The 2023 MLB season has been filled with thrilling moments, record-breaking performances, and unexpected twists and turns. As the regular season comes to a close, it's time to set our sights on the most exciting part of the baseball calendar: the MLB Playoffs. In this preview article, we'll look in-depth at the National League (NL) and American League (AL) contenders and make our official postseason predictions.
National League Contenders
Atlanta Braves: Historic Offense
The Atlanta Braves have taken the NL by storm this season, clinching both the NL East title and the best record in baseball. Their historic offense, which boasts an incredible team OPS of .844, has left opposing pitchers scratching their heads. MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. and slugger Matt Olsen headline this powerhouse lineup, and both players have a legitimate shot at taking home the MVP award. Acuña's all-around brilliance and Olsen's incredible power make them a lethal duo.
It's essential to mention that the Braves proved their mettle by winning the 2021 World Series without their best player, Acuña. This year's team looks even better. Keep an eye on Spencer Strider, whose trajectory suggests he could become one of the best pitchers in baseball. Defensively, the Braves are solid, offering a well-rounded package.
However, Atlanta does have its share of concerns. The pitching staff, especially the starting rotation, is currently thin due to injuries to Max Fried and Charlie Morton. Pitching phenom Spencer Strider has been a standout, but the rest of the rotation needs to step up. The bullpen, which played a pivotal role in their 2021 postseason run, has struggled in September and must regain its form to secure late-game leads.
Overall, the Braves offense can explode for double-digit runs on any given night, but their success in the playoffs will depend on their pitching staff's ability to hold up under pressure, especially with their bullpen locking down tight games.
Brewers: Winners of a Weak NL Central
The Milwaukee Brewers clinched the NL Central in a season where the division lacked strong competition. Pitching has been the Brewers' calling card, with the trio of Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta forming a formidable rotation. However, the recent injury to Woodruff casts uncertainty over their postseason aspirations, as he has been their best pitcher this season (albeit in limited action).
Devin Williams anchors their bullpen as a premier closer, and the presence of reliable arms like Hoby Milner, Bryse Wilson, and Joel Payamps offers depth in high-leverage situations. The Brewers' pitching staff is their backbone and they need the entire pitching staff to be near flawless if they want to go deep into October.
Offensively, Christian Yelich, Willy Adames, and William Contreras drive the team. Yelich is the standout and remains their best all-around player. However, their biggest issue lies in run production. Adames, with 78 RBIs and 24 HRs, leads the team in both categories, and he's hitting just .213. When facing elite postseason pitching, the Brewers will need players around Adames to step up and alleviate pressure on the pitching staff. Look for Mark Canha, acquired at the trade deadline, and his .289/.380/.440 batting line to be a key player if the Brewers' offense finds their groove.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Decade-Plus of Dominance
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been a dominant force in the NL for over a decade, and this season is no exception. They finished as the second-best team in the NL, right behind the historic Braves. Led by probable MVP runner-up Mookie Betts, the Dodgers' offense is arguably the best in franchise history. Betts is having a career year, providing the team with an unmatched blend of power, speed, and defense. Freddie Freeman, although often overlooked, continues to deliver elite performances as the team's OPS ranks third in the NL at .795, underscoring their status as an offensive juggernaut.
The Dodgers' biggest question mark is their pitching staff. Manager Dave Roberts is navigating one of the youngest and unproven rotations in recent memory. Clayton Kershaw, despite missing time due to injuries, leads the team with 131.2 innings pitched and boasts a stellar 2.46 ERA. However, beyond Kershaw, the rotation is a mixed bag, with trade deadline acquisition Lance Lynn providing an inconsistent innings-eater option.
Flamethrower Bobby Miller has shown promise, but the likes of Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove have yet to establish themselves as reliable starting pitching options. Miller's development and consistency in recent outings suggest he may be the Dodgers' best choice for the postseason rotation.
