MLB San Francisco GiantsSt Louis Cardinals

Giants vs. Cardinals: 10 Bold Predictions For NLCS

Giants vs. Cardinals: 10 Bold Predictions For NLCS

Busch Stadium St. Louis Cardnials
Jeff Curry - USA TODAY Sports

No strangers to each other, the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are about to renew MLB playoff acquaintances for the second time in three years.

A shot at MLB glory is on the line. Will history repeat itself?

10. Revenge Will Be On The Menu

St. Louis Cardinals
Getty Images

10. Revenge Will Be On The Menu

St. Louis Cardinals
Getty Images

The past is history -- cliché, I know; but we know the Cardinals remember what happened last time they faced the Giants in the playoffs. Armed with a 3-1 series lead, the Red Birds lost the next three games -- including the series-clinching Game 5 at home 5-0 -- and the series.

The Cardinals want revenge, and everybody knows the best revenge is success.

9. Wainwright's Struggles Continue

Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Curry - USA TODAY Sports

9. Wainwright's Struggles Continue

Adam Wainwright St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Curry - USA TODAY Sports

Allow me to present the following:

Player 1 - 8.63 ERA, 2.05 WHIP in 19.1 innings over four playoff starts in 2012 and thus far in 2014.
Player 2 - 1.85 ERA, 0.74 WHIP in 43 innings over six playoff starts in 2009 and 2013.

Guess what? Both players are actually Adam Wainwright. His lack of playoff success in even-numbered years is as inexplicable as the Giants' playoff success in even-numbered years -- nothing will change.

8. MadBum Deals

Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

8. MadBum Deals

Madison Bumgarner San Francisco Giants
Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

Madison Bumgarner has been dominant in the 2014 MLB playoffs. He currently owns a 1.13 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 16 strikeouts in 16 innings, and he loves facing the Cardinals.

In 2014, MadBum held the Red Birds to a .205 BA while striking out 16 batters in 12 innings, which included his lone start at Busch Stadium -- 10 Ks and three hits allowed in seven innings of shutout ball.

7. Matheny's Past Returns to Haunt Him

Mike Matheny St. Louis Cardinals
David Kohl - USA TODAY Sports

7. Matheny's Past Returns to Haunt Him

Mike Matheny St. Louis Cardinals
David Kohl - USA TODAY Sports

In 2012, his first year as the Cardinals' bench boss, Mike Matheny took his team to the NLCS. In 2013, Matheny took the Cardinals to the World Series, but a championship still eludes him. He is the Jim Harbaugh of MLB.

Just as Harbaugh's third season ended one loss away from the title game, Matheny's third season will end one series away from a championship.

Sorry, Mike.

6. Molina Turns It Up

Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Curry - USA TODAY Sports

6. Molina Turns It Up

Yadier Molina - St. Louis Cardinals
Jeff Curry - USA TODAY Sports

Yadier Molina has been downright awful in the 2014 playoffs. His Mendoza-like .200 BA is deplorable, and the Cardinals need him to be better at the plate. After all, Matt Carpenter can't do it all, or can he?

Anyway, there's no need for the denizens of St. Louis to worry. Molina is a career .289 hitter in the playoffs, so he's due to heat up against the Giants.

5. Sandoval Starts Slow

Pablo Sandoval San Francisco Giants
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

5. Sandoval Starts Slow

Pablo Sandoval San Francisco Giants
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

During the first two games of the 2012 NLCS, Pablo Sandoval went 1-for-8 with three strikeouts. Before Game 3, something happened, and the Kung Fu Panda destroyed the Cardinals over the next five games to the tune of two HRs, four runs, five RBIs and a .381 BA.

He's off to a slow start -- 6-of-23 with five strikeouts -- but history says the Kung Fu Panda is about to pop a can of bamboo and become the offensive beast we saw in 2012.

4. Carpenter Leads Cardinals' Offense

Matt Carpenter St. Louis Cardinals
Jake Roth - USA TODAY Sports

4. Carpenter Leads Cardinals' Offense

Matt Carpenter St. Louis Cardinals
Jake Roth - USA TODAY Sports

Matt Carpenter has been a beast this postseason. He owns the Cardinals' second-best batting average (.375) and leads the team in HRs (three), RBIs (seven), total bases (18), OBP (.412) and SLG (1.125), and he absolutely devours Giants' pitching.

In 25 at-bats against the Giants in 2014, Carpenter has slashed .520/.571/.680 (AVG/OBP/SLG) to go along with four doubles, two RBIs and two runs.

3. Posey Wins NLCS MVP

Buster Posey San Francisco Giants
Kyle Terada - USA TODAY Sports

3. Posey Wins NLCS MVP

Buster Posey San Francisco Giants
Kyle Terada - USA TODAY Sports

Buster Posey is back. Well, he never really went anywhere, but he wasn't very Posey-like in the 2012 playoffs. This year, he's hitting .391 in the postseason, so Buster Posey is back.

For those of you wondering about his power production, don't bother. Posey averages approximately one home run per 20 at-bats. The long balls are coming.

2. Cardinals' Rotation Will Be Key

John Lackey St. Louis Cardinals
Pool Photo - USA TODAY Sports

2. Cardinals' Rotation Will Be Key

John Lackey St. Louis Cardinals
Pool Photo - USA TODAY Sports

With all due respect to Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong, the Giants have one ace in Bumgarner. As for the Cardinals -- the struggling Wainwright aside -- John Lackey and Shelby Miller could be No. 1 options for at least 15 MLB teams. Lance Lynn rounds out the Red Birds' rotation and Michael Wacha is also available if needed.

The Cardinals own the advantage on the mound, but history says it won't be enough.

1. Giants Advance to World Series

AT & T Park San Francisco Giants
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

1. Giants Advance to World Series

AT & T Park San Francisco Giants
Kelley L. Cox - USA TODAY Sports

Just as the St. Louis Cardinals have a knack for beating the LA Dodgers, the San Francisco Giants have a propensity for beating the Cardinals. The Giants beat them in 2002. The Giants beat them in 2012, and in 2014 -- well, it's an even-numbered year, so the Giants will win again, of course.

Jeff Pearlman is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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