experience

Zachary Ball:  Arizona Diamondbacks

I'm a believer in the Arizona Baby-Backs! They're so young they don't know that they're supposed to cave down the stretch to the defending World Series champs.

Robert Knapel:  San Francisco Giants

The NL West is the most hotly contested division in the National League. The Giants have done well to overcome the loss of Buster Posey, and the Diamondbacks’ loss of Stephen Drew helped get the Giants back into the race.

Rick Weiner:  Arizona Diamondbacks

I pick the Diamondbacks based on the assumption that they are going to add another arm or two to their rotation before Sept. 1, especially with Jason Marquis lost for awhile. Justin Upton probably won't win the NL MVP, but he belongs in the conversation with Ryan Howard.

Doug Mead:  San Francisco Giants

As much as the Arizona Diamondbacks have had a magical season thus far, the recent loss of starting pitcher Jason Marquis to a broken bone in his leg really cripples the starting rotation.

While the Giants continue their struggles at the plate, I believe that their pitching will carry them through to the NL West title.

Asher Chancey:  Arizona Diamondbacks

I love Justin Upton and the Arizona Diamondbacks, and I will be rooting for them to make the playoffs. Ordinarily, I would think they are not ready to top the Giants, except for one thing.

The D’Backs play 13 of their final 19 games at home while the Giants, who are not a good road team, play 10 of their last 13 on the road.

NL West Verdict: Giants 6, D-Backs 4

Brandon McClintock:  San Francisco Giants

Although they are trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks right now, the Giants have a more favorable schedule that will help them make up ground. Their pitching is among the best in baseball, and they have the experience of playing in a pennant race last season to help them gut out a division race this year. 

The key for them will be injuries and getting production from the currently injured Carlos Beltran during the final month-and-a-half of the season.

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Arizona Diamondbacks

I hate to go against Tim Lincecum & Co. in San Francisco, but this year's divisional race may actually come down to hitting. The D-Backs are hot at the right time, and their offense is just killing it right now. If Arizona ends up with the division, Justin Upton may very well be the NL MVP.

Joel Reuter:  San Francisco Giants

I give the Diamondbacks credit for sticking around as long as they have, but like the Padres last year, they will be overtaken by the Giants stellar pitching.

Stephen Meyer:  San Francisco Giants

While the Phillies are quietly praying for the Arizona Diamondbacks to pull off the seemingly impossible and win the NL West, I simply cannot see the Giants losing out on a chance at a repeat. 

Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum will come up as large in September as they did in October of 2010, and the Carlos Beltran deal will eventually make enough impact to squeak out a close victory.

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  San Francisco Giants

The upstart Diamondbacks have been a nice story, but there's not enough starting pitching to hold off the Giants. Once Carlos Beltran gets going and Bruce Bochy realizes that Brandon Belt deserves more playing time, the Giants should be able to pull away late in the season.

NL Central: Fielder vs Pujols

Doug Mead:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew is proving to be the class of the NL Central at this point, with both the Reds and Pirates fading and the Cardinals showing that they just don't have enough starting pitching to compete.

Zack Greinke and Shawn Marcum are showing why GM Doug Melvin made such a huge sacrifice with prospects when he acquired the two over the offseason, and Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun continue to lead a high-powered offense.

Asher Chancey:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a talent-rich team that finds ways (chiefly, team defense) to shoot themselves in the collective foot. Nevertheless, only a below-par St. Louis Cardinals team has a shot at them, and counting on Lance Berkman to play 150-plus games seems like a bad bet.

Robert Knapel:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers will have to finish the year strong to hold off the charging St. Louis Cardinals. The bats of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun as well as the arms of Yovanni Gallardo and Zack Greinke should lead them to the NL Central title.

Zachary Ball:  Milwaukee Brewers  

Milwaukee will accomplish what they set out to do when they ransomed their farm system for Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. And unlike the last time they made the playoffs, they'll have a legit shot at advancing.

