MLB POSTSEASON PREVIEW

October baseball is finally here and every pitch is filled with suspense! The biggest difference about postseason play compared to the regular season is extra innings. The playoffs don’t get the runner placed at 2nd base to start the 10th, so games could go on for a long time. The pitch clock and mound visit rules still apply and teams only carry 13 pitchers per series. A teams 26 man roster can be reset after each series if you’re fortunate to advance. This is the first MLB Postseason in 30 years that will not include the Yankees, Red Sox or Cardinals. The Cubs, Mets, Padres, White Sox, Angels, Guardians and Giants are also absent. The American League is WIDE OPEN, but the National League has 2 behemoths standing in everyones way in the Braves and Dodgers. I have listed out how each playoff series will play out until the 2023 World Series Champion is crowned.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PLAYOFF TEAMS:

• TOP SEED: ATLANTA BRAVES
• 2 SEED: LOS ANGELES DODGERS
• 3 SEED: MILWAUKEE BREWERS
• 4 SEED: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
• 5 SEED: MIAMI MARLINS
• 6 SEED: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYOFF TEAMS:

• TOP SEED: BALTIMORE ORIOLES
• 2 SEED: HOUSTON ASTROS
• 3 SEED: MINNESOTA TWINS
• 4 SEED: TAMPA BAY RAYS
• 5 SEED: TEXAS RANGERS
• 6 SEED: TORONTO BLUE JAYS

WILD CARD SERIES:

• BEST OF 3 SERIES
• TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3RD THRU THURSDAY OCTOBER 5TH
• ALL GAMES PLAYED AT HIGHER SEED
• ALL GAMES PLAYED ON ESPN, ESPN2 AND ABC

NL WILD CARD SERIES 1:

• ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS AT MILWAUKEE BREWERS
• REGULAR SEASON SERIES: DIAMONDBACKS WON THE SEASON SERIES 4-2
• PITCHER TO WATCH: CORBIN BURNES — BREWERS
• HITTER TO WATCH: CORBIN CARROLL — DIAMONDBACKS
• SURPRISE HERO OF THE SERIES: WILLY ADAMES— BREWERS
• SERIES PREDICTION: BREWERS WIN SERIES 2-1

NL WILD CARD SERIES 2:

• MIAMI MARLINS AT PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

• REGULAR SEASON SERIES: MARLINS WON THE SEASON SERIES 7-6
• PITCHER TO WATCH: AARON NOLA — PHILLIES
• HITTER TO WATCH: JAKE BURGER — MARLINS
• SURPRISE HERO OF THE SERIES: BRYSON STOTT — PHILLIES
• SERIES PREDICTION: PHILLIES WIN SERIES 2-0

AL WILD CARD SERIES 1:

• TEXAS RANGERS AT TAMPA BAY RAYS
• REGULAR SEASON SERIES: RANGERS WON THE SEASON SERIES 4-2
• PITCHER TO WATCH: TYLER GLASNOW — RAYS
• HITTER TO WATCH: ADOLIS GARCIA — RANGERS
• SURPRISE HERO OF THE SERIES: JOSH JUNG — RANGERS
• SERIES PREDICTION: RANGERS WIN THE SERIES 2-1

AL WILD CARD SERIES 2:

• TORONTO BLUE JAYS AT MINNESOTA TWINS
• REGULAR SEASON SERIES: SEASON SERIES WAS TIED 3-3
• PITCHER TO WATCH: SONNY GRAY — TWINS
• HITTER TO WATCH: VLAD GUERRERO JR — BLUE JAYS
• SURPRISE HERO OF THE SERIES: WHIT MERRIFIELD — BLUE JAYS
• SERIES PREDICTION: BLUE JAYS WIN THE SERIES 2-0

DIVISIONAL SERIES:

• BEST OF 5 SERIES
• SERIES START ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH
• SERIES FORMAT OF 2-2-1, WITH HIGHER SEED GETTING HOME GAMES FOR GAME 1,2 & 5
• NLDS ON TBS
• ALDS ON FOX / FS1

NLDS 1:

• PHILLIES AT ATLANTA BRAVES
• PREDICTION: BRAVES WIN THE SERIES 3-1
• SERIES MVP: MATT OLSON — BRAVES

NLDS 2:

• BREWERS AT LOS ANGELES DODGERS
• PREDICTION: BREWERS WIN THE SERIES 3-2
• SERIES MVP: WILLIAM CONTRERAS — BREWERS

ALDS 1:

• RANGERS AT BALTIMORE ORIOLES
• PREDICTION: RANGERS WIN THE SERIES 3-2
• SERIES MVP: COREY SEAGER — RANGERS

ALDS 2:

• BLUE JAYS AT HOUSTON ASTROS
• PREDICTION: ASTROS WIN THE SERIES 3-1
• SERIES MVP: KYLE TUCKER — ASTROS

CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES:

• BEST OF 7 SERIES
• SERIES START ON
• SERIES FORMAT OF 2-3-2 WITH THE HIGHER SEED GETTING HOME GAMES FOR GAMES 1,2,6 & 7
• NLCS ON TBS
• ALCS ON FOX / FS1

NLCS:

• MILWAUKEE BREWERS AT ATLANTA BRAVES
• PREDICTION: ATLANTA BRAVES WIN THE SERIES 4-2
• SERIES MVP: RONALD ACUNA JR — BRAVES

ALCS:

• TEXAS RANGERS AT HOUSTON ASTROS
• PREDICTION: ASTROS WIN THE SERIES 4-2
• SERIES MVP: YORDAN ALVAREZ — ASTROS

2023 WORLD SERIES:

• HOUSTON ASTROS AT ATLANTA BRAVES
• PREDICTION: BRAVES WIN THE WORLD SERIES 4-2
• WORLD SERIES MVP: OZZIE ALBIES — BRAVES

BUCKLE UP AND GET READY FOR MAGICAL OCTOBER BASEBALL!!