With all of the top-5 teams from the regular season eliminated, chaos reigns supreme as only 4 teams remain to duke it out in the ALCS and NLCS.
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If you were to tell me going into this MLB postseason that all of the top 5 teams in the league over the 162 game regular season would not only get eliminated in the ALDS/NLDS or earlier, but only combine for 1 total win, I would have thought there was something up with you. Fast forward to now and it is very much a reality.
Brewers
Starting with the Brewers who had a resurgent 2nd half of the season. Everything seemed to be coming together for them, and became a bit of a sleeper pick. Sadly they would be snakebit by the underdog Diamondbacks, swept in the best of 3 Wild Card.
Tampa Bay and all their incredible fans in attendance at Tropicana Field ~obvious sarcasm~ watched helplessly, as their active hitters and pitchers could not get it done against Texas. I say active since the team was significantly injured. Still, Arozarena, Diaz, Paredes among others just could not find their rhythms at all. They were also swept in the Wild Card.
Orioles
This brings us to the 100 win teams, starting with Baltimore. They defied all odds to become a force to be reckoned with. The biggest question that always loomed despite all of this was their starting pitching. Well surprise surprise, the weak starting pitching is likely the main culprit for them getting swept in the ALDS. While Kyle Bradish was solid in game 1, Grayson Rodriguez, and Dean Kremer were less than ideal, giving up 11 runs combined in their 2 starts. Despite that, the promise for the future is still there for Baltimore, there’s no shame in the season they had.
Dodgers and Braves
As for LA and Atlanta, oh boy! The Dodgers are heavy favorites against a D-Backs team would be taken to the cleaners in the first game, as Kershaw had an unprecedented meltdown, allowing 6 runs in the first, and only recording 1 out before being taken out. Arizona would outscore the Dodgers 4-2 in the following two ballgames. Lastly, there’s Atlanta. They got a win, but ultimately their bats couldn’t show up when it mattered most and let themselves be overwhelmed by the offensive might of Philly.
To make matters worse, Atlanta got rather cocky. Orlando Arcia was heard mocking Bryce Harper after the Braves game 2 victory, mocking Bryce Harper for the base running error he made that ended the game, chirping “atta boy Harper” in the locker room. Lets just say the humble pie was served a plenty. So after all this chaos, what do we have to show for it?
ALCS: A Texas Sized Battle for the Ages
Image Credit: KHOU 11
Image Credit: Forbes
This is a postseason matchup that baseball fans everywhere, especially in the Lone Star State have been waiting to see for years. A showdown of the two Texas based MLB franchises, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. The two franchises haven’t been the most revered franchises in the long run. The Texas Rangers in their 61 season existence to dating back to being known as the Washington Senators, have mustered up a total of 0 World Series Championships. So I think its fair to say, Rangers fans are in dire need of a chip.
Astros
As for Houston, they of course have the infamous scandal of 2017 that is still ripe in the minds of most baseball fans. However, now they are the reigning World Series champions with no scandal in sight this time. So among the two teams in the state, Houston has the high ground for now, but this series may determine who the king of Texas truly is.
Houston, after an overall regressive regular season, were lucky to escape with the division crown at the end of the season. People had their doubts, but they quickly reminded us that they are the Astros after all. Their X factor is simple, a name that makes pitchers tremble in their cleats, Yordan. He exploded with 4 home runs in the 4 games of the series, as well as 2 doubles. Jose Abreu went for 3 home runs in the series, proving he’s still got it. Solid outings for their starters and a lights out bullpen contributed to their 3-1 series victory over the Minnesota Twins, silencing the fans who “wanted them.”
They are very much still the threat we have all known them as. Even with the years of scandal the Astros have now made the ALCS for 7 consecutive seasons. Any way you spin it that is incredibly impressive. As their slogan for the year says, they’re ready to reign.
Rangers
As for the Rangers, they’re out for some revenge. Unlike Houston they led the division for most of the year. However, on August 16th, the would see the beginning of a disastrous 1-9 stretch, watching as their bullpen blew game after game after game. In their final regular season series against the Astros, they were utterly humiliated. Texas was outscored by 29 runs in the 3 game set.
