World Series
Red Sox over Pirates in 5
Pitching does not always win championships. While it will take teams far, the Red Sox defied this mantra in 2013 when they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals. They will do the same against the Pirates, whose inexperience will finally catch up to them. The Red Sox will not be happy just to be in the World Series, as they will be hungry to prove that their last-place finish in 2014 was a mirage.
The lineup will be led by the extensive World Series experience of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval and catcher Mike Napoli will also be key contributors to this stacked and power-filled lineup. Betts and Ramirez will give the lineup the necessary speed too.
Ortiz will punch his ticket to the Hall of Fame with a fourth World Series ring, and Rick Porcello and Justin Masterson will have proven that they can be reliable starters despite not being “aces.” The bullpen also has a reliable closer in Koji Uehara and a reliable setup man in Junichi Tazawa, who can match up with Melancon and Watson.
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