MLB playoff forecast 2017

Now, the real fun begins.

The baseball playoffs begin with the Wild Card games on Tuesday (AL) & Wednesday) NL), followed by the Division Series on Thursday & Friday. Let's see if we can't correctly dissect this.

AL Wild Card: Minnesota @ Yankees.

Don't think this is an easy call, because strange things do happen in October. Just ask the Yanks, who let World Series slip through their fingers in 2001 (Arizona) & 2003 (the then-Florida Marlins). New York has owned Minnesota in recent years in the regular season, and they have the presumptive AL Rookie of the Year in Aaron Judge. I can't see an upset here, but the winner gets defending AL champ Cleveland.

Pick-Yankees.

NL Wild Card: Colorado @ Arizona.

Two NL West rivals meet one final time this season in Phoenix. That's the good news. The bad? The winner gets division champ Los Angeles. Arizona has not had a deep playoff run since they won it all in 2001.

Pick-Arizona.

NL Division Series:

Arizona vs. Los Angeles: Clayton Kershaw has proven to be mortal in the post-season, much to the Dodgers' dismay. But if the NL West champs want to win their first World Series since 1988, they need a bravura performance from their ace, as well as presumptive NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger.

Pick: Dodgers in 5.

Chicago @ Washington: The defending champs have to play the NL East champs to start. That didn't go so well in the LCS round 2 years ago vs. the Mets, but Washington is a little more vulnerable despite an improved bullpen. Dusty Baker still hasn't figured out how to get to the World Series as a manager, and he won't here.

Pick: Cubs in 5.

AL Division Series: 

Boston @ Houston: Tri-City Valleycats fans will be rooting for Houston around here. Jose Altuve just won his 3rd AL batting title. George Springer had a breakout season. Houston ran away and hid in the AL West. Boston? I picked them last year, and they were ambushed by Cleveland in the divisional round. Same thing happens this year.

Pick: Houston in 5.

Yankees @ Cleveland: Y'think maybe the Bombers want a little revenge on Terry Francona, who led the Sawx to the Series at their expense in '04? You bet. All 4 divisional rounds will go the same distance.

Pick-Yankees in 5.

LCS picks next week. Of course, I could be wrong.