2023 Regular Season Recap
American League
National League
Was a competitive beast on a daily basis into the final week of the season. All playoff teams have an average record of 92-70. Two teams exceeded 100 wins with the Atlanta Braves (104-58) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62). Three teams advanced from the East Division, one team from the Central Division, and two teams from the West Division.
American League Wildcard Round Playoff Series
Texas Rangers (West Division #5 seed) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (East Division Wildcard #4 seed)
Regular Season records: Texas 90-72; Tampa Bay 99-63
Head-to-Head matchups for 2023: Texas won four out of the six games played and outscored Tampa Bay 27-25 in total runs.
Rangers were one of the best teams in baseball during the first half of the season. Ran out of gas in September, due to constant pressure from Houston and Seattle in the AL West division race. Texas scores a ton of runs due to four players having 95+ RBIs during the regular season (Adolis Garcia, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Jonah Heim). Consistent starting pitching had four guys win 10+ games (Matin Perez, Andrew Heaney, Dave Dunning, Nathan Eovaldi). Back end of the bullpen was an adventure with Will Smith (22 saves), and that needs to tighten up quickly.
Rays are in the MLB playoffs for the fifth straight season with manager Kevin Cash. Rode a hot hitting offense for most of the season to keep pace in the AL East with Baltimore. LF Randy Arozarena (23 HRs, 83 RBIs) and 3B Isaac Paredes (31 HRs, 98 RBIs), will try to carry this team by themselves. Sneaky pitching staff relies on a four man starting rotation and have a solid two man closing tandem (Jason Adam, Pete Fairbanks).
Prediction: Texas wins the series in three close games
Toronto Blue Jays (East Division #6 seed) vs. Minnesota Twins (Central Division #3 seed)
Regular Season records: Toronto 89-73; Minnesota 87-75
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Minnesota split the six games played (3-3) and outscored Toronto 28-26 in total runs.
Much like the power trio of Rush, Toronto will use 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr, SS Bo Bichette, and OF George Springer to move baserunners into scoring position. Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt (16 wins, 186 strikeouts, 3.60 ERA), has found a new home north of the border. Three to four man starting rotation could easily bridge the gap to get to their stud closer, Jordan Romano (36 saves). No one is paying attention to Toronto this postseason.
Twins conquered an underachieving AL Central, by being the only team above 0.500. Light hitting offense had only four players with 50+ RBIs during the regular season. Pitching staff was held together with duct tape and bailing wire for most of the season. Closer Jhoan Duran (27 saves) will have to guide a young bullpen through the pressures of playing in the postseason.
Prediction: Toronto moves on in two quick games
National League Wildcard Round Playoff Series
Arizona Diamondbacks (West Division #6 seed) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (Central Division #3 seed)
Regular Season records: Arizona 84-78; Milwaukee 92-70
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Arizona won four out of the six games played and outscored Milwaukee 30-19 in total runs.
Diamondbacks held off the late charging Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds to claim the last playoff slot in the National League. Led by 1B Christian Walker (33 HRs, 103 RBIs) and likely NL Rookie of the Year LF Corbin Carroll (25 HRS, 76 RBIs). Offense can get hot or be ice cold with runners in scoring position. Pitching staff has a great 1-2 punch with Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelley. Saves have been hard to come by with a committee approach.
Brewers have been due to make a deep postseason run for what feels like an eternity. Despite an off year statistically for LF Christian Yelich (19 HRs, 76 RBIs), SS Willy Adames and C William Contreras picked up the slack at the plate. Starting pitchers Freddy Peralta and and Corbin Burnes will have to log significant innings to get out of the wildcard round. Hopefully manager Craig Counsell doesn’t keep making playoff game mistakes, by bring in his closer (Devin Williams) in during the seventh inning. Trust the game plan and ride home field advantage to the division round.
Prediction: Milwaukee wins a high scoring series in two games
Miami Marlins (East Division #5 seed) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (East Division #4 seed)
Regular Season records: Miami 84-77; Philadelphia 90-72
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Miami won seven of the thirteen games played and despite being outscored by the Philadelphia Phillies 64-52 in total runs.
Miami stayed below the radar during the entire regular season and are the feel good team of 2023. Three headed monster of LF Bryan De La Cruz, DH Jorge Soler, and 2B Luis Arraez will continue to score runs. Three man starting pitcher rotation will try to gobble up innings and hand closing duites off to A.J. Puk and Tanner Scott when possible. Rookie manager Skip Schumaker has a bright career path.
Philadelphia is World Serious after losing the 2022 Fall Classic to Houston in six games. Offense goes six players deep, and DH Bryce Harper (0.293 AVG, 21 HRs, 72 RBIs) is starting to get healthy. RF Nick Castellanos (29 HRs, 106 RBIs) finally put all of the pieces together this season. Taijaun Walker, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola will be a formidable starting rotation to face for any team left in the playoffs. Streaky closer Craig Kimbrel (23 saves) might have one more dominant run left for this postseason.
Prediction: This series will have more twist and turns than a mountain drive in the Alps and Philadelphia advances in three games.
Same bat time, same bat channel in one week. I’ll review the results of the MLB Wildcard round playoff series and try again for Divisional Series round.
