The 2013 season is more than half complete, and as we near the All-Star break, some teams have started to pull away while other division races are heating up.  Now we can reasonably predict which teams might be headed for a World Series run without feeling naughty and speculative.  Let’s look at five clubs (in no particular order) that could hoist the World Series Trophy in October.

Detroit Tigers, (47-38) American League Central

A team stacked with players such as Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Max Scherzer, will always be considered a huge threat.  The Tigers may not have one of the top five winning percentages in the majors, but they are a perennial threat in October.  Scherzer is a ridiculous 13-0 and Cabrera has yet another Triple Crown Award in his sights.  This squad is also full of veterans who have logged a lot of games of postseason experience.  They are second in baseball with 423 runs scored, and their team .280 batting average is the top mark in the league.  The pitching staff also ranks in the top ten in the majors in all four major pitching categories.  The Tigers are a very well-rounded team with significant postseason experience and I expect them to make a deep run in October.

Boston Red Sox, (53-34) American League East

This team can flat out hit the baseball.  They rank first in the majors in runs scored and on-base percentage and second in batting average and slugging percentage.  They also boast the second best record in the league and are riding a four game win streak.  The pitching staff is solid, and will only get better with the return of ace, Clay Buchholz.  The American League East is very tight in the middle of the pack, but the Sox enjoy a five run cushion over the Baltimore Orioles.  Third baseman Jose Iglesias is hitting a scorching .411 thru 42 games played, while Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Mike Carp, and Jacoby Ellsbury are all hitting above .300.  The Red Sox weren’t expected to win much at the beginning of the season, but I don’t think anyone is doubting their playoff potential at this point.

Pittsburgh Pirates, (53-33) National League Central

I know. I can’t believe they’re on this list either, but they’ve proven this season that they should be.  In one of the strongest divisions in baseball, they continue to play well into July and are atop the NL Central.  Unlike the Red Sox, the Pirates are doing their damage with pitching.  The staff has the best earned run average in baseball, while opposing hitters are batting a league worst .228 against them.  Former no-names such as Starling Marte, Jeff Locke, and Jason Grilli are quickly becoming household figures.  Grilli leads the National League with 28 saves and Locke ranks second behind Clayton Kershaw with an earned run average of 2.12.  Pedro Alvarez is providing solid power numbers with 21 home runs and 56 runs batted in.  The Pirates also started out hot last year, but faded down the stretch.  However, I think this team can sustain the success into October.

St. Louis Cardinals, (52-34) National League Central

Here’s another team from the tough NL Central.  Coming off a loss to the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series last year and losing slugger Albert Pujols, the Cardinals have responded beautifully in 2013.  Their success is due to the usual suspects.  Yadier Molina leads the team in batting average and hits, while Carlos Beltran has belted 19 home runs and Allen Craig has driven in 68 runs.  Adam Wainwright anchors the exceptional pitching staff and has struck out 117 batters on his way to a 11-5 record and 2.36 earned run average.  The Cardinals have gone deep in the playoffs the past two seasons, even winning the World Series in 2011.  They have a significant amount of veteran playoff experience on the roster, and a manager that knows what to do in October. 

Oakland Athletics (51-37) American League West

This is a club that doesn’t boast many household names, but A’s’ fans are absolutely fine with that.  They are riding the ‘get on base’ philosophy of Billy Beane, which only works if you get those baserunners across the plate.  They are accomplishing both goals wells, ranking ninth in baseball in on-base percentage at .326, and eighth in the league in runs scored with 398.  The pitching staff has been a huge key to their success so far.  They carry a 3.74 earned run average, while only allowing opposing hitters to bat .245 against them.  Nobody in the A’s starting rotation has a losing record, and 40-year-old righty Bartolo Colon is having an incredible season.  His earned run average is the best it’s ever been and he is on pace for the third 20-win season of his career.  The Athletics are looking to return to the postseason in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2002-2003 (they played in the postseason for four consecutive years from 2000-2003). 

World Series Favorite

At this point in the season, these are the five teams that I think have the best shot at winning the World Series.  There are also other teams not on this list that are not far behind.  If I had to pick one of these teams to win it, I’d have to say the Detroit Tigers.  They have the needed experience, offense, and pitching, not to mention a fantastic coaching staff.  With a one-two punch like Justin Verlander and Scherzer, and sluggers like Fielder and Cabrera in the lineup, the possibilities are endless.  I’m very much looking forward to an action packed and entertaining postseason this year!