MLB 2023 Postseason: More than any other sport, the baseball season feels like a marathon. Six months and 162 games in, teams finally prove a steady pace, endurance, and consistency, but when the regular season ends on October 1 and the finish line is in sight,the undecided pennant race turns into an all-out sprint, that gun will sound this weekend: Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay RaysThe prize:The #1 seed in the AL bracket, a bye to the Division Series and guaranteed home field advantage through the World Series
Honestly, the American League is Houston until proven otherwise. through, the winner of this race will have the best record in the league and an advantage in advancing to the World Series. Therefore, this weekend's four-game series between the two teams in Baltimorewill be a pivotal prelude to the postseason
, with the young Orioles coming out on top with three wins in four games when the two clubs met in mid-July. Everyone's convinced that with a lineup centered around Adly Lutzman and Gunner Henderson, however, this will be a good test for Baltimore's new rotation options for the postseason. Kyle Bradish, who goes on Thursday, has looked terribly ace of late. In his last 15 starts (through mid-June), he has a 2.33 ERA and has gone at least six innings 13 times, and the Rays could retake the lead this weekend if outfielder Randy Arozarena, who has been in the spotlight, puts October in gear early: Houston Astros , the Texas Rangers, and the Seattle Mariners
繼續讀賣Prize money:Second seed in the AL bracket, guaranteed a bye to the Division Series
The presumptive AL Central champion Minnesota Twins could surpass any of these teams is very unlikely, but the three contenders in the AL West are running the race for the highest stakes of all, because the Wild Card-seeking Toronto Blue Jays could very well Someone could skip the Wild Card series and slot in the ALDS, where the Marinersjumped into first place with a 21-6 record in Augustbut squandered their spot with a 5-8 record in September. Meanwhile, the Astros, the de facto favorite and current division leader, have lost two straight to the Oakland A's: The Mariners' last 10 games are against two rival teams. Three games in Texas, three at home against Houston, and four at home against the Rangers: Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins, and San Francisco Giants
Prize money: ticket to October
This is an absolute scramble, assuming the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs can keep the first two NL Wild Card slots. The four contenders for the last slot came within 1.5 games of each other on Wednesday, this is a collection of surprise teams playing for house money, and none of them have even been over $500 since the trade deadline.
Led by NL Cy Young candidate Zach Gallen andNL Rookie of the Year candidate Corbin Carroll, the D-backs, buoyed by a 7-5 record (yes, starting Friday, the Cubs and Giants come to Phoenix for a crucial home stand
) The winner of this demolition derby will likely face the Milwaukee Brewers in a wild card series.