2013 MLB NLCS Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St Louis Cardinals Sox Odds and Predictions – Free MLB Playoff Picks

2013 MLB NLCS Picks: Los Angeles Dodgers vs St Louis Cardinals Sox Odds and Predictions – Free MLB Playoff Picks: Two of the more storied franchises in baseball will meet with a trip to the World Series on the line when the Los Angeles Dodgers (92-70) face the St. Louis Cardinals (97-65) in the National League Championship Series. Deep playoff runs are becoming routine for the Cardinals, and they are making their third straight appearance in the NLCS. On the flip side, the Dodgers are in the postseason for the first time since 2009, but they were the hottest team throughout the second half of the season. Experience will meet momentum in this one, and something has to give. The series begins Friday night in St. Louis.

Los Angeles rolls into the series having ousted the Atlanta Braves in four games. Ace Clayton Kershaw was brilliant in a pair of victories, and he and fellow starter Zack Greinke might be the best 1-2 punch in the postseason. The Dodgers’ star bats have lived up to the hype, as well. Hanley Ramirez, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez have combined for five homers, and all four are hitting above the .300 mark. Los Angeles spent a lot of money in the offseason, and thus far, the big names are taking care of business when it counts.

It continues to be a team effort for the St. Louis Cardinals. Ace Adam Wainwright delivered an epic performance in a Game 5 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but young starter starters Joe Kelly and Michael Wacha were also stout. Meanwhile, Matt Holliday, Matt Adams, Yadier Molina and Carlos Beltran are among the players that have had clutch hits at the plate while Pete Kozma is hitting .400 and has picked up the slack for the struggling Matt Carpenter. Every game, it seems like there is a no hero for the Cardinals.

The Dodgers Win If:

If the Dodgers are going to win the series, they have to get big performances from the co-aces in the first two games. If Greinke and Kershaw take one or both of the games in St. Louis to start things off, the Dodgers are going to be in great shape. If Los Angeles opens with both its aces but heads back home in an 0-2 hole, winning the series becomes very tough. At the plate, the Dodgers need the heart of their order to stay hot since their offense isn’t really designed to manufacture runs. At the end of the day, Los Angeles should win this series if they take care of business in the games that Greinke and Kershaw start.

The Cardinals Win If:

For the Cardinals to win the series, they have to get at least a couple of strong performances from their starters other than Wainwright. With Greinke and Kershaw pitching in the first two games, the duo figures to be good for at least four starts combined. Obviously, St. Louis will have to beat at least one of them to win the series. At the plate, the Cardinals need to continue their timely hitting and take advantage of the scoring opportunities when they do arise. If the series comes down to a Game 7 in St. Louis with Wainwright on the mound, the Cardinals have to like their chances.

Bottom Line:

While the Cardinals always seem to come up with the clutch hits in big spots, the run the Dodgers have been on throughout the second half has been something special. In fact, Los Angeles went into St. Louis in early August and took three out of four games from the Cardinals, outscoring the Red Birds 22-12. Granted, October baseball is a different animal, but after what Kershaw, Greinke and the Dodgers’ heavy hitters did in the NLDS, there is no reason to think the bright lights of the NLCS will slow them down. By throwing Greinke and Kershaw in the first two games of the series, the Dodgers should be able to take command of the series and march on to the World Series.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers Win the Series

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