Miami Marlins: Young Electric Factory
The Miami Marlins have defied the odds by making the playoffs despite a negative run differential (-57). This accomplishment speaks to the shrewd moves by Marlins GM Kim Ng at the trade deadline, bringing in impact players like Jake Burger and Josh Bell. These acquisitions bolstered the Marlins' middle-of-the-lineup, where they are joined by Jorge Soler, a .853 OPS hitter, and employ base-hit machine Luis Arraez hitting in front of them.
The Marlins' starting pitching has shown flashes of brilliance but can be hit or miss. Even with Sandy Alcantara's season-ending shutdown, they boast a cadre of talented young arms in Jesus Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, Edward Cabrera, and Eury Perez. Perez, in particular, has emerged as a key contributor and is arguably the best pitcher on the Marlins (including Alcantara), but was sent down midseason and has faced innings restrictions late in the season to protect his arm. It will be interesting to see if they continue to employ these restrictions in the playoffs or if they will unleash their young star completely.
Philadelphia Phillies: 2022's surprise
The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves in a familiar spot, reminiscent of their 2022 season. While fans might have hoped for more, the Phillies continue to be a team with a powerful lineup. Six of their starting nine players have hit more than 20 home runs this season and Trea Turner, who received a supportive standing ovation, has played at the level expected of him down the stretch.
However, Aaron Nola, who's having a down year, and Zack Wheeler, who has been the team's best starter with a 3.61 ERA, headline an inconsistent pitching staff. Cristopher Sanchez, a young pitcher, has emerged as the Phillies' second-best starter, and the bullpen, with a middle-of-the-pack ERA in the league, needs to perform better for the Phillies to make a deep postseason run like they did last year.
Arizona Diamondbacks: This Year's Surprise
Coming into the season, most expected the NL West to send two teams to the playoffs. However, the Arizona Diamondbacks have defied expectations and secured that second NL West postseason berth, even with a cooling second half.
Fueled by Rookie of the Year favorite Corbin Carroll, the D-backs sprinted out of the gate with a hot start. Their young core of hitters, including Carroll, Ketel Marte, Gabriel Moreno and Christian Walker, has been solid and will need to drive this offense against better pitching than they've seen all season if they want to make noise in the postseason.
The starting rotation, led by Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, provides a strong 1-2 punch but there are plenty of question marks after them, as no other starter has an ERA below 4.00. Additionally, their bullpen has encountered difficulties down the stretch, raising concerns about their pitching stability.
American League Contenders
Baltimore Orioles: The Young Kids Have Arrived
The Baltimore Orioles have been on an upward trajectory, nearly making the playoffs last year and securing the top seed in the AL this season. Young talents like Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, Grayson Rodriguez, and Kyle Bradish have been instrumental in their success.
Grayson Rodriguez, in particular, has been dominant down the stretch, forming a formidable pitching duo with Kyle Bradish. The loss of Felix Bautista in the back of the bullpen is a blow, but Yennier Cano can step up and lock down games in his absence.
The Orioles have won many close games this season, thanks to clutch hitting and solid pitching. Their ability to perform under pressure could be a crucial factor in the playoffs.
Minnesota Twins: Strikeout or Homerun
The Minnesota Twins have had a rollercoaster season, marked by both striking out batters at a high rate and hitting the third-most home runs in the league. The result is a dynamic offense capable of explosive performances but also marked by excruciating inconsistency.
Max Kepler and Edouard Julien need to carry the offense, and the rookie Royce Lewis is a wildcard who has played extremely well this year in a limited number of games. The benefit of having Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray lined up to start the series against the Blue Jays adds an element of intrigue as they have their two best starters pitching the first two games of a best-of-three series.
Houston Astros: Potential Dynasty
The Houston Astros, perennial contenders, secured another AL West title in a season that may not be as dominant as previous years but still keeps them in the conversation. Offensively, they boast a lineup featuring Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Chas McCormick, and the ever-tough Jose Altuve.
