The Major League Baseball Division Series was nothing short of spectacular across all four matchups. As stated in the series preview, there is something special about playoff baseball. After four series, we now know which four teams will be competing for a spot in the World Series, baseball’s ultimate prize. These teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers. We will now go further into these matchups and predict who will book their place in baseball’s biggest series.
American League
Many Texans are very excited about the ALCS clash between in-state rivals. The Houston Astros will take on their arch-nemesis, the Texas Rangers. These games ensure a high-scoring slugfest between the two teams. Both teams were battling in the regular season for the American League West division title, which the Rangers had led throughout the majority of the season. On the final day of the regular season, however, the Astros stole it from underneath the Rangers, clinching home-field advantage for the playoffs.
In the divisional round, the Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins three games to one, The Rangers however steamrolled a young Baltimore Orioles team and swept the series three games to zero.
Despite a tremendous amount of injuries to star players like Jose Altuve and Michael Brantely, Houston found a way to make it to the postseason. Slugger Yordan Alvarez has been on fire this postseason, batting .438 with four home runs while veteran Jose Abreu led the team with eight RBIs. It has been the veterans that have led the charge for Houston, who have players that have been constantly making deep playoff runs for six to seven consecutive seasons.
The Texas Rangers are finally back to being a contender, something that has not happened since they last made the World Series in 2011. The DFW area-based franchise has had major investment and restructuring since general manager Chris Young took the helm in 2022. The signings of Corey Seager and Marcus Semien have brought star power to a franchise that was lacking an identity. The Rangers have also developed a pipeline of talent through their minor league system, with Evan Carter and Josh Jung becoming impact players for Texas. The Rangers also have a stronger starting rotation, with former CY Young winner Max Scherzer and veteran Jon Gray hoping to return from injury to join Nathan Eovoldi for a solid three-man punch.
There is no denying that these two teams absolutely despise each other. This matchup will be heated, very similar to the Atlanta Braves and Phillies in the last round. Both teams are looking to win the whole thing, but will it be a repeat for Houston or a newly found triumph for the Rangers?
National League
The NLCS brought forth a matchup that many people were not expecting to see. Possibly the biggest underdog story in sports, the Diamondbacks pulled off a major upset and swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Many were expecting the Dodgers to progress to the Championship Series, but it was a young and hungry D-Backs team that prevailed. The Phillies used their home field advantage and beat the Braves three games to one.
From sweeping the Brewers in the wild-card round to dominating their NL West rival in the Division Series, the D-Backs are stealing the hearts of the country with this playoff run. The D-backs have a potential superstar in outfielder Corbin Carroll, who was named as an NL All-Star during the regular season. Carroll had a .285 batting average during the regular season and tallied 25 home runs and 56 stolen bases. The Diamondbacks have plenty of talent with the likes of Ketel Marte, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Zac Gallen amongst the ranks as well.
The Phillies were runners up last year after falling in six games to the Houston Astros in the 2022 World Series. They want nothing more than to make it back and this time and come home with the prize. Bryce Harper is doing what he does, which is to perform in clutch moments. Nick Castellanos had two home runs in game 5 of the NLDS vs. the Braves and will look to continue raking against a weaker pitching staff on paper. Philly also has a dominant bullpen, which includes the likes of Jose Alvarado and a veteran in Craig Kimbrel.
Arizona will be up against it yet again, but if the last two series have said anything, it is that the D-Backs are not afraid of a challenge. Will the Phillies avenge last year’s disappointing finish, or will the D-Backs make it to the World Series for only the second time in franchise history? No matter what happens, these two series, which take place Oct 15-23, are going to be must-see for any sports fan, so let the games begin.
