Where do Detroit Tigers finish? MCB roundtable picks postseason winners

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher

(37) is showered with champagne in the locker room after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers won the Central Division Championship by defeating the Twins 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers did not have the easiest season for sports bloggers to cover. There were ups, downs, and plenty of Maalox moments.

It provided for a lot to write about, a lot to be upset about, but more to be happy about.

Will this year’s Detroit Tigers postseason run be different than the previously three? Will they finally win the franchise’s elusive fifth World Championship?

We gathered the crew of Motor City Bengals together to not only tell you how the Tigers will fare, but who they see advancing through the playoffs.

Follow along with the slideshow to see everyone’s picks–and some great shots of the Tigers AL Central title celebration.

First up, our newest member of the MCB, Bryan Koobie:

I see the Tigers getting to the ALCS and losing to the Angels. The Tigers have had a tough time with them the last few seasons, especially in Anaheim. If the A’s or Royals end up beating the Angels in the ALDS, then I like the Tigers to make it back to the World Series.

AL WC: Oakland

NL WC: SF

ALDS Winners: Tigers & LAA

NLDS Winners: LAD & WSH

ALCS Winers: LAA (Hope I’m wrong)

NLCS Winners: LAD

WS: Angels over Dodgers

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joe Nathan (36) gets showers with champaign after winning the Central Division Championship by defeating the Minnesota Twins 3-0 at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Blair Tatrault

The team remains an enigma. Their postseason experience should serve them well, but they are raw on the left side of the infield, and in left field and center, especially if Rajai Davis is out.

Their strength remains starting pitching, particularly if Verlander is his October self. The bullpen is still a concern, as it has been all year. Ausmus needs to find a way to quickly get Soria and Sanchez into the late inning mix, especially since there’s not a reliable lefty in the pen.

I see the team beating Baltimore and then winning a tough series against the Angels.

Alas, the Washington Nationals, with superior balance, will once again deny them the World Series crown.

AL WC: Oakland
NL WC: San Francisco

ALDS: Detroit over Baltimore
ALDS: Los Angeles over Oakland

ALCS: LAA over Detroit

NLDS: Los Angeles over St. Louis
NLDS: Washington over San Francisco

NLCS: Washington over LAD

WS: Washington over Detroit

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers players celebrate after winning the Central Division Championship by defeating the Minnesota Twins 3-0 at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Pelc

I picked the Detroit Tigers to win it all this year. I knew they had flaws, but who doesn’t? Their 90 wins was about five less than I had envisioned, but all you gotta do is get in, right?

Very often in baseball’s postseason, the best team does not win–the one that gets hot does and the Tigers have the tools to get it done.

The bullpen, the defense, or the inconsistent offense can each, or all, doom this team over the next month, however we have seen them play great in stretches this year and that starts Thursday.

I picked the Tigers over the Dodgers in the World Series, so why back down now?

AL WC: Kansas City over Oakland
NL WC: San Francisco over Pittsburgh

ALDS: Detroit over Baltimore
ALDS: Los Angeles over Oakland

ALCS: Detroit over LAA

NLDS: Los Angeles over St. Louis
NLDS: Washington over San Francisco

NLCS: LAD over Washington

WS: Detroit over LAD

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher

(19) and relief pitcher

(44) salute the fans after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers won the Central Division Championship by defeating the Twins 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Sam O’Toole

I predict the Detroit Tigers to win the American League but ultimately fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The postseason is all about matchups, and in the first series for the Tigers, I don’t see the Orioles’ pitching sticking with the Tigers’, despite the shorter series.

Finally, I think the A’s will pull the upset in the five-game series out west, giving the Tigers a favorable matchup with a team they have beaten in the division series the past two years.

The Dodgers have one huge advantage in Clayton Kershaw, and I think Los Angeles will be able to wear the Tigers down over the course of the series, giving the Dodgers their first World Series championship since 1988.

