2023 Wildcard Round Playoffs Recap
American League
National League
1/2 correct thanks to Philadelphia
Wildcard Round total – 2/4 correct which is right at the mean
American League Divisional Round Playoff Series
Texas Rangers (West Division #5 seed) vs. Baltimore Orioles (East Division #1 seed)
Regular Season records: Texas 90-72; Baltimore 101-61
Head-to-Head matchups for 2023: Teams split the six games they played (3-3) and the Rangers outscored the Oriole in total runs 26-19.
Texas Rangers Analysis
Rangers were impressive in the Wildcard Round with a 4-0 pitching gem in Game 1 and an offensive fireworks show in Game 2 with a 7-1 series sweep. Texas has a deep pitching staff and a star studded offense to keep pace with the best regular season team in the AL. Still expecting to see C Jonah Heim find his early season hitting form and guide this inexperienced squad to the next round.
Baltimore Orioles Analysis
Orioles slowly reeled in Tampa Bay in the AL East division during July 2023, and then never looked back as they dominated divisional play down the stretch. Catcher Adley Rutschman (20 HRs, 80 RBIs) is the real deal in the batters box and is a fantasy baseball stud. RF Anthony Santander and 3B Gunnar Henderson pioneer a potent offense. Can Baltimore overcome a season ending injury to elite closer Felix Bautista? Yennier Cano will have to step up in a hurry.
. Prediction: Texas wins the series in five games in an instant classic.
Minnesota Twins (Central Division #3 seed) vs. Houston Astros (West Division #2 seed)
Regular Season records: Minnesota 87-75; Houston 90-72
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Minnesota won four out of the six games played and outscored Houston 29-25 in total runs.
Minnesota Twins Analysis
Twins snapped their 18 game post-season losing streak with a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the Wild Card round against Toronto. Followed that up with a 2-0 shutout in Game 2. Haven’t seen a situational team play this well in the postseason, since the Washington Nationals in 2019. Can Minnesota keep this up against the defending World Series champions? Twins matched up well with the Astros during the regular season and that will cause the betting line to fluctuate throughout the series.
Houston Astros Analysis
Astros won the AL West on the final day of the regular season. Never seemed to get frazzled with a daily divisional race with Seattle and Texas. Most historical teams that have dealt with a stressful divisional race, fold up like a cheap and rusty lawn chair when the playoffs start and fizzle out. Alex Bregman, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez pace an offense with no holes at home plate. Pitching staff has been inconsistent after Framber Valdez and Cristian Javier. Closer Ryan Pressly had a quiet 31 saves, thanks to Hector Neris bridging the bullpen gap to the ninth inning.
Prediction: Houston wins in three easy games and reminds the rest of the playoff field that they are officially back.
National League Divisional Round Playoff Series
Philadelphia Phillies (East Division #4 seed) vs. Atlanta Braves (East Division #1 seed)
Regular Season records: Philadelphia 90-72; Atlanta 104-58
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Atlanta won seven out of the ten games played and outscored Philadelphia 59-42 in total runs.
Philadelphia Phillies Analysis
Phillies made quick work of the Miami Marlins in the Wildcard round, winning Game 1 (4-1) and completing the sweep in Game 2 (7-1). Pitching staff will get to reset their rotation in Game 2, which means the offense will have to carry the load in Game 1 against Atlanta. SS Trea Turner, C J.T. Realmuto and LF Kyle Schwarber got the memo to start swinging hot bats in the playoffs. If Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and Nick Castellanos get the same memo, watch out since this team can go deep yet again in the playoffs.
Atlanta Braves Analysis
Braves decimated the National League from opening day until clinching the NL East Division title on 9/13/23. OF Ronald Acuna Jr. will win the NL MVP award unanimously, after hitting .337 AVG, 41 HRs, 106 RBIs, and 73 SBs. The rest of the Atlanta roster feeds off Acuna’s energy and timely hitting. 1B Matt Olson went off at the plate hitting .283 AVG, 54 HRs, 139 RBIs. Helps that the pitching staff has ace Spencer Strider (20 Ws, 3.86 ERA , 281 Ks), to always get a quality start at the beginning of a playoff series. Team to beat in the NL and the deepest squad in MLB.
Prediction: Braves don’t lay an egg and win in four tight games.
Arizona Diamondbacks (West Division #6 seed) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (West Division #1 seed)
Regular Season records: Arizona 84-78; Los Angeles Dodgers 100-62
Head-to-Head matchups in 2023: Los Angeles won eight of the thirteen games played and outscored Arizona 72-47 in total runs.
Arizona Diamondbacks Analysis
Diamondbacks were the last team to make the playoffs in the National League, and they flipped the script by sweeping the favored Milwaukee Brewers (6-3, 5-2). Timely hitting by LF Corbin Carroll, 1B Christian Walker, and 2B Ketel Marte, woke up a sleeping offense. Zach Gallen pitched a masterful game in Game 1 and then trade acquisition RP Paul Sewald closed the door in both games. Dangerous team right now , but not deep enough to challenge the Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers Analysis
Dodgers got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season and trailed the San Francisco Giants and Diamondbacks in the National League West. Woke up in June and July 2023 and then lapped the division yet again. Can manager Dave Roberts finally learn how to stretch his starting pitchers past the divisional round and make a good showing in the NLCS? Despite having year after year success during the regular season in the NL West, Roberts is a lousy pitching planner and strategist in the post season every season. Will coast this round unless the Dodgers suddenly go cold at the plate. Will have their work cut out in the NLCS.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers advance in three games.
Same bat time, same bat channel in one week. I’ll review the results of the MLB Divisional round playoff series and try again for League Championship Series round.
