We don’t have the series of the year, do we?
In 22 matches, eight series have already been completed. The four series wild card were swept (as were two division series) and two other teams won a single division series game.
Fortunately the series between the Phillies and the Braves put A little spicy.
But at least there are surprises among the teams that qualify. Did you know that the top five regular season clubs are all at home right now?
Three teams have won at least 100 games this year… and those teams are 1-9 since the end of the season. The Orioles and Dodgers won nothing and the Braves won one game.
The Rays and Brewers also lost quickly. The five biggest clubs this season therefore have a record of 1-13 in the playoffs. It’s not very good…and it’s just one more win than the Blue Jays.
Remember that last year, teams #5 and #6 paid for the National championship series. This year, in the National? We’re talking about clubs #4 and #6… and club #5 in the American.
Note that this makes Rob Manfred happy, who likes the series format.
Whatever the reason, three clubs with a playoff bye are 1-9. The Astros, the only division champions still alive, took the measure of the Twins.
The four remaining teams only had 354 wins this season (three seasons of 90 wins and the DBacks at 84), which is an MLB record.
The big players from the Orioles, Dodgers and Braves did not stand up. Does the format have a role to play in all this? I don’t know.
But OK. The die is cast and at this point, we will just have to hope that the remaining teams give us close duels, so as not to have another big hole in the schedule.
Tonight and tomorrow there will be no ball. The series between the Rangers and Astros will begin on Sunday at 8 p.m. (Eastern time) in Houston.
It is the next day that the National will launch its championship series while the Diamondbacks will visit Philadelphia.
Note that all times will not change… except potentially for the National match on October 23.
If the American has already crowned a winner, the National will play in the evening at 8 p.m.
Note that the championship series will end on the 24th at the latest. The World Series will begin on Friday, October 27.
This will end no later than November 4.
