There is nothing like the Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason. After a grueling 162 game season, teams will have the opportunity to prove themselves on one of the biggest stages of all: the World Series. And with less than a month to go in the league’s regular season, that feeling of October baseball is drawing near. Although there’s still baseball to be played, there are several teams that have solidified themselves as contenders. Buckle up for a wild ride; it’s time to take a look at the front runners for this year’s Fall Classic.
The Atlanta Braves are the talk of the league this year, and it’s easy to see why. They have already clinched a playoff berth and the National League (NL) East title. When you look at their team, it starts with one man, outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. He has wreaked havoc on opposing pitchers in every way possible. He’s the likely Most Valuable Player (MVP), as he’s on pace to slug 40 homers and steal 70 bags, a feat that’s never been achieved. Atlanta has stars all over and should take the number one seed in the postseason and is the favorite to take home the World Series trophy this fall.
The chase for the number one seed isn’t over though. Not if the Los Angeles Dodgers have anything to say about it. No stranger to the postseason, the Dodgers have had this postseason thing figured out for a while. Manager Dave Roberts is headed back to the playoffs for an eighth consecutive time, winning the NL West once again, and has a strong supporting cast. This cast is led by Mookie Betts, who is also making a solid MVP case. The superstar outfielder has launched over 40 homers and driven in over 100 runs, doing it from the leadoff spot. Every team needs a go-to guy to turn to in the postseason, and Betts is more than ready to be that guy for Los Angeles.
The Baltimore Orioles have written one of the more inspirational stories in baseball this season. After struggling year after year, Charm City looks to have competitive baseball back in Camden Yards. It’s a young group of guys, but they have shown that they’re here to stay. Led by franchise cornerstone, catcher Adley Rutschman and rookie of the year frontrunner, infielder Gunnar Henderson, the team has taken the American League (AL) by storm, holding the best record. They’ve faced some adversity, like when their flamethrowing closer Félix Bautista went down due to injury, but have managed to keep their head above water. While inexperience might play a factor, the world will see where the Orioles steer this ship come playoff time.
The Tampa Bay Rays are right in the Orioles rearview mirror, matching them step for step. Unlike the O’s, Tampa Bay has postseason experience. It seems like whatever squad manager Kevin Cash and his coaching staff are given will always be a bigtime contender. Going back for a fifth postseason run, the team is aided by the energy radiating from outfielder Randy Arozarena. The 28-year-old is a nightmare for any team, making plays all over the diamond. This team also has the pitching to go far, headed by starter Tyler Glasnow and a sturdy bullpen. Maybe, this will finally be the year for the Rays.
Those are your top four teams in baseball right now, but there are a few other contenders that are bound to make noise this fall. Of course, the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros top that list. Both teams have returned to their winning ways and are well on their way to making the postseason. However, once the postseason takes off, it’s anyone’s ballgame. Next week, we’ll take a look at the sleepers for this year’s postseason.
