MLB playoff preview: Five storylines to watch
The MLB postseason is finally here. These are some of the biggest storylines for the 2023 playoffs, including Baltimore's remarkable resurgence, Miami's stunning run, and Atlanta's mission to solidify itself as the best in the league.
Can anyone stop the Braves? Atlanta is on a one-way track toward its second World Series title in three seasons. The Braves (104-58) have the league's best record and run-differential (+231). Per Oddschecker, they are the favorite to win the World Series (+310).
The Braves are led by likely NL MVP Ronald Acuna and NL home run king Matt Olson, who hit a career-high 54 home runs this season. Along with Marcell Ozuna, the Braves have three players with 40 home runs for the first time since 1973.
The team's 307 home runs this season are tied for the most in MLB history.
In the last 20 years, however, the team with the best record entering the playoffs has only won the World Series six times. The 2020 Dodgers and 2018 Red Sox were the last teams to do so.
Baltimore's revival: The Orioles returned in a big way this season. After years of toiling at the bottom of the league, Baltimore (101-61) won the AL East for the first time since 2014 and recorded its first 100-win season since 1980.
Some of the team's most significant contributors were with the organization during its recent stretch that included three 100-loss seasons in four years, such as first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and outfielders Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander.
A couple of young stars — catcher Adley Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson — will also have a say in how far the Orioles' incredible turnaround goes.
Will Bryce Harper get over the hump? One of the best players since entering the league, the only thing missing on Harper's resume is a World Series title. He spent his first seven seasons with the Nationals, leading the league in home runs in 2015, his fourth year.
He never got past the NLDS in Washington and signed with the Phillies in 2019. That year, the Nationals won their first World Series in franchise history. Harper waited until last season to play in his first Fall Classic and after Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead against the Astros, lost the final three games of the series.
Astros try to extend their dynasty: Houston (+500) has the second-best odds of winning the World Series, pretty good for a team that wasn't even the best in the state of Texas for the majority of the season. The Rangers led the AL West for most of the season but dropped their final game to lose the division crown on the last day of the regular season.
The Astros get a significant boost by avoiding the wild-card series but are going to face a battle in the ALDS, whichever team they face. Houston plays the winner of Minnesota-Toronto. Houston was 2-4 against the Twins in the regular season and 3-4 against the Blue Jays.
Marlins try to do the unthinkable ... again: After 31 seasons, Miami is still searching for its first division title. Until then, a third World Series win will do the trick. The Marlins reached the postseason for only the fourth time in franchise history this season. In 1997 and 2003, its first two playoff appearances, Miami won the World Series.
Among the 2023 playoff field, Miami (+9000) had the longest odds of reaching the playoffs before the season started. The Marlins were outscored by 57 runs this season, making their run even more improbable. However, based on its history, the only thing less likely than Miami making the postseason is losing the World Series now that it's here.
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