The first third of the 2011 MLB season is over, and a bit of normalcy seems to be returning to the game. Gone are the days of the dominant Cleveland Indians and futile Boston Red Sox; the Royals are making their way back to the basement in the AL Central; Albert Pujols is hitting home runs again. Sure, some surprises remain – the Diamondbacks have charged up the MLB standings with a recent 15-2 run and Seattle is in the hunt despite one of the worst offences in all of baseball – but generally speaking, this is baseball as we know it. All the weird statistical wrinkles are getting ironed out by the game’s enormous sample size.

Thus, it’s due time we start thinking way ahead to the fall, when each game starts counting that much more and teams round into playoff form. Based on what we’ve seen after two months and change, who can we expect to see when the leagues meet for the 2011 World Series?

Here’s a look at a few likely matchups.

Boston Red Sox vs. St. Louis Cardinals

The Red Sox have rounded into the juggernaut they were expected to be in March, led (unsurprisingly) by free agent signee Adrian Gonzalez and (surprisingly) 35-year-old DH David Ortiz. Gonzalez has driven in more scores than anyone in the American League. Josh Beckett looks like an ace again, while Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz have given the Sox a nice 1-2-3 at the top of the rotation. The bullpen isn’t perfect, but the Sox are looking like the immense favourite they were supposed to be all along.

Despite the absence of ace Adam Wainwright due to Tommy John surgery and the worst start of Albert Pujols career, the Cards have been a force in the National League. With Colby Rasmus, Matt Holliday, and a rejuvenated Lance Berkman mashing, they’ve scored the second most runs in baseball while Kyle Lohse has suddenly turned into an ace. King Albert is starting to round into form, giving them the scariest lineup in the National League.

This would be an absolute slugfest.

Texas Rangers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have taken the opposite approach of the Cardinals on their way to the top of the National League. Their incredible starting rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt has posted the most quality starts in baseball, while their staff ERA is the second best in baseball. Their offence has been particularly productive, in part due to injuries, but they’re winning anyways, (and that is no betonline scam). Lee single-handedly led the Rangers to the World Series last year – teaming him with Doc, Hamels, and Oswalt could allow them to make a deep playoff run despite a sputtering offence.

The Rangers have a real shot at the Series given how successful they’ve been despite an injury to AL MVP Josh Hamilton and down years from Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, and David Murphy. Rangers stalwart Michael Young has been excellent as a DH, despite his gripes, and Alexi Ogando has been a revelation, going 7-0 with a 0.90 WHIP. Much like the Red Sox, their appearance in the Series is predicated on their line-up firing on all cylinders come September.