MLB / Nick Shiambouros / 01 October 2008 / Leave a comment

The hunt for October is over and only eight teams remain in the search to find out who will win the World Series. Below, Nick Shiambouros provides profiles of those in the hunt for baseball's biggest prize.

Milwaukee Brewers

It has been 26 years since the Brewers made it in to the post-season. They begin the National League division series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday are very much the underdogs and are the outsiders to win the World Series at [14.0].Yovani Gallardo is a surprising starting pitcher for the first game as he has no play-off experience at all and is returning from injury. On the other hand he has a very impressive 1.88 ERA for the year and comes in to the game fresh. This team does not is lacking in depth in the pitching department but they do bat well and are capable of scoring a lot of runs as they have plenty of home run hitters including Ryan Braun.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies wrapped up the National League East with a storming finish, winning the last seven out of ten games. When they start the post-season against Milwaukee on Wednesday, they will have left-handed Cole Hamels on the hill. Hamels ended the year 14-10 with a very impressive ERA of 3.09. Short stop Jimmy Rollins commands a salary of $8m per season and boasts a batting average of .277. First baseman Ryan Howard and Chase Utley can also hit very well. Overall, their price of [10.5] reflects a solid team which come in to this series on the crest of a wave.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have not won a World Series for a 100 years. They are this year's favourites [4.9] but they face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in the National League division series and the pressure is really on coach Lou Piniella to deliver a World Championship to this historic club. The Cubs have huge strength in depth both in the bull pen and in hitting but they have finished the season poorly and will need the power of Aramis Ramirez, who has 27 home runs for the year, to play well in the post season. Cubs fans have been waiting so many years to win a World Series but the Dodgers will give them plenty to think about.

The Los Angeles Dodgers

Former Yankee manager Joe Torre loves life in LA and why wouldn't you with run machine Manny Ramirez on the team? Ever since Ramirez joined the Dodgers in a complex trade in July this superstar has lifted the Dodgers to new heights. Ramirez has had several altercations throughout his career but remains one of the best hitters of all time and he energises the locker room with his presence. He is demanding and extremely difficult to manage but when you are that good you tend to forgive a lot. Derek Lowe is on the hill for the Dodgers and comes in to the post-season with a record of 14-11, a ERA of 3.24 and of course a salary of $10m a season. LA is not a cheap place to live.
The Dodgers can be backed at [11.5] to win the World Series.

The Los Angeles Angels

The Angels come in to the post season with a very impressive record, winning 100 games in the regular season and running away with the American League West. The Angels, priced at [5.3], face the Boston Red Sox at home on Wednesday and have beaten them eight times this season. However, that will be the last thing on the mind of coach Mike Scioscia. The talk of a "freeway" series against the Dodgers could be more of a reality if they can get by the Sox in this American League division series. John Lackey starts game one for the Angels with a record of 12-5 and a ERA of 3.75. The Angels were not expected to win the West and the pressure will be firmly on Boston in this series.

The Boston Red Sox

Red Sox manager Terry Francona has had a very long season by anybody's standards. But, despite having to deal with the dissatisfaction of Manny Ramirez and his contract disputes halfway through the season, he has got his team this far and they can be backed at [5.9]. Even with the departure of Ramirez this team has a wealth of talent including Sean Casey and Kevin Youkilis who are hitting over .300 for the year. If you are from the Boston area defeat is not a word you will have used frequently. John Lester is starting pitcher for the Sox on Wednesday with a record of 16-6 and a ERA of 3.21.

The Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays come in to the post-season winning the hardest division in baseball - the American League East, with teams such as Boston, New York and Toronto trailing behind a team that has energised the city of Tampa and has instilled a belief that they can win the World Series. Players like Evan Longoria with 27 home runs for the year and an outstanding season at third base to Australian Grant Balfour who has developed in to a quality closer for this team. This team does not have any superstars but they go very deep in every department and they seem to always find a way to win. So far they have lived their motto, "we are one team," and can be backed at [7.0] to win the World Series.

The Chicago White Sox

The White Sox [11.0] clinched the American League Central in a thrilling game late on Tuesday night in a tiebreaker which saw Jim Thome score the only run against the Minnesota Twins. This was a tense affair but the veteran White Sox team prevailed and for the first time in 102 years both Chicago teams are in the post-season. Manager Ozzie Guillen has worked wonders to get this veteran team to the post season and they travel to Tampa to play the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. This team won the World Series in 2005 and have a wealth of experience but they face a very difficult task against the Rays who are rested and waiting.