October baseball is here! The 12-team bracket is ready, and postseason action starts on Tuesday.
PHOENIX—Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, and the hard-hitting Atlanta Braves have earned a couple of days of rest and relaxation after Major League Baseball’s long 162-game regular season.
So have Jose Altuve, Justin Verlander, and the defending World Series champion Houston Astros—who won the AL West on the season’s final day—along with the Los Angeles Dodgers and feel-good story Baltimore Orioles.
As for the other eight teams that qualified for Major League Baseball’s 12-team October showcase?
The action comes in a hurry.
MLB’s postseason bracket is set, with the American League and National League wild-card matchups beginning Tuesday. It’s the second year for the new October format, which includes an opening round, best-of-three series with all of the games at the higher seed’s ballpark.
In the AL, the No. 6 seed Toronto Blue Jays will face the No. 3 Minnesota Twins and the No. 5 Texas Rangers travel to the No. 4 Tampa Bay Rays. The NL features the No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks against the No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers and the No. 5 Miami Marlins at the No. 4 Philadelphia Phillies.
The Braves, Astros, Dodgers, and Orioles will get about a week off before the division series begins.
It’s a postseason bracket missing some of the sport’s marquee franchises. Slugger Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will spend October at home. So will the big-spending New York Mets and San Diego Padres.
But for those who remain, the road to the World Series begins soon. Here’s a look at the qualifiers:
The Wild Card Matchups – National League
No. 6 Diamondbacks at No. 3 Brewers
The season series: D-backs won 4–2.
The skinny: Arizona is back in the postseason for the first time since 2017 despite losing its final four games of the regular season. Rookie speedster Corbin Carroll leads a versatile lineup while right-hander Zac Gallen is among the top candidates for the NL Cy Young Award. The Brewers’ lineup is led by 2018 MVP Christian Yelich, while the pitching staff has a solid top three in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta.
No. 5 Marlins at No. 4 Phillies
The season series: Marlins won 7–6.
The skinny: The Marlins have been an under-the-radar success story and dealt with a weather mess in New York during some of the most important games of the wild-card race. Luis Arraez won the NL batting title with a .354 mark while Jesus Luzardo and Braxton Garrett are at the top of the rotation with ace Sandy Alcantara sidelined for the rest of the year by an elbow injury. The Phillies are trying to make it back to the World Series—they lost to the Astros last year—and have a deep lineup with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner.
American League
No. 6 Blue Jays at No. 3 Twins
The season series: Tied 3–3.
The skinny: The Blue Jays are a tough No. 6 seed with one of the deepest lineups in baseball, including Bo Bichette, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Matt Chapman, George Springer, and Whit Merrifield. They’re also deep on the mound with Chris Bassitt, José Berríos, Kevin Gausman, and Yusei Kikuchi. The Twins were easily the best team in a weak AL Central. They’re hoping that some of their best players—like shortstop Carlos Correa and third baseman Royce Lewis—will be healthy after fighting injuries in the season’s final weeks.
No. 5 Rangers at No. 4 Rays
The season series: Rangers won 4–2.
The skinny: The Rangers are led by the stellar middle infield combo of Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, who could both finish in the top 5 of AL MVP balloting. Outfielder Adolis Garcia also had a big year. The pitching staff doesn’t have a lot of big names who are healthy but has been steady with Dane Dunning, Andrew Heaney, and Nathan Eovaldi. The Rays were the hottest team in baseball in the early weeks but got caught by the Orioles around midseason. Tampa Bay continues to thrive despite one of the lowest payrolls in the league. The balanced lineup includes Yandy Diaz, Isaac Paredes, and Randy Arozarena. Zach Elfin and Tyler Glasnow lead the pitching staff.
The Top Seeds
National League
No. 1 Atlanta Braves. They’ve got the best lineup in baseball, led by Acuña’s speed-power combo. But their biggest strength is depth. Olson just wrapped up a 54-homer season while Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, and Marcell Ozuna all have at least 30 homers. The pitching staff has struggled with injuries, but hard-throwing Spencer Strider led the majors with 281 strikeouts. They won the World Series in 2021. Acuña was hurt during that playoff run in 2021 and is eager to make his mark this fall.
No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers. They looked like they might struggle to win the NL West for much of the season, but caught fire with a 24–5 record in August and haven’t looked back. The lineup revolves around stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and J.D. Martinez while three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw anchors the pitching staff. They won the World Series in 2020.
American League
No. 1 Baltimore Orioles. They’re arguably the best story in baseball, winning more than 100 games just two seasons after losing 110. They’ve got a young, balanced lineup, led by catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson. The pitching staff leans on the trio of Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, and Kyle Bradish, who have been solid most of the season.
No. 2 Houston Astros. They stumbled in September, but righted the ship just in time to have a shot at defending their World Series title and even rallied late to win the AL West. Franchise stalwarts Altuve, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Turcker lead the lineup while the rotation includes Verlander—a three-time Cy Young winner—and Framber Valdez.
Which teams have earned a bye and will await the winners of the Division Series in the Championship Series?
D Orioles will await the winners of these wild-card matchups in the Division Series, which is a best-of-five series. The teams with the best records in each league, the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL and the San Francisco Giants in the NL, have earned a bye and will await the winners of the Division Series in the Championship Series. The winners of the Championship Series will then face off in the World Series to determine the champion of Major League Baseball.
This October showcase is highly anticipated, as it brings together the best teams in the league competing for the ultimate prize. It is a culmination of months of hard work, determination, and skill, as teams battle it out in a grueling 162-game season to earn a spot in the postseason. The pressure is high, and every game counts as teams strive to advance and ultimately reach the World Series.
The Atlanta Braves have had a remarkable season, led by the talented Ronald Acuña Jr. and their strong lineup of hitters. They have clinched the NL East division title and will be looking to make a deep playoff run this year. The Houston Astros, on the other hand, are the defending World Series champions and have once again secured a spot in the postseason. With Jose Altuve and Justin Verlander leading the way, they are a formidable team that cannot be underestimated.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, despite facing numerous injuries throughout the season, have managed to secure a spot in the postseason. They have a strong roster of talented players and are always a tough team to beat. Finally, the Baltimore Orioles have been a feel-good story this season. Despite being considered underdogs, they have shown tremendous resilience and determination, and their presence in the playoffs is a testament to their hard work.
As for the other eight teams in the postseason, they have fought hard to earn a spot in the October showcase. The Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies have all had their fair share of ups and downs this season, but they have emerged as contenders in the playoffs. They will be looking to make a statement and prove that they belong among the best teams in the league.
The excitement and anticipation for the postseason are palpable. Baseball fans across the country are eagerly awaiting the start of the wild-card matchups and can’t wait to see which teams will come out on top. It is sure to be a thrilling and intense October, filled with memorable moments and incredible displays of skill.
As the playoffs get underway, all eyes will be on these teams as they vie for the chance to be crowned World Series champions. The journey will be tough, but for these teams, it is the culmination of a season’s worth of hard work and dedication. Only one team will ultimately be victorious, and it will be a testament to their perseverance and determination.
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