Road to the World Series

This October has yet to disappoint us baseball fans. Unless you are not a fan of one of the four remaining teams. There are some tight matchups going on between the Red Sox and Tigers and also the Dodgers and Cardinals.
All four teams might have a long road ahead of them if they wish to make it to the World Series.

For the Red Sox, they are going up against the Detroit Tigers.
This series has been close so far. All games have just about been a "Pitcher's Battle" where there was very few runs scored. The Red Sox are going into Game 5 after a 7-3 loss due to a 5-Run 2nd Inning by pitcher Jake Peavy. This game 5, however, between Jon Lester and Anibal Sanchez is important for both teams. It would give them a nice 1 game cushion over the other team. The pitching for both of these teams have been very good, however. Forgetting Peavy's outing last night, the other games have been very close. Though, I think the Red Sox's bullpen is stronger.
“They’ve been very good. and the focus is going to be on three guys primarily, but still, the other guys that have come into games – what Doubront did the other night – with 15 days off or whatever it might have been, or Workman, they’ve all come in and executed extremely well,” said Sox manager John Farrell. “I know there was a lot made about their uncertainty before the postseason and particularly in Taz’s case, where we had to rebuild a little bit of confidence at times and the more he’s come in and shut off an inning, in shorter stints, that has gradually built to the point where right now, I think he feels pretty good about himself.”
John Farrell, Red Sox Manager, seems to think that their bullpen and rotation is working hard and hard enough to overcome the Tigers' team.
The problem with the Red Sox is that their offense has started to slack. If they don't step up, their season could be coming to a close.
"Hey, I want this offense to get going," right fielder Shane Victorino said. "I'm a big part of it, so I have to figure it out."

For the Tigers, they are currently 2-2 with the Boston Red Sox who had the best regular season record in the MLB this year. However, it has not seemed that way. Detroit has been playing well, but given up some clutch hits that resulted in the Red Sox winning two games. Going into game 4, the 7-3 blowout, Tigers Manager, Jim Leyland, changed around the Tigers' lineup.
“We scored one run and no runs in two of the games,” Leyland said. “We’re going to take a shot. If nothing else, when guys look at the lineup card they kind of look at it a little bit. And maybe it wakes you up a little bit. Not that they’ve been sleeping, they’ve been great games. Just a little something to, you know, churn up the butter a little bit.”
Leyland had hoped to improve his lineup by moving Austin Jackson to 8th and moved everyone else up one spot. This crazy idea actually worked as the Tigers scored 5 runs in the 2nd inning against Jake Peavy. So, I'm guessing that the Tigers will stick to this lineup going into Game 6.
The first few games in this series were a Pitcher's Battle, but I believe the Tigers are trying to make sure it doesn't end like that again.
Us fans should be expecting some good games out of these two teams.


For the National League:
The Dodgers are currently trailing the Cardinals 3-2 in the series. Last night, they won in order to keep the series going. The final score was 6-4 Dodgers. Today, both teams have the day off in order to travel back to St. Louis so the Cardinals can be home for Game 6, (and 7 if necessary).
Last night, Zack Greinke pitched for the Dodgers which keeps them alive for another game. Clayton Kershaw will be pitching for Las Angeles in Game 6. The Dodgers have had to overcome some injuries this postseason. Hanley Ramirez and Andre Ethier were hurt, but they have been cleared and are playing Game 6. Positive for the Dodgers. And also, their All-star center fielder, Matt Kemp, required surgery, so he is unable to play. If the Dodgers were at full strength all NLCS, I bet they would have won already. Now that Ramirez and Ethier are back, I bet this series will go into a Game 7.

The St. Louis Cardinals also had the best record in the MLB, so they, too, get home field advantage for games 1, 2, 6 and 7. This could be one advantage the Cardinals will have against the Dodgers. After last night, anything can happen in this series. The Cardinals need to win one of the next two games in order to make it to the World Series and represent the National League.
For Game 6, the Cardinals are having Michael Wacha start.
Adam Wells, Bleacher Report article writer states, "No matter how hard you try o slice it, Game 6 is going to be an incredible pitching matchup. We have already gotten a taste of what Kershaw and Wacha can do against each other, but the intensity of that previous game will pale in comparison to the atmosphere on display Frieday night."
Both teams have great pitching, which is why they have made it this far, because a good playoff team requires good pitching. This series, like the ALCS series, should have great games. I can't wait to watch both of them.