After a wild regular season that saw many teams toy with contention, the postseason looks to be no different. These playoffs seem to be one of the most wide-open in recent memory. As such, the opinions of Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC)’s baseball-loving minority have been scattered. Twenty baseball fans were polled and the result showed the Dodgers having a slim edge over other favorites the Orioles, Angels, Tigers and Nationals. The Athletics also had some votes, but that was before the Royals’ 12-inning upset on Tuesday night. There is no consensus among FCLC’s baseball fanbase, and it is easy to understand why: There is no clear favorite, even among the likes of the baseball pundits of ESPN. So, what will it take for these Fordham picks to make the World Series?

Baltimore Orioles  

Many of the polled students who chose the Orioles cited the team’s offensive prowess as the main reason.  While the Orioles’ pitching was good (seventh in ERA), their bats won them ball games with an MLB-leading 211 home runs. The high-power offense, led by MLB HR leader Nelson Cruz, drove the Orioles to finish the season 30 games over .500 and in first place in the AL East. The inconsistent pitching (25th in quality starts) will have to bear down and keep the offense in the game in order for the O’s to contend.

Los Angeles Angels

Doug Pardella, FCLC ‘17 believes the Los Angeles Angels are favorites due to the “power of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and the Angels’ [offense].”  The Angels have looked like a powerhouse for much of the season, but their starting rotation, headlined by Jered Weaver, has been decimated by injuries. Expect pitching to be be a question mark for the team. They will have to reverse their current momentum to compete in the playoffs as well, as they finished the regular season three and seven.

Detroit Tigers

The perennial contenders from Detroit are also in the thick of the hunt this October. Led by superstar Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers own one of the league’s premier offenses: first in batting average, second in runs, and second in slugging this season. The pitching was projected as a major strength this year, but that has yet to be seen. Detroit has a trio of Cy Young winners in the rotation, including last year’s winner Max Scherzer but they are still below league average with a 24th-ranked ERA. However, if this struggling rotation pitches to its reputation, this could finally be the Tigers’ year.

Washington Nationals

Several students also believe in the Nationals’ chances to go all the way this year. The Nationals carry great momentum into the postseason, as they finished on a eight and two run, including a no-hitter thrown by Jordan Zimmermann on Sept. 29. The Nationals’ strength is their incredible pitching staff, led by Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez, which has the lowest ERA (3.03) in the league this season. Washington’s power arms will keep the team’s championship dreams afloat, but the middle-of-the-road offense will need to score some runs.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Most FCLC baseball fans believe in the Dodgers’ chances to win a ring this October. The main reason for confidence in LA’s chances is Cy Young favorite and possible MVP candidate Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw pitched to the tune of an MLB-low 1.77 ERA this season and went 21 and three to lead an impressive LA pitching staff. The Dodgers’ offense ranked sixth in runs and third in batting average this season, so LA looks to be one of the most complete teams in these playoffs.

The Bottom Line

As Pardella, said, “The Nationals and Dodgers are going to be the top two teams this postseason.” So, don’t be surprised to see a Washington vs. Los Angeles series for the National League Pennant. The American League is truly wide open; any team could get hot and take it all the way. The deciding factor in the AL will be whose bats heat up first. There very well could be a Battle for LA come World Series time or perhaps even the underdog Kansas City Royals can defeat some of the teams mentioned above, but this young postseason has already shown us to expect the unexpected.