Rick Weiner:  Milwaukee Brewers

Pitching, pitching and more pitching. The Brewers have five quality arms in their starting rotation and a bullpen that only requires them to throw six innings with Hawkins, K-Rod and Axford waiting to close things out.

Very similar to what the Yankees have with Soriano, Robertson and Rivera, though nobody can really be compared to Mariano.

NL Central Verdict: Brewers 10, Cardinals 0

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers cashed all of their chips in separate deals for Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum and Francisco Rodriguez, and they should be rewarded with a division title. The Cardinals are hanging tough, but Edwin Jackson isn't anybody's idea of an impact starter.

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are finally starting to play as good as they look on paper. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are both NL MVP candidates and the addition of K-Rod looks better every day. You also can't discount how well the rotation has pitched, from top to bottom, over the past two months.

Stephen Meyer:  Milwaukee Brewers

The St. Louis Cardinals have lost three more games in the standings over the last 10 games, and Edwin Jackson is not the ultimate difference-making answer to their pitching worries. 

Milwaukee boasts a solid middle of the order tandem of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun and an underrated pitching staff that will easily hold onto a 5.5-game lead in the division over the next six weeks.

Brandon McClintock:  Milwaukee Brewers

The offseason pitching additions the Brewers made by adding Shaun Marcum and Zach Greinke should give them the edge down the stretch in the division. The Cardinals are good, but the loss of Adam Wainwright early in the season will prove too much for them to overcome in the long term.

The Brewers may not win the division by their current five-game lead, but they will win the division.

Joel Reuter:  Milwaukee Brewers

The Cardinals played much better than they should have in the first half, while the Brewers played below expectations. Things seem to be righting themselves here as the season winds down, and the better team will come out on top here in the Brewers.

NL East: Pitching vs Even Better Pitching

Rick Weiner:  Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies had the NL East clinched in March. Atlanta's offense simply is not ready to compete with the Phillies.

Doug Mead:  Philadelphia Phillies 

With a nine-game lead over the Atlanta Braves, and a pitching staff that doesn't let up on a nightly basis, the Phillies will easily take the NL East

Asher Chancey:  Philadelphia Phillies

Ironically, the Philadelphia Phillies once-in-a-lifetime team finds itself in same division as the second best team in the National League, the Atlanta Braves.  Otherwise, they might have clinched the thing by now.

Zachary Ball: Philadelphia Phillies

There's no way Philadelphia loses control of this one. They'll win the East by more than 10 games.

Robert Knapel:  Philadelphia Phillies 

The Phillies are the best team in baseball right now. Barring a major collapse, it would be impossible to see a way that they don’t make the playoffs.

NL East Verdict: Phillies 10, Braves 0

Stephen Meyer:  Philadelphia Phillies

There really is not much to say here. The Phillies are the best team in baseball, had the best pitching staff in baseball even without Roy Oswalt and will sleepwalk into October baseball as division champions.

Joel Reuter:  Philadelphia Phillies

Not a whole lot not to like about Philadelphia, and while the Braves are a good team, the Phillies have this one wrapped up with an 8.5-game lead in the division.

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies winning the NL East has been a foregone conclusion since the beginning of the season. Philadelphia's domination of the division has been amazing to watch, especially with the addition of Hunter Pence and the emergence of Vance Worley

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Philadelphia Phillies

A no-brainer. This team was built for October.

Brandon McClintock:  Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies current nine-game lead in the division will be too much for the Braves to overcome. Barring a complete meltdown, the Phillies will win the NL East while the Braves come out of it as the Wild Card team.

NL Wild Card: Braves to Lose?

Asher Chancey:  Atlanta Braves

As the second best team in the NL, look for the Braves to make some major noise in the postseason.

Rick Weiner:  San Francisco Giants

Their pitching will enable them to make up ground on the current NL WC leading Atlanta Braves, who need to be concerned about Tommy Hanson's shoulder.