Yet despite all that, their dominance for most of the season was enough for them to squeak in over the likes of Seattle. They should consider themselves lucky. So how were they able to make it all the way to the ALCS? Well for one the questionable bullpen seemed to get it together for the most part, not giving Baltimore any chances. Montgomery, Eovaldi and the Heaney/Dunning combinations made for great starts also.
Something else worth noting is that they got Scherzer and Jon Gray back for this series, so that is more pitching depth to hopefully get them over the hump. Offensive pieces like Mitch Garver, Nathaniel Lowe, and Aroldis Garcia among others provided the timely hits and home runs when it mattered the most in games. A particular death blow being and emphatic 3 run shot from Garcia at Globe Life to blow it open in game 3.
All in all the matchup is about as even as it gets between the two teams, ultimately it will be matter if Texas’s offensive ability can be able to combat Houston’s postseason experience and Yordan. Get your popcorn ready, cause we are in for a doozy.
NLCS: A Classic David vs Goliath Story
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Image Credit: The Athletic
This years NLCS matchup is a tale of two teams, one seeking redemption, and the other shocking the world. While there is less narrative excitement than an all Texas battle for state supremacy, there is still a lot at stake for both teams.
Phillies
Philadelphia’s unprecedented run to the World Series allowed them to finally showcase the upside of what was once considered a failed experiment. 3 straight seasons where they couldn’t finish above 500 after signing Bryce Harper from 2018-2020. With a 87-75 record just barely squeaking into October it was expected to be one and done. However something unpredictable happened, everything clicked.
From the offense to the pitching to the defense everything was coming up clutch at the right time. An NL pennant was their reward for such a resurgence. Unfortunately they would fall short to the juggernaut Astros in the World Series. Still though, Philly fans could finally be hopeful again.
2023 started rough mainly with a 0-4 start. However, they would pick up the pace to start competing after said slow start. They locked up the first Wild Card spot easily. A sweep against Miami was nothing too surprising for many. It would be against a supposed super team in Atlanta where they reminded us why they made it to the World Series last year. Atlanta was known for one thing, the long ball. They had tied the record for most home runs in a single season with the 2019 Twins at 307. Philly saw this and didn’t give two hoots. Atlanta could only muster 3 dingers all series. A puny number compared to Philly’s 11. The best hitter on Philly, who do you pick? You could say Harper or Turner or Castellanos. All would be valid.
Don’t let the pitching be overlooked though. Wheeler, Suarez, and Nola were able to outdo the Braves supposed elite rotation of Strider Elder and Fried. Ultimately the Phillies will go as far as their bats take them, and if they can keep it up they could be going back to the World Series.
Diamondbacks
But then arises a new threat, a Cinderella story team playing out of their minds. Arizona hasn’t just exceeded the expectations they had this year, they soared through the roof. The core built for the future you say? Well they are a couple seasons early.
Corbin Carroll becoming one of the true outstanding talents in baseball, Marte, Walker and Longoria getting hits when it matters, and then of course there is the inevitable duo that will likely haunt Jays fans like me for an eternity, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Gabriel Moreno. To say that the trade was a total win for Arizona would be an understatement, I mean when you look at the fact that the D-Backs have gone further than any Toronto franchise since 2020, the frustration make sense. It was a gamble move in every aspect to get Varsho that hasn’t paid off, at least this season for Toronto. Those two have proven themselves as playoff stars. Moreno didn’t even have that many homeruns in the regular season with 7, he’s exploded with 4 in the 5 postseason games he’s played, 5 if you count the controversial home run that was called back in game 3 before he got his actual 4th.
With a rotation and bullpen that helped hold the team’s ground against LA, they just have to make sure they can keep snorting that magic pixie dust, continue coming up with clutch hits when it matters and riding off that sweet, sweet youth and they could very well put up yet another upset. It’s like a dream come true for Arizona. A team once dead in the water in second last place 2 years ago has had their franchise revived, and a state in desperate need of good professional sports might finally have it.
Youth vs Experience
Don’t just assume its going to be easy for Philly, you have to remember that Philly was in the same position as Arizona is this year. Last year they barely made it into the playoffs thanks to every other team self destructing, and they almost went the distance. Always expect the unexpected, that is the rule of thumb with the MLB postseason these last few seasons. Stay clutch, get hits when it matters and you will succeed. Not much more can be said. PLAY BALL!
(Photo via Forbes)