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MLB playoff matchups: How teams stack up in the division series

Steve Gardner, USA TODAY
·7 min read
27

After sweeps in all four wild card series, the MLB playoffs move to the divisional round − where the top two seeds in the American and National Leagues should be well-rested and ready to host their postseason openers.

The top seeds also have the advantage of being able to set up their pitching rotations just the way they want them after having almost an entire week off. However, there's always the question of whether there's such a thing as having too much rest before starting a playoff series.

Let's take a closer look at how the teams match up in the divisional round, what the major story lines might be and who is most likely to advance.

(1) Baltimore Orioles vs. (5) Texas Rangers

Rookie Gunnar Henderson has sparked the Orioles on both offense and defense this season.
Rookie Gunnar Henderson has sparked the Orioles on both offense and defense this season.

  • Game 1: Saturday at Baltimore (FS1, 1 p.m. ET)

  • Game 2: Sunday at Baltimore (FS1, 4:07 p.m. ET)

  • Game 3: Oct. 10 at Texas (FOX, 8:03 p.m. ET)

  • Game 4: Oct. 11 at Texas (FOX/FS1)* if necessary

  • Game 5: Oct. 13 at Baltimore (FOX/FS1)* if necessary

Just two years after losing 110 games, the Orioles had the AL's best record this season − due in large part to an exciting young core of players like SS/3B Gunnar Henderson, the overwhelming favorite for AL rookie of the year. The biggest question for the Orioles is how much gas their young pitching staff has in the tank. Starters Kyle Bradish, 26, Dean Kremer, 27, and Grayson Rodriguez, 23, have long surpassed career highs in innings pitched for a season. And the bullpen has been taxed down the stretch following the loss of closer Felix Bautista to an elbow injury.

A late-season slide cost the Rangers a division title and a first-round bye, but they righted the ship in the wild card round, allowing only one run in a pair of victories at Tampa Bay. The AL's most potent offense (5.4 runs per game) is led by RF Adolis Garcia (39 HR, 107 RBI) and the powerful double-play combination of SS Corey Seager and 2B Marcus Semien. Pitching will be the big question mark for Texas after losing Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Jon Gray to injuries and using their best remaining starters (Jordan Montgomery and Nathan Eovaldi) to get past the Rays.

Fun fact: The Rangers bullpen had a 4.77 ERA this season, seventh-worst in the majors. Baltimore's 3.55 ERA was fifth-best.

(2) Houston Astros vs. (3) Minnesota Twins

The Astros have plenty of playoff experience with (L-R) 3B Alex Bregman, 2B Jose Altuve and DH Yordan Alvarez leading the way.
The Astros have plenty of playoff experience with (L-R) 3B Alex Bregman, 2B Jose Altuve and DH Yordan Alvarez leading the way.

  • Game 1: Saturday at Houston (FS1, 4:45 p.m. ET)

  • Game 2: Sunday at Houston (FS1, 8:04 p.m. ET)

  • Game 3: Oct. 10 at Minnesota (FOX, 4:07 p.m. ET)

  • Game 4: Oct. 11 at Minnesota (FOX/FS1)*

  • Game 5: Oct. 13 at Houston (FOX/FS1)*

The defending World Series champion Astros made a late surge to overtake the Rangers and earn a first-round bye. Manager Dusty Baker has ace Justin Verlander back atop the rotation after a midseason trade and a roster that has tons of playoff experience. The lineup is healthy and − with the addition of veteran 1B Jose Abreu and rookie C/DH Yainer Diaz − possibly even better than last year. If they can get past the Twins, the Astros will play in the ALCS for a seventh consecutive season.

The Twins, after finally ending their 18-game postseason losing skid, are now on a two-game winning streak after sweeping Toronto. The matchup with Houston will likely focus on shortstop Carlos Correa, who won a World Series ring with the Astros in 2017 before leaving as a free agent two years ago. The Twins had the worst record of any AL playoff team this season, but the influx of young 2B Edouard Julien, OF Matt Wallner and 3B Royce Lewis had them playing exceptionally well over the final two months.

Fun fact: Houston is just 39-42 (.481) at home this season.

(1) Atlanta Braves vs. (4) Philadelphia Phillies

Ronald Acuña Jr. hit .337 with 41 home runs, 149 runs scored and 73 stolen bases this season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit .337 with 41 home runs, 149 runs scored and 73 stolen bases this season.