Carlos Beltran is not going to continue to hit .244 and have an OBP of .261 with no power, and once he gets going, the Giants offense will be drastically improved.

Doug Mead:  Atlanta Braves

The Braves currently have a four-game over the San Francisco Giants and a five-game lead over the Cardinals. Pitching will continue to carry the Braves, and while they won't catch the Phillies for the NL East title, they will outdistance the D-Backs, Giants and Cardinals for the Wild Card.

Robert Knapel:  Atlanta Braves 

If the Braves played in any other division in the National League, they would be the favorites to make the playoffs. However, they are sitting far behind the Phillies and likely will need to settle for the Wild Card.

Zachary Ball: Atlanta Braves

Atlanta wins the Wild Card on the strength of their young pitching. I'd love to see if they can bring up some of their young guns (Teheran, Delgado and Minor) to reinforce the bullpen heading into September.

NL Wild Card Verdict: Braves 8, Giants 2

Jeffrey Beckmann:  San Francisco Giants

With both Jair Jurrjens and Tommy Hanson on the DL, can the Braves count on a 36-year-old Tim Hudson, a 38-year-old Derek Lowe and Brandon Beachy to keep them in ballgames?

With the Braves only four games up in the NL Wild Card race, I think the Giants find a way to get it done. 

Stephen Meyer:  Atlanta Braves

If I believe that the Giants are going to be the NL West champs, I have to consider the Diamondbacks in the Wild Card discussion. They are currently just 2.5 games back of Atlanta and are coming on very strong, but the carriage is going to turn back into a pumpkin for the D-Backs before October. 

The Braves have the best bullpen combination in the National League with Craig Kimbrel and Jonny Venters, and the offense suddenly looks formidable enough to compliment a rock solid pitching staff.

Dmitriy Ioselvich:  Atlanta Braves

The Braves have had a stranglehold on the Wild Card spot for most of the season, and will go into the playoffs as at least a 90-win team. With Dan Uggla swinging the bat well and Michael Bourn now in Atlanta, the Braves should feel confident going into October.

Joel Reuter:  Atlanta Braves

With a stacked rotation and arguably the best bullpen in baseball, the Braves are the second best team in the NL in my opinion, and a dangerous Wild Card for whoever gets them in the NLDS.

Brandon McClintock:  Atlanta Braves

The Braves may not be able to make up ground to the Phillies to win the NL East, but they will walk away with the Wild Card as a consolation prize this year. The addition of Michael Bourn at the deadline, and the resurgence of Dan Uggla in the second half will help their offense.

Atlanta also has the young guns in the rotation and bullpen, backed up by Tim Hudson and Derek Lowe, to contend with anyone.

Early NL Pennant Favorite: Can Anyone Stop the Phillies?

Robert Knapel:  Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have a team that is built for post-season baseball. Their starting rotation is absolutely outstanding and would be very hard to beat in a seven game series.

Doug Mead:  Philadelphia Phillies

I just don't see any team in the National League that can match up in a seven-game playoff series with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels...

Asher Chancey:  Philadelphia Phillies

Not picking the Phillies would be silly, but mark my words. History has been unkind, particularly in the Wild Card Era, to teams that have effectively clinched their divisions in August.

The Phillies have streaky hitters who have a tendency to fall asleep at the wheel, and if they have to face teams that had to fight to get into the playoffs without themselves having played a meaningful game since Labor Day, they may be headed home before they even wake up.

Zachary Ball:  Philadelphia Phillies

Philly wins this one, despite a tougher than expected challenge from Milwaukee. Vance Worley continues his dream season and locks down NLCS MVP honors, despite pitching in the shadow of Halladay and Lee.

Rick Weiner:  Philadelphia Phillies

Their starting pitching is too good, and if they make a move to acquire a closer (Heath Bell) before Sept. 1, they'll be an even tougher opponent then they are now.

