Why Each Team Will/Will Not Win The World Series: American League
Photo from Sports Illustrated
After 162 significantly shorter games, the MLB postseason is set.
While the National League has significant favorites, the American League is wide open.
Like, seriously wide open.
Here is why each team will or will not win the World Series in 2023.
Baltimore Orioles
Why They Will
First of all, this team has fantastic hitters up and down the entire lineup.
Adley Rutschman. Gunnar Henderson. Anthony Santander. I could go on.
They can hit against any staff in this league, and they have.
Add in the fact that they’ve been insanely clutch in huge spots too.
The O’s won 101 games this year, but their expected win total was only 94.
That’s due to amazing late game bullpen work, and some insanely clutch hitting.
The perfect recipe for success.
Why They Won’t
That late game bullpen work that was so amazing took a huge hit with Felix Bautista needing Tommy John surgery.
Plus, that great record in close games is something bound to revert back to the mean, as it does in every sport.
If that luck flips a switch, and the harder side of the AL to get through, it could spell doom for the Orioles.
Houston Astros
Why They Will
Seriously?
Would you bet against the Astros?
This was a down year for them, and they still found a way to win the AL West despite the Rangers and Mariners breathing down their necks.
This team is inevitable.
Why They Won’t
Well, they should be, but there is truly something different about this team.
The Astros made the World Series in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Even though they didn’t win every year, you could feel going into it that they were a powerhouse.
This team, whether it be because of injuries, age for Verlander, or maybe just Framber Valdez’s last two starts being terrible, makes you worry about their ability to go deep in the postseason.
Minnesota Twins
Why They Will
If the Twins get healthy, mainly Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis, and if Byron Buxton stays healthy, this team really could surprise some people.
As a full roster, they’re very, very good.
And I know they don’t have a terrific record, but they actually underperformed their expected W-L total, meaning there’s stuff left on the table for them.
Why They Won’t
The Twins have lost 18 straight playoff games.
I refuse to think they will win the World Series until they win just one single playoff game.
Tampa Bay Rays
Why They Will
The pitching staff and roster, despite injuries, players leaving the club, and the entire Wander Franco disaster, is still insanely good.
In any other year where the Orioles don’t clutch up like crazy, the Rays would be the runaway best team in the AL.
Why They Won’t
Pitching in modern day baseball is all about matchups.
Sending out a pitcher to match the batters handedness.
The Rays, due to injuries, have about two hitters that can hit lefty.
That might be a bit of a problem down the stretch!
Texas Rangers
Why They Will
Marcus Semien. Corey Seager. Nathan Eovaldi.
These are all players the Rangers went out and signed in free agency to make their squad better.
Add in the success of Jonah Heim and Josh Jung, and you have yourself the perfect balance of star power alongside young and hungry hitters ready to make a postseason impact.
Why They Won’t
They were running away with this division. They had it in the palm of their hands. They could have coasted to the division title.
And they went on an absolutely horrid run down the stretch, which not only gave the division to the Astros, but almost made them miss the playoffs entirely.
You do not want to be going into the postseason playing bad baseball, and the Rangers absolutely are.
Toronto Blue Jays
Why They Will
Much like the Rangers, this is an absolutely stacked roster.
Nothing but star power from the likes of Bo Bichete, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Kevin Gausman, and George Springer.
All it takes is for them to get hot, and the Jays will be headed to the fall classic.
Why They Won’t
Let me read you what I wrote last year about the Toronto Blue Jays when I made this post.
We have been waiting for the pieces to fall into place all year long, and it just never happened.
Some of it was injuries, some of it was underperforming.
Some of it was simply a poor manager.
But the fact is this team should have been contending for an AL East title, and instead found themselves fighting for a playoff spot with the Rays and the Orioles.
The pieces could fall into place for the Jays, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Anyone want to tell me what’s different about this years team other than the teams they were fighting for a spot with?
Much like the Twins, I’ll believe they can get over the hump when I see it.
