The 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) playoffs have been nothing short of spectacular, delivering thrilling moments, unexpected upsets and memorable performances on the diamond. As the postseason continues, let us take a look back at the action and excitement that has unfolded so far.
American League
We will start with the series that brought together the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles for an unexpected matchup. I stated that the Texas bullpen would collapse in this series as they have struggled all season long, but it was the Baltimore bullpen that looked out of their depth. Texas was able to use that high power offense to attack the Baltimore pitching staff and dominate the Orioles.
I felt that the Oriole offense would have much more success against the Rangers, who have looked shaky this season apart from the likes of Nathan Eovaldi and Jordan Montgomery. However, the Rangers were extremely comfortable in their pitching for the series. With a lot of inexperienced young players on the roster, the Orioles looked very nervous throughout the whole series, and the star power of the Rangers took over, sweeping the Orioles three games to zero.
The other series in the AL saw the defending World Series champion Houston Astros take on the Minnesota Twins. I was spot on with my prediction of the Astros taking the series three games to one. The reigning champs looked like a force against the Twins, especially in games three and four. Jose Abreu and Yordan Alvarez were the stars of the series, especially in game three, where Alvarez went 3 of 5 with a home run and Abreu went 2 of 5 with two home runs and five RBIs.
The Astros’ offense was the star of the show this series, flexing their muscles against a Twins team that just did not have the firepower to combat the dominant Houston offense. The pitching of Justin Verlander and Cristian Javier guided the Astros to their seventh consecutive ALCS and could potentially lead them to their 6th ever World Series appearance.
National League
The underdog story of the 2023 MLB season is undoubtedly the rise of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have been one of the worst teams the past few seasons. Now, they have blossomed into a young and hungry squad that boasts the likes of Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. The D-backs had a difficult start to their postseason but were able to overcome the Milwaukee Brewers in the Wild Card round. They then pulled off the shock of the postseason, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. I predicted that the Dodgers would sweep Arizona and to keep an eye on the Diamondbacks next season, but they could go all the way in 2023, which would be a massive shock to all baseball fans.
They currently face the Philadelphia Phillies, who I also predicted to get swept by the Atlanta Braves. It was safe to say that I was very wrong yet again, as the Phillies went on to beat the Braves three games to one, including two dominant performances at home in games three and four. Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos were the major producers for Philly, sending homers and flipping bats all the way to the National League Championship Series.
The runners up last season will look to get their revenge on the winner of the ALCS, and I have a strong feeling they may want a second chance to face the Astros in the World Series. At home, the Phillies are a scary team to play, especially when they are hot, so they could have a favorable shot at their first World Series ring since 2008. It will be exciting to watch these Championship Series games play out, and how this postseason has gone, anything and everything could happen.
