2011 MLB Playoff Bracket: Predicting Each of the MLB Divisional Series

After an incredible night of baseball, the 2011 MLB postseason teams are finally in place and the matchups are officially set. Two one-game playoffs seemed like a real possibility, but the St. Louis Cardinals were able to capture the NL Wild Card while the Tampa Bay Rays made it in the junior circuit.

In the National League, the Philadelphia Phillies will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and will host the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The other NLDS matchup will pit the Milwaukee Brewers against the upstart Arizona Diamondbacks.

In the AL, the New York Yankees will host the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 2006 ALDS, while the defending American League pennant-winning Texas Rangers will take on the Tampa Bay Rays.

If the final day of the regular season is any indication of what will happen in the playoffs, then we could be in for one of the wildest Octobers in recent memory.

Here are my predictions for all four of the MLB 2011 divisional series.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

While the Los Angeles Angels gave them a run near the end of the season, the Texas Rangers essentially had a comfortable cushion in the AL West for the majority of the season. The Tampa Bay Rays, on the other hand, had to scratch and claw to make the postseason as a wild card.

Both teams have momentum as they each won games down the stretch, so it is very difficult to predict which team has the advantage. The Rangers played well on home field in their run to the World Series last season, that should help them a bit.

The Rangers have a very circular lineup and certainly hold the offensive advantage over Tampa Bay. Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Mike Napoli all had extremely productive seasons and are hitting the ball well at the moment.

Tampa Bay's offense revolves largely around third baseman Evan Longoria. Luckily for the Rays, Longoria has been playing his best baseball of the season lately. The Rays will also need big contributions from the likes of Ben Zobrist and Johnny Damon.

Pitching is clearly in Tampa's favor as the Rangers have many unanswered questions behind C.J. Wilson in their rotation. The Rays go four deep with James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and Wade Davis.

Overall both teams are evenly matched, but I think the Rays will come out on top based on their incredible run to get to the postseason.

Prediction: Rays win in 5

Tampa Bay at Texas	5:07 p.m. EDT	TBS	Shields vs. Wilson
Tampa Bay at Texas	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. Holland
Texas at Tampa Bay	TBD	TBS	TBD
Texas at Tampa Bay (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD
Tampa Bay at Texas (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees

Having both been clinched for quite some time, there wasn't much for the Detroit Tigers or New York Yankees to play for down the stretch. The Tigers continued to win, however, while the Yankees chose to rest many of their starters and essentially lay down for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Offensively, there is no better lineup in the league than the Yankees'. The Yanks led the league in scoring and home runs and boast dangerous hitters in every spot in the lineup. New York's middle of the order featuring Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez could be murder on Tiger pitching.

The Tigers have a nice lineup in their own right with Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta among their big boppers. Still, there are some easier outs in the bottom of the order, allowing a respite for Yankee pitchers.

In terms of starting pitching the Tigers probably hold an edge, but it isn't as pronounced as most think. Both teams feature bona fide aces in Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia, but it gets cloudier after that. The Tigers will rely on untested arms like Doug Fister, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello, while the Yanks have Ivan Nova and some veterans who have yet to be determined.

Jose Valverde has converted 51 straight saves for the Tigers, but the Yankees certainly have the better bullpen with Mariano Rivera closing out games and All-Star David Robertson setting him up.

The Yankees have proved the critics wrong all season long, and will continue to do so against the Tigers.

Prediction: Yankees win in 4

Detroit at New York	8:37 p.m. EDT	TBS	Verlander vs. Sabathia
Detroit at New York	TBD	TBS	Fister vs. Nova
New York at Detroit	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. Scherzer
New York at Detroit (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. Porcello
Detroit at New York	TBD	TBS	Verlander vs. TBD

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers

Both of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Milwaukee Brewers got thrown for a loop prior to the postseason. Each team has been clinched for a little while and were expecting to have to face either the Philadelphia Phillies or Atlanta Braves. Atlanta's collapse allowed the St. Louis Cardinals to make the playoffs, however, and turned the matchups upside down.

The Brewers earned home-filed advantage and figure to be the favorite in what looks to be a low-rated, yet intriguing series. Milwaukee would seem to have a marked advantage on offense with Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Corey Hart anchoring the lineup.

Arizona is a fairly light-hitting team, but they get contributions throughout the lineup. The Diamondbacks will certainly lean very heavily on outfielder Justin Upton to carry most of the offensive load with Miguel Montero and Chris pitching in as well.

Milwaukee also boasts a fantastic pitching rotation with Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum. Arizona features a very unheralded pitching staff headed by 21-game winner Ian Kennedy, as well as youngster Daniel Hudson.

The Brewers can close out games as well with Francisco Rodriguez setting up for John Axford. Arizona relies on closer J.J. Putz who experienced a renaissance of sorts this season.

The Diamondbacks have continued to win despite skepticism all year long, but the Brewers are simply better in most phases of the game.

Prediction: Brewers win in 3

Arizona at Milwaukee	TBD	TBS	Kennedy vs. Gallardo
Arizona at Milwaukee	TBD	TBS	TBD
Milwaukee at Arizona	TBD	TBS	TBD
Milwaukee at Arizona (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD
Arizona at Milwaukee (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD

St. Louis Cardinals vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies reached the postseason in very different ways. While the Phillies cruised by winning 102 games and clinching weeks ago, the Cardinals came from out of nowhere to overcome a 8.5-game September deficit to grab the wild card.

Both teams are solid offensively, but the Cardinals are dealing with injuries. It isn't yet known if outfielder Matt Holliday or shortstop Rafael Furcal will be available Saturday. Their absence would be a big blow as they supplement big bats like Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman.

The Phillies have been getting it done with the likes of Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins for a long time now, and while they can still be productive, they aren't the players they once were.

The Cardinals have a nice one-two punch in their rotation with Jaime Garcia and Chris Carpenter, but things are uncertain thereafter. The Phillies are stacked with devastating arms in Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt.

Neither team has a sure-thing closer who can be counted upon to lock down games, but Ryan Madson has been very good in that role for Philly this season, while Fernando Salas has gotten the job done for St. Louis to this point.

If Holliday and Furcal can play, then the Cards have a fighting chance, but the Phillies simply have too many overpowering arms to overcome.

Prediction: Phillies win in 4

St. Louis at Philadelphia	TBD	TBS	Garcia vs. Halladay
St. Louis at Philadelphia	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. Lee
Philadelphia at St. Louis	TBD	TBS	Hamels vs. TBD
Philadelphia at St. Louis (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. TBD
St. Louis at Philadelphia (if necessary)	TBD	TBS	TBD vs. TBD