The 2023 MLB postseason is underway and the Wild Card Series round has already concluded. All four series were two-game sweeps. It is the first time in baseball history that a postseason round ended with at least four series in all rounds. The best-of-five division series begins this weekend. Here are the postseason start times and here are the Division Series matchups:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
ALDS1: Texas Rangers at Baltimore Orioles
ALDS2: Minnesota Twins at Houston Astros
BUNDESLIGA
NLDS1: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves
NLDS2: Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers
There are eight teams left, making 16 possible World Series matchups. There are no bad options! They are all exciting in their own way, but some are more compelling than others. Sometimes there is a story (current or not), sometimes new players have joined, and so on and so forth.
With that in mind, we’re here to rank all 16 possible World Series matchups. What exactly are these rankings based on? History, visibility, sentiment, etc. No need to get scientific. Here now are our 2023 World Series matchup rankings.
The bottom six
16. Twins vs. Diamondbacks
15. Twins vs. Dodgers
14. Astros vs. Diamondbacks
13. Rangers vs. Diamondbacks
12. Twins vs. Phillies
11. Twins vs. Braves
I didn’t plan for the D-Backs and Twins to feature so prominently in the bottom tier. They’re both exciting teams – I love watching Arizona’s baserunning and Minnesota’s pitching – and Corbin Carroll vs. Royce Lewis belongs on the national stage. Ultimately, some teams have to finish at the bottom of these rankings, and this year it happens to be these two. Still, I’d happily sign up for a Braves vs. Twins World Series that’s just as compelling as their 1991 showdown.
The next four
10. Orioles vs. Dodgers
9. Rangers vs. Dodgers
8. Orioles vs. Diamondbacks
7. Rangers vs. Phillies
Personally, I think an O’s vs. D-Backs series would be really fun. Two very young, very fast teams make for good television. A healthy Max Scherzer would take Rangers vs. Dodgers and Rangers vs. Phillies up a few notches, although his postseason status is currently uncertain, so I’m erring on the side of caution. Texas is the only team alive without a World Series title. Putting the powerhouse Dodgers on top would be a good way to win their first championship.
A step in itself
6. Astros vs. Dodgers
Look, MLB and Fox would love this, but I think fans are getting tired of watching these two teams every October. It’s time for new blood. Plus, we’ve all been overwhelmed by the sign-stealing scandal and the 2017 World Series story for three years. Would the Astros vs. Dodgers make for a compelling World Series? Yes, I think so, hence the relatively high place in this ranking. I also think that we have seen enough Astros and Dodgers in the last few seasons and would welcome a different matchup. I know I would personally.
The top five
5. Rangers vs. Braves
Here’s the “There is no one right way to build a team” matchup. The Braves built from within and through smart trades. The Rangers threw a lot of money at their problems. Both can and have worked in the past. If this matchup does happen, I hope it will take place with fully healthy pitching staffs, i.e. Scherzer for Texas and Max Fried and Charlie Morton for the Braves. Either way, we see Ronald Acuña Jr. and Evan Carter on the same field, Matt Olson and Austin Riley against Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, and many other must-see players.
4. Astros vs. Phillies
There hasn’t been a World Series rematch since the Dodgers and Yankees met in 1977 and 1978, and there hasn’t been a World Series since the Athletics and Cardinals met in 1930 and 1931 -Return game without the participation of the Yankees. This duel would end two long losing streaks and who doesn’t like the idea of Bryce Harper & Co. trying to get revenge while Justin Verlander and his pals try to prove their superiority once again? Add in new faces like José Abreu and Trea Turner, and a 2022 World Series rematch offers plenty of intrigue.
3. Astros vs. Braves
We saw this World Series two years ago, but remember that Acuña (torn ACL) and Verlander (Tommy John surgery) were out due to injuries, and starters Carlos Correa and Freddie Freeman are also gone. This fall we would get healthy Acuña and Verlander as well as new faces in Jeremy Peña and Olson. We’ve seen the Astros and Braves play a lot – A LOT – over the last few postseasons, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. In this case, I think we would get an entertaining series despite the oversaturation.
2. Orioles vs. Braves
These two clubs had the two best records in baseball during the regular season, and the O’s are actually trying to become what the Braves are. The Braves are currently the model organization, they already have a World Series title and now want to build a dynasty. This is Baltimore’s first attempt at the first ring of this core. Atlanta went through a lot of postseason heartbreak from 2018 to 2020 before finally cashing in. Can the O’s move past the disappointment and go from 110 losses in 2021 to a championship in 2023?
1. Orioles vs. Phillies
On the field, the surging Orioles would face an experienced Phillies team looking to get over the hump after a narrow deficit last year. The quantity is the X factor. Citizens Bank Park was electric in the Wild Card Series and Orioles fans, starved for a contending team, created a postseason-like atmosphere at Camden Yards several times late in the year. The trip isn’t that bad either. A two-hour drive will take you from Baltimore and Philadelphia and vice versa (pro tip: take Amtrak instead). The teams are excellent and I think the crowd will take this World Series matchup to the next level.