MLB Playoffs 2017: Five bold playoff predictions

4. The Red Sox make the World Series

This is the one team in the American League that’s not being talked about. How? Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Hanley Ramirez lead a loaded lineup. The rotation is very underrated. Chris Sale has struck out over 300 hitters and is an easy finalist for the Cy Young award. Drew Pomeranz has been quietly very good, Rick Porcello won the Cy Young in 2016, so he has stuff, and Eduardo Rodriguez seems to have found himself.

Oh, and they still have David Price who may be coming out of the bullpen. Craig Kimbrel has been the best reliever in the American League, with a 3.4 fWAR, just 0.1 behind Kenley Jansen, and is striking out almost 17 hitters per 9 innings. The dude is ridiculous, and a nice safety blanket to go to for multiple innings.

On the defensive side of things, the Red Sox are very sound. Not too flashy, but make most plays, including two catchers who can shut any running game down. Mookie Betts is the best defensive right fielder in baseball, maybe the best outfielder in baseball, which is debatable. Jackie Bradley will get to any ball in the outfield, and it’s a shame he doesn’t have a gold glove yet. Oh, he has a little pop too, delivering 17 home runs, from the bottom of the order. This team is loaded, and they will not be an easy out for any team they face.