The MLB Playoff Picture

American League

Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles will make their return to the postseason in dramatic fashion, clinching the first seed in the AL after not making a playoff appearance since 2016. Their rebuild is finally complete and headlined by a young offensive core. Infielder Gunnar Henderson is the leading candidate for AL Rookie of the Year after posting a 126 OPS+ over 149 games, while switch-hitting catcher Adley Rutschman has had another standout year behind the plate. Despite their middle infield leaving much to be desired, the O’s have a dynamic offense that has consistently adapted to good pitching throughout the season. Their rotation is just as impressive, with pitchers Kyle Bradish having a standout year and Grayson Rodriguez’s strong performance since his midseason call-up. The Orioles’ biggest weakness going into the playoffs is their bullpen, given that star closer Félix Bautista suffered a season-ending UCL injury in late August. The O’s had a first-round bye and faced the winner of the Rays versus the Rangers starting on October 7.

Houston Astros

The reigning World Series champions made their return to the postseason as the champions of the AL West, stealing first place from the Rangers in the final game of the season. Despite starting the season on the wrong foot, the Astros picked things up in the second half with second baseman Jose Altuve returning from an injury. Houston’s offense remains consistent, headlined by right fielder Kyle Tucker, third baseman Alex Bregman, left fielder Yordan Alvarez, and Altuve. Their pitching is just as solid, with pitcher Justin Verlander once again at the top of their rotation. The Astros have a terrific bullpen that helped them close out the World Series last year, and it has looked stellar throughout this season. The Astros are on a winning streak late into the season and their playoff experience makes them a formidable contender for a repeat title. They played the Twins beginning on October 7.

Minnesota Twins vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The first Wild Card matchup between the Twins and the Blue Jays kicked off on October 3. While the Twins have a higher seed, Toronto is only marginally disadvantaged in this matchup. Injuries to shortstop Carlos Correa, outfielder Joey Gallo, and center fielder Byron Buxton exacerbate the Twins’ offensive woos while they have also struggled with depth in the bullpen. However, the Twins have a few bright spots in their rotation with pitchers Sonny Gray and Pablo López. While the Blue Jays started off the season slowly, they’ve shown themselves with a last-second playoff push. The Jays’ offense is strong as always, but first baseman Vladimir Guererro Jr.’s struggles have been a blow to the team. He’s picked it up in the past month, and if he returns to the Vladdy of old in the playoffs, Toronto will be a team to be reckoned with. On the other side of the ball, the Jays have a great rotation despite pitcher Alek Manoah going MIA, and their bullpen is strong. 

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Texas Rangers

The Rangers and the Rays faced off in the second Wild Card matchup starting on October 3. Tampa Bay, despite having a monstrous start to the season, has suffered immensely due to pitching injuries and the suspension of their young shortstop Wander Franco. The Rays have still produced offensively and managed to scrape together a solid rotation, but shortstop Taylor Walls hasn’t been able to fill Franco’s massive role in the offense, and recent injuries to second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jose Siri have taken away two more bats. In classic Rays fashion, their bullpen is solid and deep, but they need to put themselves in a position to use it. The Rangers also had a fantastic start to the season, with their offense firing on all cylinders through the first half. However, their second half was rocky, and they lost their lead in the AL West on the last day of the season, getting knocked down to a Wild Card spot. Their offense is still solid though and their rotation is very good, which puts them in a good spot to go far in the playoffs. This Wild Card series could go either way, but either team will have a tough time with the Orioles in the ALDS.

National League

Atlanta Braves

The Braves come into the playoffs with the best record in the MLB, easily clinching the first seed in the NL. Their offense is incredible, with probable MVP right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. becoming the first player in MLB history with 40 home runs and 70 stolen bases in a season. He’s also backed by first baseman Matt Olson, now the Braves’s single-season home runs and RBI leader. Every player in Atlanta’s lineup has an above-average OPS, by far the best offense in the league. They’re supported by a strong rotation, with pitcher Spencer Strider recently breaking the Braves single-season strikeout record. Their bullpen is solid, leaving almost no holes in their game. The Braves are the team to beat going into the playoffs, and their first matchup was against the Phillies on October 7.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are in the playoffs for the 10th year in a row, and their team is just as good as in previous years. While left fielder Gavin Lux’s preseason ACL tear was a bad omen for the team, the Dodgers have shown up offensively yet again. Right fielder Mookie Betts and first baseman Freddie Freeman head the pack, with Betts putting up numbers comparable to his 2018 MVP year and Freeman becoming the Dodgers’ single-season doubles leader. The Dodgers have even revived veteran right fielder Jason Heyward (a key component of the Cubs’ miracle run in 2016) and acquired infielder Amed Rosario from the Guardians. The Dodgers’ rotation is solid, but pitcher Julio Urías’s suspension was a blow to the team. Their bullpen is solid as ever, and the team’s postseason experience is incredibly valuable to them. The Dodgers’ first matchup was on October 7 against the victors of the Brewers versus the Diamondbacks.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks

The first NL Wild Card matchup began on October 3 between the Brewers and the Diamondbacks. The Brewers clinched the third seed in the NL with their NL Central pennant, but they’ve struggled offensively throughout the season. The Brew Crew started out slowly, but injuries to several starters resulted in an improved lineup led by catcher William Contreras and left fielder Christian Yelich. The Brewers’ real strength is their pitching, with a great rotation and an even better bullpen to lock down games. The Diamondbacks, on the other hand, have slid down the standings in the second half. The D-backs have a strong offensive core, but they’ve struggled recently against better pitching. Their own pitching is on the weaker side, meaning the D-backs will need an explosive offensive performance against the Brewers’ starters to excel.

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins

The final Wild Card matchup between the reigning NL Champion Phillies and the Marlins began October 3. The Phillies had a rough first half but bounced back strong after the All-Star break, primarily due to their stellar offense. Key players shortstop Trea Turner and right fielder Bryce Harper found their rhythm, which bolstered the Philly bats. The Phillies have a great and entirely healthy rotation, and their bullpen is one of the best in baseball, with closer Craig Kimbrel getting his 400th save earlier this year. The Marlins are making their first playoff appearance since the shortened 2020 season, facing off against their divisional rivals. The Miami offense is solid, but the back end of the lineup is terribly inconsistent. The Marlins’ real strength is their pitching, with a phenomenal rotation despite reigning Cy Young pitcher Sandy Alcantara getting injured. The Miami bullpen is reliable, and the Marlins just have to hope their offense can perform to move forward in the playoffs.

The 2023 MLB season was the most exciting season in years. The games are faster due to the new rules and the stars are performing better than ever before, which has led to the highest MLB attendance since 2017. After a fantastic season, the playoffs are sure to be as stellar as ever before.