2023 MLB Playoff Bracket Predictions - Baseball Postseason Analysis

Predicting the 2023 MLB Playoff Bracket

With the 2023 MLB regular season getting underway, it's time to take an early look at the playoff picture and make some MLB playoff bracket predictions. October baseball brings high stakes drama, iconic moments, and legendary performances. As teams battle it out for a chance to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy, the postseason bracket takes shape with each playoff series.

Key Factors in MLB Playoff Predictions

Several key factors go into forecasting the playoff bracket:

• Division standings - The division winners automatically qualify and are seeded 1-3 in each league.
• Wild card contenders - The next two best teams by record in each league claim the wild card spots.
• Head-to-head results - How teams matched up in the regular season provides insight.
• Injuries - Teams missing star players often struggle in the high leverage games of October.
• Momentum - Clubs entering the playoffs on hot streaks tend to fare better.

American League Playoff Picture

In the American League, the East figures to be a tight two-team race between the defending division champion New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees were baseball's best regular season team last year, while the Blue Jays feature a fearsome lineup built around Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. The Houston Astros remain the class of the AL West, with Cy Young favorite Justin Verlander anchoring an elite rotation. And the Cleveland Guardians should repeat in the unimposing AL Central.

AL Wild Card Competition

In a fierce AL wild card scramble, the Seattle Mariners and revamped Texas Rangers appear poised to seize the two spots. Seattle won 90 games last season to end a 20-year playoff drought, while Texas imported ace Jacob deGrom to pair with holdovers Nathan Eovaldi and Martin Perez for pitching depth. The perennial contender Tampa Bay Rays lurk menacingly too, boasting game-changing speed and a shutdown bullpen anchored by closing phenom Brooks Raley. If injuries strike or certain teams underperform expectations though, the door could open for the upstart Baltimore Orioles or Chicago White Sox to sneak into playoff position.

National League Playoff Outlook

The National League forecast remains cloudier headed into the new season. The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers still look formidable, led by mookie Betts and Julio Urias. But the parasite-riddled San Diego Padres and their newly acquired Juan Soto could push Los Angeles in the ultra-competitive NL West. The Atlanta Braves figure to rule the NL East again behind ageless wonder Max Fried and blossoming superstar Michael Harris II, while MVP frontrunner Manny Machado and pitching prospect Trent Grisham make the San Diego Padres dangerous.

NL Wild Card Up For Grabs

The NL wild card spots look wide open, with the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and possibly the Miami Marlins or Milwaukee Brewers all seeming capable of snagging a berth. The Phillies and Cards will rely on mid-30s former MVPs in Bryce Harper and Paul Goldschmidt to fuel their lineups, while the Giants boast a budding ace in Carlos Rodon. The potential surprise Marlins are buoyed by young stud pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez and Trevor Rogers, while the 2018 NL Central champ Brewers still wield the power-packed bats of Willy Adames and Hunter Renfroe.

Early 2023 MLB Playoff Bracket Predictions

Projected Matchups

Based on the above analysis, here are my early predictions for the 2023 MLB playoff bracket:

AL Wild Card Series:
(4) Seattle Mariners over (5) Texas Rangers
(3) Toronto Blue Jays over (6) Tampa Bay Rays

NL Wild Card Series:
(4) Philadelphia Phillies over (5) St. Louis Cardinals
(3) Atlanta Braves over (6) Miami Marlins

AL Division Series:
(1) Houston Astros over (4) Seattle Mariners
(2) New York Yankees over (3) Toronto Blue Jays

NL Division Series:
(1) Los Angeles Dodgers over (4) Philadelphia Phillies
(2) San Diego Padres over (3) Atlanta Braves

Championship Series and World Series Projections

That would set up a titanic LA Dodgers-Houston Astros rematch in the ALCS, with the Astros prevailing behind Verlander's clutch pitching to capture the American League pennant. In the NLCS, the youthful Padres end the Dodgers' short reign by riding a lights-out bullpen and timely Soto homers to the National League crown. The Astros then derail baseball's top slugger Juan Soto to beat the Padres in six games, winning their second championship in three seasons behind World Series MVP Kyle Tucker's exploits at the plate.

The Beauty of Baseball: Anything Can Happen

Of course, the above 2023 MLB playoff predictions could prove completely off base. Midseason injuries, shockingly good or bad performances, and unpredictable bounce-back seasons could unravel even the best prognostications. That variability and drama is part of what makes the long baseball season so captivating. While the Astros and Yankees look like safe bets early on, the wide open wild card races allow underdogs like the Mariners, Rangers or Marlins to potentially go on stunning October runs into the Fall Classic.

At the end of the day, once the umpire bellows "play ball" to start each playoff series, all the projections get tossed out the window. Heroes emerge unexpectedly, legends are born, curses are broken, and the only thing we know for sure is that we'll be hanging on every tension-filled pitch as baseball crowns its next deserving champion.

FAQs

Who are the favorites to win the 2023 World Series?

The Houston Astros are early favorites after reaching the World Series in 2022. The Yankees, Dodgers, and Blue Jays are other top contenders.

When do the 2023 MLB playoffs start?

The 2023 postseason is expected to begin in early October. The Wild Card round opens the playoffs followed by the Division and Championship Series.

How many teams make the baseball playoffs?

There are 10 playoff teams - the 3 division winners and 2 wild cards from both the American and National Leagues.

What channel will the playoffs be on?

The 2023 MLB postseason games will likely air on TBS, Fox, FS1, and MLB Network like previous years.