by Caroline Ferchland
As the end of the MLB regular season comes to a close, the excitement of the postseason emerges. With wild card races heating up and fans overflowing with suspense and anticipation, baseball seems to be entering the most thrilling part of the season. In this article we’ll be looking at the current playoff picture and highlighting the performances of local teams and their stars.
The American League teams in the playoffs include the New York Yankees (AL East), Cleveland Guardians (AL Central), Houston Astros (AL West), Baltimore Orioles (Wild Card), Kansas City Royals (Wild Card), and the Detroit Tigers (Wild Card). The National League teams would consist of the Philadelphia Phillies (NL East), Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West), Milwaukee Brewers (NL Central), San Diego Padres (Wild Card), New York Mets (Wild Card), and the Atlanta Braves (Wild Card).
The New York Mets clinched the third spot in the National League wild card. They won 1 of 2 games against the Braves in a season-ending doubleheader to secure their playoff spot. Mets fans are happy to see their team in the playoff picture after the troubles that they went through earlier in the season, with the team going 15-14 in March/April and 9-19 in May. Although experiencing a rough patch in the beginning of the season, in more recent months they’ve gone 16-8 and in September they went 17-9. The Mets are trending up as the playoffs begin. The Mets were able to achieve this resurgence with the help from one of their star players, Francisco Lindor, who started the season struggling at the plate but who recently hit .325 in the month of August. The Mets look to be a contender in the playoffs this postseason.
On the other side of town, the New York Yankees clinched the best record in the American League and won their division. Beginning their season, the Yankees won 10 out of their first 13 games and went on to have a record of 21-7 in May. However, they faced struggles in the summer months surrounding the all star break with bullpen issues and an inconsistent lineup. The New York Yankees stars Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have been constants in the Bombers lineup all season. They’re the first duo on the Yankees to both hit at least 40 home runs since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did it in 1961. Throughout the season, Judge has consistently led nearly all offensive categories in the MLB. Judge finished with 58 home runs and challenged his previous record of 61 home runs. The Yankees are confident in their ability to make a push for the World Series which is a different feeling in the clubhouse compared to last year: “Last year, we weren’t a great team,” manager Aaron Boone expressed after a significant win against the Seattle Mariners, “But this year, we’ve come together in ways that make us believe we can do something special.” This optimism and energy gives Yankee fans plenty to be excited about heading into the postseason.
As the regular season comes to a close, the MLB postseason intensity is unmistakable with teams like the Mets and Yankees gearing up for a playoff run. With many stars performing on the brightest of stages, it looks to be a very entertaining and unforgettable October. The stage has been set for the Mets’ and Yankees’ pursuit of greatness – this postseason looks to guarantee great baseball.