Featured image by Keith Allison, licensed under CC BY 2.0.

October is an exciting time for sports. As the NBA and NHL get started, the MLB lends us some of its most compelling matchups all leading up to the World Series. Here are our playoff predictions where we look at every potential matchup, breakout performers and a dark horse candidate to win it all.

Cubs – Giants
This NLDS series pits the Cubs coming off of a 100-win season, while boasting the best record in baseball, and a wild card entry in the Giants that has a history for recent success in October — especially in even years. The two clubs both have impressive pitching staffs: the Cubs with John Lackey, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester, and the Giants with Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. Though the Cubs are riding the wave off of an impressive season, their young lineup and inexperience should crumble under postseason pressure. The orange and black will advance, hoping to capitalize on the even year magic. The Cubs are up 2-0 in the series, but with the Giants taking game 3 and a potential game 4 back to the Bay, the series could wind up tied at 2-2 with the Giants having all the momentum(Who would we be if we didn’t root for our home team?)

Dodgers – Nationals
These two teams have a history of coming up unsuccessful in the postseason, and considering the fact that they will be facing off against either the best team in baseball or a team riding a wave of momentum and October magic, it’s safe to say that this series may not be as important as the other. The Dodgers have come up short in three consecutive postseason appearances and even years have not treated the Nationals well in the playoffs. Both teams possess potent weapons: the offensive threats posed by Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy of the Nationals, and the Dodgers’ star-studded ace Clayton Kershaw. As long as the Dodgers’ pitching staff can keep the Nats’ hot bats cool and contain Harper, who is coming off of a recent thumb injury, the Dodgers will be advancing to face the winner of the Cubs-Giants series in the NLCS. The series is now at 2-1 with the Nationals boasting a lead. The Nationals have momentum from a huge win in game two, but with the Dodgers bringing the series back to Los Angeles, they will be primed to advance even after a loss in game three.

Rangers – Blue Jays
The long-awaited rematch between Jose Bautista and and Rougned Odor, after Odor brawled with Bautista in the regular season, will culminate in a five game ALDS rematch series between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays. These teams are quite familiar with each other, as Bautista and the Blue Jays knocked the Rangers out of the playoffs in 2015 with a massive home run and a bat flip that sealed the deal. The Blue Jays’ powerful bats, from the likes of Jose Bautista and Bay Area native and Fremont HS alumnus Troy Tulowitzki, will carry them over the Rangers and their weaker bullpen. Let’s not forget the Blue Jays thrashing of Cole Hamels in game one on Thursday night. This series should go handily to the Blue Jays, who are a much more threatening team looking to make their mark in October. The Jays have now won the series 3-0 and will advance to the ALCS.

Indians – Red Sox
Out of all the divisional matchups, this one is probably the hardest to call. Both teams rebounded after early struggles and both certainly surprised many on their way to division titles. The Red Sox, however, have seen more recent success with a World Series title just three years ago. The experience of Dustin Pedroia from that memorable run along with young stars like Mookie Betts will only play in Boston’s favor — especially against a Cleveland side that hasn’t sniffed the divisional round since 2007, when their season was ended by none other than the Red Sox. The Indians, despite most of the odds favoring the Red Sox, have a great shot to advance if Carlos Santana can produce a spark or two and if Corey Kluber pitches lights out. Despite the Red Sox being the favorites to win, the Indians seem to be a team on a mission, and they don’t look like they want to slow down anytime soon. Riding the wave of recent athletic success the Cavs’ NBA championship brought to Cleveland, the Tribe looks to bring back another trophy to the land. They won’t get the championship, but in the coming days they’ll take a huge step closer by beating the Red Sox. Cleveland has now completed the sweep and will advance to the ALCS against the Blue Jays.

NLCS Predictions: Giants or Dodgers- Giants, so long as they can keep up their momentum
ALCS Predictions: Blue Jays or Indians- Blue Jays, the Jays will advance on the heels of their playoff experience
WS Predictions: Giants or Blue Jays- It’s up in the air. October magic versus a team hungry for its first title since 1993.

MadBum has been a force to be reckoned with in the postseason for the Giants. Bumgarner’s gem of a complete game shutout over the Mets says measures about his ability, especially since that shutout landed them the wild card spot. Boasting a 0.79 ERA in his last nine postseason starts, with 23 consecutive scoreless innings in must-win games, Bumgarner has been stellar in October (especially on the road). And let’s not forget, he can pitch in relief too, as we saw in game seven of the 2014 World Series. No team is safe, even when MadBum is not named as the starter for a particular game. Expect him to do wonders for the Giants pitching rotation.

Murphy had a big year for the Nationals with his .347 batting average, and has been a consistent contributor to the offense. That being said, the Dodgers’ pitching staff and bullpen will be able to cool down Murphy’s plate appearances and limit the damage that Murphy can inflict.

Let’s face it. Apart from the even-year trend, since the All-Star break, there weren’t many indications that the Giants would even make it this far. From boasting the best record in baseball through the first half, to tanking the second half of the season, the Giants weren’t meant to even make the postseason. But their postseason experience and momentum heading into the playoffs make them a team to look out for.