The San Francisco Giants are going to their fourth World Series since they’ve moved to said city, and the Texas Rangers are going to their first World Series ever. Oh, they happen to be meeting each other in this contest. Possibly the two teams people thought were least likely to make it to the Fall Classic, the Rangers and Giants have surprised everyone, especially a certain media organization owned by a certain Australian billionaire.

The Giants featured one of the best pitching rotations in the playoffs with the combination of two-time Cy Young award winning Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez. They’re hitting isn’t something to write home about, but it gets enough runs to give the Giants those one-run wins that they’re now famous for. The Giants offense, as opposed to the explosive style of their NLCS opponents the Phillies, is built on small ball and sacrifices. Various players like Cody Ross, a mid-season addition from the Marlins, and Juan Uribe can sprinkle some home runs on top of that.

The Rangers under Nolan Ryan have undergone a transformation. Arlington, long known as a pitcher’s graveyard, has suddenly blossomed on the mound. Ryan has brought up several strong starters and relievers through the deep Ranger system and has also reached out to other teams to grab stars such as Cliff Lee, the winner of the decisive game five against the Rays in the first round. The Rangers also have big bats such as Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Gurrero Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, etc. The majority of these batters can make a pitcher work and then smack one over the wall in their still hitter-friendly home ballpark. They also can run, and they can do it well.

All that being said, it’s time for some predictions. Since the National League won the all-star game this year, the first game will be played in San Francisco. The kung-fu pandas and Brian Wilson beards will be out in force in support of this lose bunch of Giant players. Lincecum will face Lee in a battle of strike-out kings. Lincecum was 1-1 against the mighty Phillies, and Lee was 1-o against the not-as-mighty-this-October Yankees. Lincecum will find an offense that is similar to that of the Phillies, one that can run but is primarily focused on the long-ball. Lincecum shut down the Phillies in the first game, and I think that he will flummox the Rangers in this game one too. Lee will face a team very different from the Yankees. While the Yankees tried to go big, the Giants will try to go small. The Giants do not take as many pitches as the Yankees do, and that may prove to be an advantage to the men-in-orange. The Giants will squeak out a couple of runs against Lee, and San Fransisco’s bullpen will hold and save that lead. The Giants take game one.

Game two will feature the Giants’ Matt Cain and the Rangers’ C.J. Wilson. While Lincecum may’ve stolen the spotlight with his awards and amazing hair (which I fully endorse), Cain has notched win after win for the Giants over the past two season without much complaint. Wilson start the first-ever ALCS game for the Rangers in Arlington. The one run that he gave up to Robinson Cano via homer proved to be the difference in that Yankees win. It felt like that was the only Yankees win.  What flagilating Yankees fans might not remember is that Wilson lost game five as well. He is prone to being wild, and that might put the Rangers’ bullpen in a spot of trouble. As the Yankees proved in game one of the ALCS, Texas’ bullpen can be cracked with opportunistic hitting. With these facts in mind, Cain has a stronger outing that Wilson, and the Giants take both games at home to start the season.

Sanchez of the Giants will be the first starter on the road in Arlington against the Rangers’ Colby Lewis. Sanchez has a stronger ERA and higher regular season strikeout total than Lewis, but that was so last month. That being said, Sanchez won both the pivotal game three against the Braves in the first round and was briefly present in the deciding game against the Phillies. (That’s another story). The Rangers are essentially in a must-win situation at this point, and the Texas fan-base will come out in force. However, Sanchez and the Giants bullpen will match up better than Lewis and that of the Rangers. The Giants take game three.

But all will not be lost for the Rangers and their starter, Tommy Hunter. In a now absolute must-win against Madison Bumgarner and the Giants, the Rangers will come out swinging and attack the least-known of the Giants four Series starters. This will probably be the only game that is not close. The Rangers will take it in style.

Lincecum held the Phillies to three runs in both contests he started in the NLCS. Just like then, Lincecum will be consistent against the Rangers. What will be different in this game five will be Cliff Lee. With the Series on the line and the crowd behind him, Lee will have a performance like his game three massacre of the Yankees. This game will not be high-scoring to say the least, but that recipe will work for the Rangers in this case. They game their final game in Texas to bring the series to 3-2 Giants.

Then the two teams will return to San Fransisco. Cain and Wilson will square off in AT&T park for the second time this Series. This time the crowd will be on the Giants’ side, and that and superior pitching will tip the scale in their favor. The Giants will take the World Series in six games. Their will be a baseball parade in San Fransisco for the first time, and old New York Baseball Giants fans will rejoice in early November for the first time since 1954.