2014 MLB Playoff NLDS Picks: St Louis Cardinals versus Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants versus Washington Nationals – Free NLDS Picks

2014 MLB Playoff NLDS Picks: St Louis Cardinals versus Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants versus Washington Nationals – Free NLDS Picks: After a drama-filled AL wild-card game, the San Francisco Giants made sure that the NL wild-card game was a little less nerve-racking. Shortstop Brandon Crawford hit a grand slam, and starter Madison Bumgarner mowed down the Pittsburgh Pirates to the tune of a complete game shutout in an eventual 8-0 win that secured the Giants a spot in the NLDS against the NL East Division champion Washington Nationals. In the other NLDS matchup, the Central Division champion St. Louis Cardinals will face the West Division champion Los Angeles Dodgers in a playoff rematch from a year ago. Here is a closer look at both NLDS matchups.

St. Louis Cardinals versus Los Angeles Dodgers

This series is a rematch of last year’s NLCS, but neither team is the same as it was a year ago when they met with a spot in the World Series up for grabs. Last year, the Cardinals led the NL in runs scored, and this time around, it was the Dodgers that topped the league with Adrian Gonzalez leading the majors with 116 RBIs. Meanwhile, St. Louis actually hit the fewest home runs of any team in the NL this year, and Matt Holliday was the only player on the team to reach the 75-RBI mark. In terms of pitching, things are somewhat the same as last October. Los Angeles still has Clayton Kershaw to anchor its staff with Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu as excellent No. 2 and No. 3 options. St. Louis counters with ace Adam Wainwright and emerging star Lance Lynn. During the regular season, the Dodgers had a 4-3 edge in seven meetings.

Although the Cardinals have had a knack for finding ways to win in October in recent years, they are going to have their work cut out for them in this series. After all, Kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball, and with Ryu, the Dodgers have two strong lefties to go against a left-handed heavy St. Louis lineup that managed just 14 runs in the seven regular-season meetings between these two clubs. On the flip side, the Dodgers have been on an offensive tear with Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford both hitting well above .300 in the second half. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have seen their pitching depth take a blow with John Lackey going through a “dead-arm” period and Michael Wacha still building up stamina after being sidelined. Throw in the inconsistent play from the St. Louis bullpen that was untouchable in the playoffs last year, and even the Cardinals could have a tough time finding enough October magic to win this series.

Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers Win in 5 Games

San Francisco Giants versus Washington Nationals

Two years ago, the Nationals had the best record in the NL and looked to be heading to the NLCS to play the Giants. However, Washington saw a 6-0 lead in Game 5 of the NLDS turn into a shocking 9-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals that ended their postseason run. San Francisco would go on to win the World Series, and while it has taken the Nationals two years to recover, they once again had the best record in the NL in 2014 as they prepare to a Giants team that could lay claim to a legit dynasty if they can capture a third championship in five years.

During the regular season, Washington won five of the seven meetings between these teams, and while the offenses produced a similar amount of runs per game overall, the Nationals pitching staff led the majors in ERA while the Giants ranked 10th. The pitching edge for Washington could be further enhanced by the fact that San Francisco had to throw ace Madison Bumgarner in the wild-card game. Granted, Bumgarner threw a complete game shutout, but the fact that he had to pitch the Giants into the NLDS likely ensure he starts just one game in the best-of-five series. Even with Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval swinging hot bats down the stretch, San Francisco is going to have a tough time matching the arms that the Nationals can send to the mound throughout this series.

Prediction: Washington Nationals Win in 5 Games

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