2023 MLB Playoffs Kick Off with Exciting Wild Card Series
The 2023 Major League Baseball postseason officially began on Tuesday as the Phillies, Diamondbacks, Twins, and Rangers secured victories in their respective wild card series.
In the National League, the Phillies dominated the Marlins on their home turf, while the Diamondbacks pulled off a stunning upset on the road against the favored Brewers. Over in the American League, the Rangers shut out the Rays with an outstanding performance from left-handed pitcher Jordan Montgomery, while the Twins made history with a thrilling win against the Blue Jays.
For the Twins, the Game 1 victory was particularly significant as it marked the end of their 18-game losing streak in the postseason. Royce Lewis led the way for Minnesota with two home runs, helping the team secure their first-ever playoff win at Target Field.
Meanwhile, the Braves, Dodgers, Orioles, and Astros will enjoy a week-long rest at home as the top two seeds in each league, earning them byes to the League Division Series. These four teams will host Game 1s of the NLDS and ALDS, which are set to start on Saturday. The specific game times for that round are yet to be announced.
The final weekend of the regular season was filled with suspense as several teams clinched their spots in the playoffs. The 12-team field was finally set on Saturday night after five clubs secured their postseason berths in a span of just 75 minutes. On Sunday, the Astros overtook the Rangers to become the AL West champions for the third consecutive season.
As the MLB playoffs continue, fans can look forward to an action-packed schedule. The complete playoff bracket, along with the schedule for the wild card series and the subsequent rounds, has been released. The Wild Card Series games have been broadcasted on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, Fox, and FS1, and are also available for streaming on fubo.
On Wednesday, October 4th, the second games of the wild card series will take place. The Rays will face the Rangers, followed by the Twins against the Blue Jays, the Brewers against the Diamondbacks, and the Phillies against the Marlins.
If necessary, game three of the wild card series will be played on Thursday, October 5th.
The Divisional round is scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 7th. The Orioles will take on either the Rays or Rangers, while the Astros will face the winner of the Twins vs. Blue Jays series in the ALDS. In the NLDS, the Braves will go head-to-head with the winner of the Phillies vs. Marlins matchup, while the Dodgers await the outcome of the Brewers vs. Diamondbacks series.
As the playoffs progress, the excitement builds with the League Championship Series, starting on Sunday, October 15th, followed by the highly anticipated World Series, beginning on Friday, October 27th.
Baseball fans are in for a thrilling postseason as these teams battle it out for the ultimate prize in the world of baseball. The road to the World Series has begun, and the journey promises to be filled with intense competition and unforgettable moments.