Their pitching staff, while not as dominant as last year, remains formidable, with Justin Verlander and Framber Valdez leading the way. Behind these two, Dusty Baker has the option to start Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, JP France, or Jose Urquidy, with whoever doesn't start being valuable pieces out of his bullpen, which already boasts quality arms like Ryan Pressly, Phil Maton, Kendall Graveman, and Rafael Montero. This pitching flexibility gives extra opportunities for Dusty to exploit matchups he likes making it even tougher for opposing offenses to score.
Tampa Bay Rays: Kings of Depth
The Tampa Bay Rays faced adversity throughout the season, losing key players Jeffery Springs, Shane McClanahan, and Wander Franco while missing more than half a season of Tyler Glasnow. Most teams would have folded and struggled to overcome these losses but they still managed to win 99 games, showcasing their depth and resilience.
Their offense (4th in the league in OPS) is solid and balanced and has gotten better year after year since falling short in the 2020 World Series. The pitching staff still looks like the pitching staff we expect from the Rays and ranks fifth in ERA as a team, and the bullpen has the fifth-best ERA. Additionally, the Rays are one of the only teams that have a true home-field advantage, as Tropicana Field provides unpredictable fielding conditions due to the dome.
Texas Rangers: Offensive Weapons, Stressful Pitching
The Texas Rangers appeared poised to secure the division title for most of the season but ultimately fell short on the last day of the regular season. However, they possess one of the elite offenses in the league. Corey Seager has been quietly one of the best hitters in baseball this season, leading a lineup that also includes Marcus Semien, Josh Jung, and Adolis Garcia, boasting the best OPS in the AL and the third-best overall.
However, concerns arise with their pitching staff, especially after Max Scherzer's injury. Scherzer, brought in to be the ace replacement for the injured Jacob deGrom, hasn't been his dominant self in big games for the Rangers before his injury. Meanwhile, there are questions in the bullpen as Aroldis Chapman has already had a few implosions this season and has struggled in his recent playoff runs, being on the wrong side of plenty of big moments. Jordan Montgomery, the most consistent starter, will be key for the Rangers. Still, the Rangers' struggles down the stretch and pitching question marks could undermine their explosive offense.
Toronto Blue Jays: Reversed Strengths
The Toronto Blue Jays' offense has not been their biggest strength despite lofty expectations and finished with the 11th-best OPS despite employing a lineup that features George Springer, Bo Bichette, Vladdy Jr., Brandon Belt, and Matt Chapman. Vladdy Jr. has struggled to regain his status as the most dangerous hitter in baseball since finishing as the runner-up to the AL MVP in 2021 but has still been a respectable power threat. Bo Bichette is the key to scoring runs and if he gets shut down this team could struggle to score runs consistently.
Surprisingly, it's been the pitching this year that has been this team's strength. Their starting rotation is led by Kevin Gausman who will probably finish top 5 in the Cy Young, and he has an impressive supporting cast in Yusei Kikuchi, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, and Hyun Jin Ryu. The bullpen, featuring Jordan Hicks, Tim Mayza, Erik Swanson, and Jordan Romano as the closer can shorten games. The Blue Jays also can call any of their starters out of their bullpen in a pinch, as they only need 3-4 starters in the postseason. The Blue Jays' dynamic pitching options can create matchup nightmares for opposing offenses and will be the driving factor if they go on a deep postseason run.
Playoff Predictions
Wild Card Round:
Blue Jays sweep Twins in 2.
Rays sweep Rangers in 2.
Brewers sweep D-backs in 2.
Phillies beat the Marlins in 3.
Divisional Series:
Orioles beat the Rays in 5.
Astros beat the Blue Jays in 4.
Braves beat the Phillies in 4.
Dodgers sweep Brewers in 3.
Championship Series:
Orioles beat the Astros in 6.
Dodgers beat the Braves in 7.
World Series:
Orioles beat the Dodgers in 6.
Conclusion
As the 2023 MLB Playoffs approach, we can't help but be excited about the potential for thrilling matchups and unexpected heroes. With strong contenders in both the National League and American League, this postseason promises to be one for the ages. Stay tuned to "The Diamond Chronicles" for comprehensive coverage of all the action in the 2023 MLB Playoffs.