Early NL Pennant Verdict: Phillies 9, Brewers 1

Dmitriy Ioselvich:  Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are the most complete team in baseball and should make it to the World Series, however it won't be easy. The Giants, Braves and Brewers each have outstanding rotations, so one bad start by a Philadelphia ace could spell the difference between a pennant and an early exit. 

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Milwaukee Brewers

Not even the Phillies are playing better baseball than the Brewers at this point in the season, and Greinke, Gallardo and Marcum form a more than solid trio for the playoffs. Halladay (6.41 ERA) and Lee (6.75 ERA) have not fared well against the Brewers throughout their careers, either.  

Stephen Meyer:  Philadelphia Phillies

I tried to figure out some way to pick the Giants to pull off a repeat upset or one of the other playoff teams to find some magic. In the end, it is simply impossible for me to go against the juggernaut Phillies in 2011. 

Cliff Lee being paired with Roy Halladay at the top of that rotation is the difference between an NLCS defeat and an NL pennant, and no team but the Red Sox have enough talent and swagger to take down the Phillies.

 It looks as though the baseball world is going to get the heavyweight fight it wanted before the 2011 season started.

Joel Reuter:  Philadelphia Phillies

While the Phillies-Red Sox World Series is not exactly thinking outside the box, the two teams have backed up the preseason hype all year long, and there is no reason to pick against them. In the end, the Phillies pitching advantage trumps the Red Sox hitting advantage in six games.

Brandon McClintock:  Philadelphia Phillies

In the end, Philly is just flat out better than every other team in the National League. I expect a repeat of last season's NLCS with the Giants and Phillies battling it out in the best-of-seven series. 

Philadelphia's offense is better though and as good as the Giants pitching is, the Phillies just need to be a little better offensively to win what should be a very low-scoring series.

AL West: Big Arms vs Big Bats

Zachary Ball:  Texas Rangers

The Angels have the better pitching, but there will be no stopping the offensive juggernaut that is Texas. The Rangers will make a return trip to the playoffs.

Asher Chancey:  Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are the clear front-runner, though Dan Haren and Jered Weaver’s Schilling-and-Johnson routine may carry the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim to the final week of the season.

The Angels and Rangers finish the season with three games in Anaheim, which works in the Angels favor as the Rangers usually leave their bats at home.

Robert Knapel: Texas Rangers 

The reigning American League champions are looking to make it to the playoffs for the second consecutive year. They have built a nice lead on the Angels and have been playing very well of late. They could be in for another great post-season.

Doug Mead:  Texas Rangers

Rangers will eventually pull away to take this division comfortably. As great as the Angels' pitching has been with Weaver, Haren and Santana, they just don't have the offensive firepower necessary to mount any kind of a surge when they most need it.

Rick Weiner:  Texas Rangers

Anaheim will make a run, but they just aren't consistent enough to overtake the Rangers.

AL West Verdict: Rangers 10, Angels 0

Joel Reuter:  Texas Rangers

The Angels have the dynamic one-two punch in their rotation, but the Rangers are the superior team, and they only got better at the deadline while the Angels were quiet.

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  Texas Rangers

Every team in the AL is absolutely terrified of having to face Jered Weaver and Dan Haren in consecutive playoff games. Luckily for them, the rest of the Angels roster is seriously lacking. The Rangers will ride their bullpen heavily on the way to another division title.  

Brandon McClintock:  Texas Rangers

The reigning American League Champs really haven't been challenged this year in the AL West, aside from about a week in the middle of June, and won't be down the stretch. The Angels don't have the fire-power the Rangers possess in their lineup and this is one division where pitching won't wind up the difference.

The Rangers added depth to their bullpen and their starting rotation has held its own all season against the other talented AL West staffs.

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Texas Rangers

A week ago I may have said differently, but it appears the cream is finally rising to the top of the AL West. The Rangers can slug with anyone, but it's their pitching I worry about as they head into October.