AL WC: Oakland over Kansas City
NL WC: Pittsburgh over San Francisco

ALCS: Detroit & Oakland

NLCS: Los Angeles & Washington

WC: LAD over Detroit

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman

(24) waves to the crowd after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers clinched the Central Division Championship by defeating the Twins. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Tom Zahari 

The Tigers will make it as far as they do because their starting rotation will live up to its potential. The Dodgers will defeat the Tigers in the World Series because they are a more complete team.

The Tigers did not have to see Clayton Kershaw (who would have my vote for NL MVP).

My preseason pick was the Dodgers over the Tigers and I’m staying faithful.

AL WC: Kansas City over Oakland
NL WC: Pittsburgh over San Francisco

ALDS: DET over BAL in 4
ALDS: LAA over KC in 5

NLDS: LAD over STL in 3
NLDS: WSH over PIT in 5

ALCS: DET over LAA

NLCS: LAD over WSH

WS: LAD over DET

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers players celebrate after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers clinched the Central Division Championship by defeating the Twins. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Hannum 

KC is going to win that Wild Card. I’ve got to go with the team that had the good 2nd half, not the team that has the better full season run differential.

For the NL Wild Card I’ll pick the Pirates. Amazingly enough, it’s because Edinson Volquez looks like a better bet than Madinson Bumgarner.

Detroit is beating Baltimore, Tigers pitching is better than the numbers suggest, Orioles pitching is worse than the numbers suggest and the Orioles O is just going to get shut down.

Whoever wins the AL Wild Card is going to get pounded by the Angels. They’re the cream of the crop in the AL, with the best record despite a slow start. No Garret Richards hurts them a lot in a 7-gamer, but in a short series I think they’ll be fine.

Dodgers and Nats win their respective series, finest rotations in the National League (maybe in baseball).

ALCS goes to the Angels. NLCS goes to the Dodgers. We get another Freeway Series that no-one outside of California watches, despite featuring some of the biggest stars in the game. Who wins that series? The Dodgers do.

As for why the Tigers don’t get past the Angels, in that series my crystal ball says we see them basically struggle in exactly the same way we’ve seen them struggle in the past. The games are all going to be close and they’re going to come down to defense and being able to hold the other team on the basepaths. The Tigers will lose a couple of games due to defensive miscues and a couple of games due to Ricky Rallies in late innings. They’ll win a couple with fireworks displays too, but it won’t be enough.

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder

(28) celebrates with fans after winning the Central Division Championship by defeating the Minnesota Twins 3-0 at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Scramlin

Lockdown pitching wins championships; and the teams with the two best rotations, in my eyes, are the Tigers and the Nationals. Top to bottom, both of their pitching staffs are loaded. I see the Tigers having a tough time getting past both Baltimore and Los Angeles (if that’s who they face) but the Tigers pitching has playoff experience, depth, and overpowering stuff. But in the end, I just think the Nationals want it more and are the more complete team. Plus, the Washington bullpen had the 2nd best ERA in the NL.

AL WC: Kansas City
NL WC: Pittsburgh

ALDS: Detroit over Baltimore
ALDS: LAA over Kansas City

ALCS: Detroit over LAA

NLDS: LAD over St. Louis
NLDS: Washington over Pittsburgh

NLCS: Washington over LAD

WS: Washington over Detroit

Sep 28, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers players celebrate after the game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. The Tigers clinched the Central Division Championship by defeating the Twins. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Josie Parnell

The Tigers are going all the way this year (No hubris, just hope). The extreme ups and downs this season have given the team an opportunity to overcome adversity and sometimes win in spite of themselves. While the bullpen and it’s management continues to be a source of panic, the Tigers have shown they can win anyway. This is the year.

AL WC: Kansas City
NL WC: Pittsburgh

ALDS: Detroit over Baltimore in 4
ALDS: Kansas City over LAA in 5

ALCS: Detroit over KC in 5

NLDS: LAD over St. Louis in 4
NLDS: Washington over Pittsburgh in 5

NLCS: Washington over LAD in 6

WC: Detroit over Washington in 7