The MLB playoffs are set to begin tonight with a field of 16 teams. Although there will be 16 teams come playoff time, not all of them can be considered World Series contenders. You have teams like the Dodgers and the Rays who are undeniably the favorites to make the World Series and then you have teams like the Blue Jays and the Marlins who will be in the playoffs but will most likely not make it deeper than the divisional round. With that being said, I have picked out my top five teams that I envision competing for the World Series honors.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are clearly the best team in the MLB this season and they were my first choice as potential World Series winners. The Dodgers are boasting a 43-17 record and they lead the MLB in runs scored at 349, averaging almost six runs per game. On top of that, the Dodgers have allowed the least amount of runs in the National League. The Dodgers have many factors that could allow for them to make the World Series but the most obvious is their powerful offense. In the Dodgers lineup, you will find Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, and AJ Pollock. All of these players are extremely powerful and impactful players who will make a big difference for the Dodgers come playoff time. What makes the Dodgers even scarier is that the only team that has been able to defeat the Dodgers in a series are the Colorado Rockies. With all things considered, the Dodgers are the team to beat this season and I see that carrying into the playoffs.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are the most dominant team in the American League and they are the second-best team in the MLB. The Rays are overall a great team but they don't have one of the top defenses or offenses in the league. The Rays only have one player on their team who is hitting over .300 but eight out of nine of their players have an OBP of over 300. The Rays have a lot of potential with their pitching staff but none of their pictures have Cy Young numbers. Their most talented player is likely Blake Snell who has had an ERA of 3.05 this season. This shows that they are doing something right and it is enough to convince me that they are World Series contenders. The Rays have not been the most consistent team this season and that is what could stand in their way in the playoffs. The Rays average 4.7 runs per game while allowing an average of 3.8 runs per game. That makes for a lot of close games and that's what could potentially hurt the Rays as they get deeper into the playoffs.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a team of young stars and they could be destined for glory this season. The Padres are led by Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr who are both dual threats. On the other side of things, the Padres defense has struggled a little bit to stay consistent. San Diego has two of the best pitchers in the National League in Zack Davies and Dinelson Lamet. Both of these pitchers have era's in the top 10 in the league and they lead the rotation at the one and two spots. The rest of the Padres pitching lineup has consistently struggled as their remaining starting pitchers all have era's around 5.0. The Padres will come into the playoffs as the fourth seed and they will start the playoffs by taking on the Cardinals. If the Padres offense can continue to play how they have throughout the season, they will compete in almost every game. The only concern is the Padres pitching staff but if their pitching is up to par, I can see them making a deep run.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins ended the season with the second-best record in the AL and they're altogether a great team. Minnesota has a lot of power on their offense with Miguel Sano, Nelson Cruz, and Josh Donaldson all in the lineup. Although the Twins haven't put up outstanding numbers scoring-wise, their defense has done a great job backing them up. The Twins pitching and fielding have worked together to allow the third least amount of runs in the MLB. All five of their starting pitchers have an era of below 4.0 and they also have one of the best bullpens in the league. The Twins are coming into the playoffs on a bit of a cold streak, but if their offense heats up, they are dangerous. One major factor that could lead the Twins to the World Series is whether or not they find a rhythm. Just like most teams, when the Twins catch fire they're hard to slow down. Since the Twins pitching staff is so dependable, the only question is whether or not their offense can keep up, and if they can, they are in for a deep playoff run.
Atlanta Braves
The final team that I picture being a World Series contender is the Atlanta Braves. The Atlanta Braves are the second seed in the National League and I consider them the Dark Horse of these playoffs. The Braves have been very consistent throughout the entire season as they have led their division for almost the whole season. The Braves have one of the most talented offenses in the league as they put up the second most amount of runs this season only trailing the Dodgers by one run. The Braves have had some pitching struggles throughout the season but they seem to have figured it out as they approach the playoffs. Atlanta has become one of the most feared teams in the National League and I believe that their biggest competition will be the Dodgers. All in all, if the Braves offense can play how they played during the season and their pitching staff can pick up some slack, they will be good competitors for the Dodgers as the playoff field narrows.
Wrap-Up
The MLB playoffs are less than a day away and the field is bigger than usual this season. Four teams have been added to the playoffs which will likely make this year much more entertaining than the past seasons. There will be many great teams to show off their strengths in these playoffs but I do not believe that all of them can compete in the World Series. Some of the teams that will be in the playoffs this season are just too talented for other teams to deal with. I picked out five teams that I think are too much to handle and I consider all of these teams to be World Series contenders. These five teams are the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tampa Bay Rays, the San Diego Padres, the Minnesota Twins, and the Atlanta Braves. All five of those teams have extremely threatening offenses as well as the pitching staff to back it up. This year's playoffs will be unlike any others and it is certainly something to pay attention to. Now that we've broken down who the real World Series contenders are, all there is to do is watch the playoffs play out. May the best team win.
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