Stephen Meyer:  Texas Rangers

I really want to go with the daunting pitching trio of Jered Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana out in Anaheim. It goes right along with all that I stand for, in that offense can be manufactured if you have dominant arms. 

The problem is that it works a lot better in October than it does from April to September, and I can’t see the Angels getting there. Texas has pitched very well in their own right and has the offense to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard as well.

AL Central: Underachievers vs Overachievers

Rick Weiner:  Cleveland Indians

The Tigers are, on paper, the better team, but the Indians have three games in hand and the return of Shin-Soo Choo is just as big an acquisition as the Ubaldo Jimenez trade. I'm also not convinced the Tribe is done adding pieces and expect them to pick up at least one more piece before Sept. 1.

Doug Mead:  Detroit Tigers

The Indians have done wonders just to stay in the race at this point, and the White Sox are still looking for Adam Dunn and Alex Rios to show up. I like the Tigers' chances here with Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister.

Asher Chancey:  Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have immense talent on the field, including the best hitter and the best pitcher in the American League, and yet they definitely have what it takes to blow it as well.

The Tigers and the Cleveland Indians face off at the end of the year in Cleveland. If the Indians are still in the race at that point, then blow it the Tigers may.

Zachary Ball:  Detroit Tigers

With Verlander, Cabrera and the most unappreciated closer in baseball (Jose Valverde), the Central goes to the Tigers, easily.

Robert Knapel:  Detroit Tigers

The Cleveland Indians have been a great story this season, but the Tigers should be able to hold them off. The Tigers have the better team and if they continue to play consistently, the AL Central crown should be theirs.

AL Central Verdict: Tigers 7, White Sox 2, Indians 1

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Chicago White Sox

Call me crazy, but the White Sox rotation has finally showed up and they are finally starting to look like a competitive ball club. If Adam Dunn can somehow catch fire, the White Sox turn into a very dangerous team down the stretch.

We saw the Tigers blow a three-game lead with four to go in 2009, so giving up a four-game lead with 42 games to go shouldn't be as surprising.

Joel Reuter:  Chicago White Sox

All season everyone has been waiting for the White Sox to play up to their potential, and they may finally be doing it as winners of eight of their last ten.

Dmitriy Ioselevich: Detroit Tigers

The Indians have hung around longer than anybody expected them to, but not even the addition of Ubaldo Jimenez will help them catch Justin Verlander's Tigers. The White Sox could easily finish second, but it's Detroit's division to lose.

Stephen Meyer:  Detroit Tigers

The Cleveland Indians truly went for it at the trading deadline by gutting their farm system for Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez. He has looked sharp thus far, and the Indians are actually tied in the loss column with first-place Detroit. 

Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera may be the best hitter-pitcher teammate combo in the American League in 2011 however, and they have a closer who has still yet to blow a save all season.

Brandon McClintock:  Detroit Tigers

The Cleveland Indians were a great story earlier in the season but the Tigers are better. Despite the Indians addition of Ubaldo Jimenez at the trade deadline, the Tigers still have arguably the best pitcher in the American League in Justin Verlander. The Tigers also have the edge offensively.

AL East: Beantown vs the Bronx

Doug Mead:  New York Yankees

The Yanks' starting rotation seems to be a bit more reliable than the Sox at this point, who will be without Clay Buchholz through the remainder of the season and are currently relying on a struggling John Lackey, 44-year-old knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and Andrew Miller at their back end.

The Sox pack a heavy punch offensively, but can they get by with just two reliable starters in Beckett and Lester?

Robert Knapel:  Boston Red Sox

The AL East race will once again come down to the Red Sox and Yankees. There are questions surrounding both teams, but the Red Sox appear to have a slight edge over the Yankees.

Zachary Ball:  New York Yankees

As much as it pains me to say, they simply have a more complete team than Boston and in the end I think they'll overtake the Red Sox. New York has the second lowest ERA in the AL. 

