Playoff Field Set: Wild Card Series Matchup Previews

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Playoffs set to begin. 


The field has been set for the 2023 Major League Baseball playoffs. It took all 162 games to decide division winners and proper seeding. The Wild Card is set to begin on October 3rd, with the Texas Rangers and Tampa Bay Rays kicking things off. Let’s take a look at and preview the four Wild Card Series matchups.

          Texas Rangers (90-72) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (99-63): Tampa Bay will host Texas in what will be a matchup of two teams that took their divisional races down to the last couple days of the season. Texas needed a win on the final day of the season to clinch the division and they were beaten 1-0. Both teams have lost star players towards the end of their seasons. Texas lost pitcher Max Scherzer to a triceps injury. Tampa Bay lost star shortstop Wander Franco due to issues off the field. Texas and Toronto ranked 2nd and 3rd in team batting average this season. Texas won the season series over Tampa Bay 4-2. The Game 1 starter for the Rangers will be Jordan Montgomery (10-11, 3.20 ERA) while Tyler Glasnow (10-7, 3.53 ERA) will go for the Rays.

 

          Toronto Blue Jays vs. Minnesota Twins: Minnesota will play host to Toronto in a matchup of two teams that found themselves comfortably in the playoff picture throughout the entire season. Toronto is led by their young phenoms Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr, while Minnesota leans on their veteran pitching and tough bullpen. The two teams split the season series 3-3. Toronto will give the ball to Kevin Gausman (12-9, 3.16 ERA) and Pablo Lopez (11-8, 3.66 ERA) will toe the hill for Minnesota.

 

          Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers: Milwaukee will host Arizona in a series that features a lot of young and upcoming talent. Arizona is led by NL Rookie of the Year favorite, Corbin Carroll and NL Cy Young finalist, Zac Gallen. Milwaukee is led by their three headed monster Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta. Milwaukee also has rookies like Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell who helped lead them to a division title. Arizona took the season series 4-2 against Milwaukee. Arizona has given rookie Brandon Pfaadt (3-9, 5.72 ERA) the nod to start Game 1 against Corbin Burnes (10-8, 3.39 ERA) for Milwaukee.

 

          Miami Marlins vs. Philadelphia Phillies: The reigning National League champion Phillies, will host their division rival Miami. Miami is an unexpected postseason participant as many people believed this team was still a year or two away from being a playoff team. The Phillies are coming off a World Series appearance where they lost in 6 games to the Houston Astros. These two teams are no strangers as they met 13 times during the regular season with the Marlins taking the season series 7-6. Miami will give the ball to their young left-hander Jesus Luzardo (10-9, 3.63 ERA) while Philadelphia will have their ace Zack Wheeler (13-6, 3.61 ERA) on the hill.

         

          The Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, and Los Angeles Dodgers all have 1st round byes as they occupied the four best records in the MLB.


Sources

2023 MLB Team Hitting Stat Leaders | MLB.com

2023 MLB Team Pitching Stat Leaders | MLB.com

MLB Postseason Wild Card 100123 MLB.jpeg (960×540) (sportingnews.com)

   

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