By the end of October baseball fans will know the names of Yovani Gallardo, Corey Hart, Fausto Carmona and Ryan Garko. That is, if they don't already.

A season after the World Series pitted the American League East's Boston Red Sox and the National League West's Colorado Rockies, look for baseball's unlikely Central division champions to meet in the season finale.

The Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers ride into the 2008 season under the radar in their respective divisions, yet each club features the sort of talent capable of winning a championship.

It's no secret that Milwaukee's Prince Fielder hit 50 home runs last year or that Cleveland's Victor Martinez is the best offensive catcher in the majors.

Nor is it a secret that Indians ace C.C. Sabathia is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner or that Brewers' third basemen Ryan Braun put up one of the most memorable Rookie of the Year campaigns in 2007.

The secret lies in the fact that these superstars are backed up by two of baseball's strongest supporting casts including burgeoning stars such as Gallardo, Hart, Carmona and Garko.

The list goes on with names like J.J Hardy, Rickie Weeks, Manny Parra, Aaron Laffey and Jhonny Peralta, but I don't want to overwhelm you. These teams are ready to compete and are talented enough to do so until late in October with deep pitching rotations and tons of hitting.

My in-depth division previews are attached to the right, so I'll jump ahead to the playoffs with my predictions. Drum roll please…

National League

NLDS

Mets over Dodgers: If Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez and John Maine are still healthy this one will be done after three. In fact, if they are all healthy at this point the Mets might not lose to anybody.

Brewers over Phillies (Wild Card): The Brewers will not sail through the Division Series like the Rockies last season but will wear down the Phils with timely hitting and move on to the NLCS in five games.

NLCS

Brewers over Mets: Carrying over momentum from a win over the Phillies, the young Brewers jump on the Mets, who were lulled to sleep after sweeping the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Yovani Gallardo, the Brewers ace at this point, carries his team through at least one game and Corey Hart makes a name for himself.

American League

ALDS

Indians over Angels: This series will depend on the status of the Angels starting pitching in late October, which is fairly difficult to predict at this point. Still, I think the Indians ultimately prevail even if John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar have returned from injury.

Tigers (Wild Card) over Red Sox: The Red Sox will have run out of gas after fending off the Yankees to win the pennant in the East and will be running low on quality pitching because Josh Beckett won't last beyond the All-star break.

ALCS

Indians over Tigers: Division rivals meet in the ALCS with aces Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia pitching evenly in game one before the Indians take advantage of the Tigers bullpen to win.

That's the story here as the Indians clutch late-inning hits destroy the Detroit pen and Ryan Garko emerges as a legitimate power threat at first base.

World Series

Indians over Brewers: By the time the Brewers reach the World Series for the first time since 1982, their youth will have caught up to them.

Indians' veteran hitters Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez will lead the way and Fausto Carmona pitches gems in games two and six to become World Series MVP, as the Tribe wins the World Series four games to two over the Brewers.

MLB Award Picks

NL MVP:

Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves

NL Cy Young:

Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres

NL Rookie of the Year:

Jair Jurjjens, Atlanta Braves

NL Manager of the Year:

Joe Torre, L.A. Dodgers

AL MVP:

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

AL Cy Young:

Erik Bedard, Seattle Mariners

AL Rookie of the Year:

Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

AL Manager of the Year:

Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians