All baseball fans have been waiting for this moment, and it is finally here:

The 2023 MLB playoffs start October 3 with a full four-game slate. The first game begins at 2:30 p.m. CT, and the last game kicks off at 7:00 p.m. CT. 

The MLB playoffs have a different format this time around. In previous years, 10 teams would make the playoffs and there would be one wildcard game for each league. The winner of the wild card game would go on to play the #1 seed for their respective league. In the offseason after the 2022 season, the MLB came up with a solution to expand the playoffs to 12 teams, 6 per league.

This year, there will be two wild card series opposed to one single game like in previous years. These series will follow a best of three format in which the top two wild card teams play each other, and the third wild card team and the division winner with the worst record will play each other.

The top two division winners will have a bye in the first round, then move on to a five-game series in the divisional round. Then, the two winners in each divisional round will go on to play each other in the Championship series (which is a best of seven series).

The World Series is also a seven-game series in which the winners of both leagues play each other.

Rangers vs. Rays

The first wild card series in the American League is between the Texas Rangers (90-72) and Tampa Bay Rays (99-63). The Rays started out well, winning their first 13 games – one of the best starts of all time. In the offseason, the Rangers acquired Jacob DeGrom who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he has been sidelined with a torn UCL acquired earlier in the year. At the trade deadline, the Texas team also received Max Scherzer, who has also been one of the best pitchers in baseball for a long time. Scherzer, however, also got injured and is out for the year, along with DeGrom.

The Rangers do have a good pitching staff even with their two best pitchers out. As of late, the Rangers have struggled offensively, a fact which may scare fans as the team goes into their series against the Rays. The Rays ended the year the way they started it: red hot. There is a small chance the Rangers are able to beat the Rays on the road if they keep playing the way they have been.

Jays vs. Twins

Next up is the wild card match in the American League between the Toronto Blue Jays (89-73) and the Minnesota Twins (87-75). The Jays come into this series fully healthy, whereas the Twins are without their best player, Byron Buxton, who is hurt with a knee injury. The Blue Jays have a very deep rotation with Kevin Gausman starting game one against the Twins’ starter, Pablo Lopez, who has been strong this season as well. Gausman had a 3.16 ERA this year in 185 innings. Although Gausman has been performing well in the regular season, he has struggled in the playoffs with a 4.57 ERA in 21.2 innings. On the other hand, Lopez had a 3.66 ERA in 194 innings, but has very little playoff experience, and is starting one game going five innings giving up 2 runs on 3 hits.

In game two, the Twins have their ace, Sonny Gray, on the mound; Gray had an impressive 2.79 ERA in 184 innings this season. The Blue Jays will trot out Jose Berrios, who had a 3.65 ERA in 189.2 innings with a 3.75 ERA in his 12 innings of work in the playoffs. Toronto has the deeper rotation and better offense, so the Blue Jays should split the first two games, but then win game 3 and advance. 

Brewers vs. Diamondbacks

The first National League wild card series will stand between the Milwaukee Brewers (92-70) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78). The Brewers come into this series after winning the NL Central for the second time in the last three years. Starting pitcher Corbin Burnes has put forth a solid show over the last two years. The Diamondbacks are not able to throw their ace, Zac Gallen, in game one, but he will start in game two.

The Brewers are facing Brandon Pfaadt, who has played extremely poorly this season, with a 5.72 ERA in 96 innings. The rookie looks to shut down the Brewers in his postseason debut, but realistically, the Brewers should win this one easily. Gallen will look to force a game three, but the Brewers’ offense is too good and should win this series in two games. 

Phillies vs. Marlins

The Philadelphia Phillies (90-72) will face the Miami Marlins (84-77) face off in the second wild card series within the National League. In game one, both aces will face off: Zack Wheeler for the Phillies vs. Jesus Luzardo for the Marlins. The Phillies come into this series as the eighth best offense with the seventh best defense. The Marlins, on the other hand, have the 26th best offense and the 16th best defense.

The Marlins’ pitching carried them to the playoffs, but their pitching is no match for the Phillies’ offense, and will not save them in this series, where they would be lucky not to get swept in two games. 

Up Next

In the best of five divisional series round, the Atlanta Braves, who were the best team in the MLB, will most likely face the Phillies where they will have a tough matchup against a good offense.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will most likely struggle against the Brewers.

On the other side of the league, the most shocking playoff team, the Baltimore Orioles will look to extend their impressive year against what looks to be the Tampa Bay Rays.

The defending champions will look to repeat against either the Blue Jays or Twins.