Preview/Prediction

The American League Wild Card race may not be over yet, but the National League playoff picture is finally set, and we can begin making our predictions for that entire half of the playoff bracket. 

The Wild Card teams have been set, with the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates taking the spots in the first year with two wild card teams playing a one-game playoff round to determine who will advance to the NLDS.

The 2013 MLB postseason kicks off this coming Tuesday with the NL Wild Card Game, with the AL Wild Card Game the following day before getting into full swing on Thursday.

The AL wild-card picture has yet to be sorted out, and there could still be some movement as far as seeding is concerned in each league, but for the most part the postseason picture has already taken shape.

As such, here is a look at my complete predictions for the 2013 MLB playoffs from the Wild Card Round all the way through the World Series.

During the MLB postseason, the best of the best are pitted against each other. Not only are there interesting battles with the teams involved, but there are also a number of matchups between players that should be watched as well.

These games will pit power hitters against power pitchers as well as speedsters against top-flight catchers. Ultimately, these in-game matchups will be ones to keep an eye on as they could lead to some of the biggest moments of the postseason.

Andre Ethier was held out of the lineup again on Tuesday due to a sore foot, leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers without one of their top outfielders.

No young MLB prospect is more intriguing than Billy Hamilton, who in a month has gone from struggling in Triple-A to becoming a huge asset to the Cincinnati Reds. The playoff-bound Reds need more of the same come October for a World Series run.

Jason Kendall. Ruben Mateo. Cliff Floyd. These are not names that Manny Machado wanted to be mentioned with.

Machado, the Orioles' phenom, is more used to being in the conversation with Bryce Harper and Mike Trout, but a gruesome leg injury Monday in Tampa had many wondering if there's a chance he'll be mentioned with the former much more than the latter now.

As one would hope and expect for a team with a $241 million payroll this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are well positioned going forward.

The Cincinnati Reds secured their third trip to the postseason in three years last night with a late-inning victory and a Washington Nationals loss.

The NL West has been clinched. The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured their first postseason berth since 2009.

Pop the champagne! Jump in the Diamondbacks’ pool!

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox clinched the first berths into the 2013 MLB playoffs on Thursday afternoon, and it should only be another few days before the other four teams listed here join them.

But who are these shoe-ins for the postseason hoping to draw as an opponent in October?

Based on the strengths and weaknesses of each team and its potential counterparts, we've nominated one team in the thick of a playoff race that each projected division winner would possibly sweep right out of the playoffs.