Asher Chancey:  Boston Red Sox

This is a pick’em at this point between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees that may take us to the final week, or even game, of the season. The team that loses this race will be the AL Wild Card and, in the strange twist-of-fate world that is the AL postseason, may actually have the advantage in October.

Rick Weiner:  Boston Red Sox

I think the teams themselves are very evenly matched and the division comes down to which team has the better manager. Terry Francona is superior to Joe Girardi in every way.

AL East Verdict: Red Sox 6, Yankees 4

Stephen Meyer:  Boston Red Sox

The Yankees have played fantastic baseball for most of the season, have overachieved in the pitching staff and have bludgeoned teams with their offensive attack. That said, they cannot find a one-two punch to match Beckett and Lester, and at some point you’d have to believe that Boston’s 10-2 head-to-head advantage will finally snakebite New York.

Dmitriy Ioselevich: New York Yankees

The Red Sox and Yankees are dead even right now, but New York has more to look forward to in terms of September call-ups. Jesus Montero and Manny Banuelos will push the Yankees over the top in a tight race.

Brandon McClintock:  New York Yankees

Despite trailing the Red Sox by a half game in the standings right now, the Yankees have just a slightly easier schedule down the stretch. It'll be a tight race right down to the wire, with the loser taking home the Wild Card, but it seems to line up just right for the Yankees to grab the division title in the final week of the season. 

Besides, it sets the stage for a perfect ending to Derek Jeter's 3,000-hit season and possibly Jorge Posada's final season in the big leagues.

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Boston Red Sox

This is a tough call, yet you have to wonder how guys like Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia will be down the stretch for the Yanks. No doubt it will be neck and neck the entire way, but the Red Sox will come out on top.

Joel Reuter:  Boston Red Sox

While injuries to their pitching staff has been an issue, their offense will be enough to hold off the Yankees for the division title.  

AL Wild Card: The Next Best

Robert Knapel:  New York Yankees

This is the Yankees consolation prize for missing out on the AL East title. They will certainly be a force to be reckoned with from the Wild Card spot and they should be able to make a playoff run.

Rick Weiner:  New York Yankees

Without question one of the five best teams in all of baseball, the AL Wild Card will be whatever team finishes in second place in the AL East for the foreseeable future.

Doug Mead:  Boston Red Sox

The Sox, while currently clinging to a small lead in the AL East over the Yankees, will easily claim the Wild Card slot in the playoffs. With an offense that can literally score at will, the Sox will be a force in the playoffs, despite a shaky back end to their staring rotation.

Asher Chancey:  New York Yankees

The American League wild card will be the consolation prize in the AL East.

Zachary Ball:  Boston Red Sox

Boston will hold off a late charge from Los Angeles, securing the Wild Card for the AL. East for the fifth consecutive season.

AL Wild Card Verdict: Yankees 6, Red Sox 4

Joel Reuter:  New York Yankees

The Yankees hold a 7.5-game lead over the Angles for the Wild Card, and it is safe to say as it has been since the start of the season that whoever doesn't win the AL East will be the Wild Card.

Jeffey Beckmann:  New York Yankees

Whether they win the division or not doesn't matter, as we look headed toward another classic Red Sox-Yanks ALCS.

Brandon McClintock:  Boston Red Sox

Although I see them losing their half game lead in the AL East, the Red Sox will still make the playoffs as the Wild Card team. Their lineup is great and their pitching staff is improved. If not for the Yankees having a slightly more favorable schedule, the argument could be made that the Red Sox win the division and push the Yankees to the Wild Card. 

Either way, though, both the Red Sox and Yanks will be in the postseason.

Stephen Meyer:  New York Yankees

Let’s be honest here, the Yankees have an 8.5-game lead in the Wild Card over the Angels (and could easily be 9.5 after tonight) and have far too much talent to blow that lead.

