It is the best time of the year to be a baseball fan, as the MLB postseason is about to begin. The marathon 162-game season is ending; just 12 teams remain. These 12 will battle it out over the next month in hopes of winning the World Series. The quest for the fall classic starts with the Wild Card Round. Eight teams will battle it out in order to survive and advance to the divisional round. It’s a recipe for high drama and moments that will last a lifetime. Here is a preview of the four series along with a prediction of who will win.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves
Any time you have division rivals in a playoff series, you know it will be entertaining. But the Philadelphia Phillies vs. Atlanta Braves has a bit of extra juice as these two have been the class of the National League East for the past few seasons. It has been one of the most entertaining series in recent MLB memory. This year, the division went to the Braves, who exceeded expectations and ran away with a 94-68 record. The Phillies, on the other hand, got cold at the worst time. After a four-game skid, they needed a 7-3 win in Game 162 to claim the final spot in the National League.
While divisional opponents usually bring out the best in each team, the Braves should have no problems taking this series. The Phillies have been playing some of their worst baseball over the past month. They went 10-14, the ninth-worst record in MLB. One of the biggest indicators for postseason success is how you played the final few weeks of the season. The Braves also have the pitching advantage. They’re sending Chris Sale and Tyler Mahle to the mound, both of whom have been some of the best pitchers in MLB over the past few weeks. The Braves should have an easy win.
Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros
This series features two of the most interesting storylines in the MLB this season. In one corner, you have the Chicago White Sox, a team nobody thought would make the postseason. They were coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, including setting the single-season loss record just two seasons ago. The White Sox defied the odds and clinched their first playoff berth since 2021. The Houston Astros made some history of their own. With an 81-81 record, it’s the worst record to win the division in MLB history. There was a decent stretch when it looked like they would win the division with an under-.500 record.
Both teams rely heavily on their offense, so it should be an entertaining series. But the Astros have the slight edge. Hunter Brown is the best pitcher in this series and should be able to pitch them to a victory when he is on the mound. There is also the fact that some of the White Sox rotation is a mess. They have no one they can go to and count on to win a ballgame. Any hope the White Sox have of winning this series will have to come from their bats. Given how young they are, it wouldn’t be surprising if this pressure makes the offense go silent. The Astros should be able to sneak out a victory in the series.
Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees
Another chapter in one of MLB’s most famous rivalries is about to be written as the Boston Red Sox face the New York Yankees. This will be the seventh time these two clubs have played in the postseason, and the second straight year. Last year the Yankees got the best of the Red Sox, taking the series 2-1. But earlier this season, this matchup seemed highly unlikely. While the Yankees dominated on their way to a 93-68 record, the Red Sox were in the basement at the All-Star break. It took a historic winning streak, and one of the hottest stretches in MLB history, in order to return to October.
The biggest storyline in this series is: Will Aaron Judge play? He is currently dealing with a right calf strain, and his status for the series is up in the air. But whether Judge plays or not, the Red Sox should be able to pull out the victory. Their starting rotation has been the best in baseball at preventing walks and the long ball. The biggest way the Yankees generate runs. The Yankees bullpen has also been a huge concern all season. If their starter can’t go deep into a game, the Red Sox should have no problem teeing off the pen. It should help them steal the series in the Bronx.
Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres
In another rematch of a wild card series from last season, the Chicago Cubs will take on the San Diego Padres. Last year, the Cubs held off the Padres and took the series 2-1 at Wrigley Field. But a rematch seemed laughable just a few months ago. Sure, the Cubs always looked like a postseason contender. Led by my NL MVP favorite, Pete Crow-Armstrong, they mashed their way to the top wild card spot. But the Padres appeared to be going nowhere. Many thought they would be sellers at the trade deadline. But instead, they decided to buy and have been one of the best teams in MLB since.
While the Cubs got the best of the Padres last season, San Diego should be able to get their revenge this year. The Cubs’ Achilles ‘ heel has been their pitching, as they have the worst ERA of all National League playoff teams. Even the moves they made at the deadline haven’t helped, as all the starters they acquired have struggled to this point. On the other hand, the Padres pitching has been a big reason for their turnaround. The starters have done just enough for their elite bullpen to take over. As long as the Padres have the lead by the seventh inning, the game is pretty much over.
