The 2023 Major League Baseball season is ending, and many teams are looking forward to brighter things in the 2024 season.
However, many teams are looking just a few days ahead to October, which brings about the MLB postseason, where teams fight it out for a chance at a World Series title.
Starting Oct. 3, 2023, the 2023 MLB postseason will begin with the commencement of the Wild Card series, which teams are still fighting to be a part of. Groups like the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks finally secured spots for the National League Wild Card Series. At the same time, teams like the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays are now set to play in the American League Wild Card Series. Sadly, teams like the Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners were eliminated from playoff contention.
According to ESPN, before inevitably clinching spots in the postseason, the Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and Marlins had a 90% chance of earning a spot in the postseason. However, the Mariners and Cubs only had a 10% chance of earning a spot.
Seven teams had clinched spots in the 2023 MLB Postseason prior to Sept. 30, 2023, including the Los Angeles Dodgers. Teams that had already punched their hole in the postseason roster look to make a massive run at a World Series title.
Since the Dodgers have once again clinched the top spot in the National League West league, they have earned a bye in the first round of the playoffs, giving them five days off before they begin their postseason run in the National League Division Series on Saturday, Oct. 7. The Atlanta Braves will also have this time off.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves plan to play simulated games to ramp up their training for the postseason and plan on inviting fans to watch these games. Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts, spoke about this decision.
“I think it intensifies it a little bit more. No player likes to be embarrassed. And so, you’re facing your teammate, but just to go up there and strike out, that’s something.” Roberts spoke. “It’s not everything. But I do think that the fan experience, our guys playing in front of some warm bodies for a workout, I don’t see the downside.”
In the final series of the 2023 MLB season, many teams still fighting for spots were able to solidify their standings in the postseason.
One of the season’s final series, the Seattle Mariners versus the Texas Rangers, featured two teams fighting for a playoff spot. The entire season was on the line for these two teams.
J.P. Crawford, the shortstop for the Seattle Mariners, spoke about the high stakes of the series in an interview.
“It’s just not giving an at-bat away,” Crawford spoke. “Any time there’s a chance to do damage or just a chance to kill that pulse a little bit for the other team, you’ve got to take advantage of that.”
On Sept. 30, 2023, the Texas Rangers emerged victorious over the Mariners, earning a spot in the National League Wild Card Series. The Seattle Mariners were eliminated from contention, and their season is over.
Another significant series includes the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays had already clinched their ticket to the playoffs, while the Blue Jays were fighting to secure their spot. The Blue Jays are looking to prove themselves this year in the postseason after being eliminated in the first round in 2022.
Ultimately, the Blue Jays were able to clinch a spot in the playoffs because of the loss by the Mariners.
Moorpark College freshman and previous Simi Valley High School baseball player Landen Sawyer spoke about the MLB postseason and the stakes it brings to each team.
“There is definitely way more energy when it comes to postseason baseball,” Sawyer spoke. “There’s tons at stake for every team including pay boosts, contract extensions and bringing the [World Series] trophy home to millions of fans who turn on the game every night.”
Sawyer also spoke about his experience playing postseason baseball, as Simi Valley High School’s baseball team also competed in the postseason for high school baseball in 2023.
“As a former baseball player, I can inform audiences that postseason baseball is a great game where David can defeat Goliath at any time,” Sawyer spoke. “It’s all about who is hot at the right time and who executes. If your team isn’t a favorite to win it all, don’t count them out.”
With teams’ entire seasons on the line, the final few games of the MLB regular season were filled with high energy and high stakes. Not only do higher-seeded teams have to prepare their players for the postseason craziness, but lower-seeded teams will have minimal preparation before the craziness begins. It is sure to be a hectic October for Major League Baseball.
For more information on the MLB postseason, click here.