  • Game 1: Saturday at Atlanta (TBS, 6:07 p.m. ET)

  • Game 2: Oct. 9 at Atlanta (TBS, 6:07 p.m. ET)

  • Game 3: Oct. 11 at Philadelphia (TBS)

  • Game 4: Oct. 12 at Philadelphia (TBS)*

  • Game 5: Oct. 14 at Atlanta (TBS)*

Atlanta has been the best team in baseball all season, racking up 104 wins, hitting a record-tying 307 home runs and posting the highest slugging percentage by a team in history (.501). MVP front-runner Ronald Acuña Jr. had a statistical season for the ages, but he has plenty of help from 1B Matt Olson (major league-leading 54 HR, 139 RBI), DH Marcell Ozuna (40 HR, 100 RBI) and 2B Ozzie Albies (33 HR, 109 RBI). The Braves' one weak spot may be in their starting pitching. While Spencer Strider led the majors with 281 strikeouts, he was susceptible to giving up a big inning. No. 2 starter Max Fried has been dealing with a blister issue and hasn't pitched since Sept. 21.

The Phillies upset the division-champion Braves in last year's NLDS, fueling their improbable run to the World Series. The formula for making history repeat itself is largely the same: rely on strong starting pitching and timely hitting. Right-handers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola allowed a combined one earned run in 13 ⅓ innings vs. the Marlins. Meanwhile, 2B Bryson Stott grabbed the spotlight with his excellent defense and a clutch grand slam. The big difference between this year's Phillies and last year's is the addition of SS Trea Turner, who struggled mightily for the first four months (10 HR, .657 OPS in 107 games), but caught fire (16 HR, 1.057 OPS in 48 games) after Philly fans reaffirmed their support by giving him an unexpected standing ovation on Aug. 4.

Fun fact: The two teams' leadoff hitters can't be any more different, can they? Ronald Acuña: .337 average, 73 stolen bases vs. Kyle Schwarber: .197 average, 0 stolen bases. But ... they both totaled more than 40 home runs, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI.

(2) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (6) Arizona Diamondbacks

Mookie Betts is no stranger to the bright lights of October, playing in the postseason in all but one of the past seven seasons and winning a pair of World Series rings.
Mookie Betts is no stranger to the bright lights of October, playing in the postseason in all but one of the past seven seasons and winning a pair of World Series rings.

  • Game 1: Saturday at Los Angeles (TBS, , 9:20 p.m. ET)

  • Game 2: Oct. 9 at Los Angeles (TBS, 9:07 p.m. ET)

  • Game 3: Oct. 11 at Arizona (TBS)

  • Game 4: Oct. 12 at Arizona (TBS)*

  • Game 5: Oct. 14 at Los Angeles (TBS)*

The Dodgers just keep chugging along, winning their 10th NL West division title in the last 11 years. But so far, all that success has translated into just one World Series title. This year's club − led by veterans Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Clayton Kershaw − is certainly talented enough to go all the way. They ranked second to the Braves in scoring, home runs, on-base percentage and slugging. But also like the Braves, they have some issues with their starting rotation. Kershaw (13-5, 2.46 ERA) was outstanding, as usual, but he only threw 131 ⅔ innings while battling a shoulder issue over the season's second half. Behind him, manager Dave Roberts will likely call on rookies Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepiot before turning things over to a deep bullpen.

The Diamondbacks are perhaps this postseason's most unlikely participants thanks to a 20-win improvement from a year ago. The offense has been sparked by OF Corbin Carroll, who became the first rookie in baseball history to hit 25 homers and steal 50 bases. The D'backs also play outstanding defense, led by Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker. But outside of ace Zac Gallen and No. 2 starter Merrill Kelly, Arizona's pitching is suspect. A 4.48 staff ERA ranked 20th in the majors and is the worst of any playoff team. Keep an eye on the status of starting catcher Gabriel Moreno, who left Wednesday's game after being hit in the helmet on a swing by Milwaukee's Bryce Turang.

Fun fact: The Diamondbacks are just the third team in history to win a playoff series after being outscored by their opponents during the regular season. (They had a -15 run differential. H/T: Joe Sheehan Newsletter.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoffs 2023: Schedule, matchups for AL, NL division series