We are now two months removed from the beginning of the MLB season and while there is still plenty of the regular season left we are seeing the top teams begin to establish themselves. The Tampa Bay Rays are currently the best team in the MLB with a record of 35-15. With just five losses at home at the time of writing, the Rays have been in lightning form so far despite not being considered major favorites preseason.
The moniker of favorites belonged to last years Champions the Houston Astros. The Astros are not quite performing like Champions so far however and if the season was to end today they would miss the playoffs, currently sitting second in the AL West. With teams starting to show their class throughout the MLB, let’s take a look at some of the teams who are likely to make the playoffs across both leagues.
2023 MLB Playoff Predictions
American League
Tampa Bay Rays
As mentioned above, the Rays are currently the best performing team in the MLB. What is perhaps the most impressive about them however is that they are doing it in the most competitive conference in the league. The Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees are both hot on their trail in the AL East with impressive records of 31-17 and 30-20 respectively which would earn them the Wild Card entries for the American League if the season was to end today.
The Rays have had an incredibly hot start to the season and are yet to show signs of dropping off. There is little doubt that they are the real deal and expect to see them in the playoffs either as Wild Cards or conference winners.
Potential Matchup: Baltimore Orioles
Texas Rangers
The Rangers have been one of the bigger surprise packages of the season so far, currently sitting atop the AL West with a 31-18 record. They have spent close to $800m in the last two winters and their liberal expenditure seems to be paying off. Adolis Garcia has been in lethal form in the batting while Nathan Eovaldi has led the team to six wins when pitching. Eovaldi was one of last winter’s arrivals and with fellow newbie Jacob Degrom yet to return to full fitness there could still be more to come from Texas. While still considered somewhat outsiders, it may be time to stop doubting them.
Potential Matchup: Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Astros have a little catching up to do with conference rivals the Rangers, but there is too much quality in this team to rule them out of the playoffs this early on. They had an inconsistent start to the season but have picked up form as of recent, going 8-2 in their last 10 at the time of writing. MLB odds still have them among the favorites to win the World Series this season and they should be well in the playoff picture in the coming months.
Potential Matchup: Minnesota Twins (Wild Card round)
National League
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been the best performing team in the National League so far. There were some worries among fans that they would suffer from a playoff hangover after their disappointing showing against the Padres in the division series. They were dumped out unceremoniously, losing three straight games after winning the season opener. However, they have returned in 2023 hungrier and it has shown in their performances up to now. They have a deep and talented roster and barring an injury crisis, their journey to the playoffs should be pretty straightforward.
Potential Matchup: New York Mets
Atlanta Braves
Along with their league rivals the Dodgers, the Braves are likely the favorites to win the World Series this season. They opened very impressively and although they are 12-12 right now, they fact they have the likes of top Cy Young contenders Spencer Strider and Max Fried among their ranks makes them obvious playoff qualifiers. Their progression into the postseason seems a mere formality down to their quality and they will be another team looking to right their wrongs after losing the division series in 2022 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Potential Matchup: Milwaukee Brewers
New York Mets
The Mets have had a 50/50 season so far but are still among the favorites in the National League to win the World Series. Pete Alonso is the best home-run hitter in the league to date with 18 in 49 games. Losing Jacob DeGrom was a big hit but they then spent over $500m on free agents to fill out their roster. They are unlikely to beat the Braves to topping the NL East, but should be more than good enough to earn themselves a Wild Card place.
Potential matchup: Arizona Diamondbacks (Wild Card round)
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