Cleveland Indians vs Houston Astros: 5 bold predictions for 2018 ALDS
![Cleveland Indians Houston Astros (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) Cleveland Indians Houston Astros (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2b55ab25d1e52a3af4ecd107f3ac97e5048a2dfc51fd90c65623a647b36e2473.jpg)
4. MVP
Josh Donaldson makes his impact felt quickly as the MVP of the series.
Donaldson is postseason tested, having appeared in four ALDS series, in addition to three ALCS matchups.
He’s a lifetime .292 hitter in the postseason (.836 OPS) with four homers and 13 RBIs.
The spotlight wil shine the brightest on the 2015 MVP in Game 3 when the Indians have to face left-hander Dallas Keuchel.
Fans of the Cleveland Indians have long clamored for a power stick from the right side of the plate. They were granted their wish last season with the addition of Edwin Encarncacion, and they got a huge bonus when the Tribe made the late August swap for Donaldson.
The Astros field arguably the best staff in all of baseball, and the adage always goes: “Good pitching beats good hitting.”
But if the Indians lineup, which is loaded with power hitters, begins to hit, Donaldson is more than likely to be in the middle of it.