 Phil Hughes is beginning to look stronger and stronger, Ivan Nova has been a revelation and CC Sabathia is the ace all teams dream of having. Alex Rodriguez’s return will further boost a dominant offense in the Bronx as well, and the Wild Card will be theirs.

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  Boston Red Sox

Whether it's the Yankees or the Red Sox, this will be the best Wild Card in MLB history. I have the Red Sox here despite what looks like at least 95 wins.

Early AL Pennant Favorite: Surprised?

Asher Chancey:  Boston Red Sox

If the Angels somehow get to the post-season, they become the team to beat with their outstanding pitching.  Assuming (as I have done) that this does not happen, it is difficult to imagine any AL team stopping the Red Sox in October.

Zachary Ball:  Detroit Tigers

It's Detroit's year. They have the league's best pitcher (Verlander), best closer (Valverde) and two of the top hitters in baseball (Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera). Throw in the experience of Jim Leyland and I'd say they're the hands down favorites.

Robert Knapel:  Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox have the top offensive team in baseball. Their lineup is filled with hitters that can contribute in different ways. Their offense has been able to pick things up whenever their pitching has slumped.

Rick Weiner:  Boston Red Sox

Pitching wins championships, and even with their injury depleted rotation, they still have more quality arms then the Yankees.

Doug Mead:  Boston Red Sox

While the Sox may not have the reliability at the back of their rotation, I love their chances in a seven-game playoff series with Beckett and Lester, and with an offense that is currently ranked No. 1 in the AL.

Early AL Pennant Verdict: Red Sox 8, Yankees 1, Tigers 1

Brandon McClintock:  New York Yankees

It just makes too good of a story for it not to happen. Actually, though, I do like the Yankees lineup, pitching staff and experience in a postseason series over the Red Sox, Tigers or Rangers. 

Besides, as previously mentioned, wouldn't MLB and Bud Selig love to see Jeter's season end with a champagne shower and holding up the World Series trophy? A final moment and lasting legacy for Jorge Posada as a lifelong New York Yankee.

And Alex Rodriguez...OK, well maybe he can just get injured again (I'd rather see Eric Chavez in there anyway).

Stephen Meyer:  Boston Red Sox

Had I picked the Yankees to win the AL East, they would have been my pick here for the AL pennant winner in 2011. That extra game in Fenway Park may play a big role considering how poorly the Yankees match up there (very little righty power), and this is one of the few times I will admit that home-field can play a part in a series victory in October.

Facing the Rangers as opposed to the Tigers in the first round is an advantage for the Yankees in avoiding facing Justin Verlander twice in five games, but I see the Red Sox taking that series in four.

Dmitriy Ioselevich:  Boston Red Sox

The Boston starting rotation, with or without Clay Buccholz, is strong enough to match up with any of the other three playoff teams and the offense is still unbeatable.The Rangers match up well and the Yankees are always a threat, but the Red Sox are the most balanced team in the league.

Joel Reuter:  Boston Red Sox

The rotation is still a question mark, but the postseason seems like as good a time as any for John Lackey (6-0, 3.92 ERA over last eight starts) to start earning his money. I expect the trio of Lester, Beckett, Lackey to bring it when it matters most.

Jeffrey Beckmann:  Boston Red Sox

I'd take Beckett, Lester and Bedard/Lackey over Sabathia, Colon and Burnett in the playoffs any day of the week. It will be a hard fought and exciting series no doubt, but at this point, the Yankees have too many question marks to get my pick.  

The Playoff Outlook

Based on the verdicts supplied by our panel of 10 MLB columnists, the first round of the playoffs would appear as follows.

ALDS

Boston Red Sox vs Detroit Tigers

New York Yankees vs Texas Rangers

NLDS

Milwaukee Brewers vs Atlanta Braves

Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants

World Series

Boston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Phillies

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some October baseball.

Jeffrey Beckmann is a MLB Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow Jeffrey on his new  Twitter account for all of his latest work. You can also hear him each Friday at 1 pm EST on B/R Baseball Roundtable.