Sports writer Guy Broom discusses the future of the MLB League Championship Series
With the League Championship Series nearing an end, fans await the final results to see which teams will meet in the World Series for Major League Baseball. Here are some of the exciting facts about the games themselves, as well as team statistics and players that have played a big role in matches.
ALCS: Astros vs Rangers
For the first time in MLB history, the two teams from Texas finally meet up in the postseason. The Astros, looking to still try and defend its title, are trying to make its ultimate claim as the team of Texas going against the underdog Rangers, who is looking to assert itself as a perennial power in the American League.
Astros: The Astros were able to claim the AL West title on the last day and get a bye to take on the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. With dominant performances by starting pitchers, Justin Verlander, Christian Javier and José Urquidy, as well as strong performances by the highlighted lineup of Yordan Alvarez and José Abreu with a combined 10 home runs so far in the postseason, the Astros have not slowed down its game. The team’s weakness, however, seems to be pitchers allowing home runs. While the Astros boasted one of the highest ERAs in the league (being eighth with 3.94), it was ranked ninth in home runs allowed with 201 home runs.
Rangers: The Rangers were one of the biggest surprises this year. After going 68-94 in 2022 and hiring former three-time World Series champion, Bruce Bochy, it had one of the biggest turnarounds. Going 90-72 and being in contention with the AL West against the Astros until the final day of the season brought the team this far. The Rangers started out hot this postseason, sweeping both the fourth-seed Tampa Bay Rays and the first-seed Baltimore Orioles. The biggest weakness that the Rangers possess, is its bullpen in which they had the seventh-highest ERA.
NLCS: Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
At the beginning of the postseason, Vegas listed the Atlanta Braves at +320 and the Los Angeles Dodgers at +425 to win the World Series, which made sense. Both teams had dominant years with both reaching 100 wins and having NL MVP candidates during both. However, postseason baseball is a different animal than the regular season and we see that both teams lost to division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks respectively. These conquerors now find themselves currently facing one another in the League Championship Series.
Phillies: The Phillies had a heartbreaking end to a season that many could not imagine would happen, with manager Joe Girardi being fired in the middle of the season and replaced by interim Rob Thomson. It still made it all the way to the World Series before losing to the Astros in six games. The Phillies are close to going back in attempts to win it this time. The Phillies are led by Bryce Harper, who started the season recovering from Tommy John’s Surgery and returned playing first baseman for the first time. Other stars from this team’s lineup include Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh. The team’s weakness however is its starting rotation, which it pitched to the 16th highest 4.30 ERA. Their bullpen, however, has pitched a league seventh-lowest at 3.58 ERA. Overall, this team is about striking first with its explosive lineup and trying to hold on to its lead throughout the game and its ability to hold said leads will be crucial for wins.
Diamondbacks: This team is the biggest surprise of all in the postseason. Cinching a postseason spot on the last day of the season and getting that sixth seed to which it swept both the third-seed Brewers and the second-seed Dodgers. In those winning odds listed earlier, the Diamondbacks were listed dead last on the list with +3000 odds of winning it all. Statistically, this team should not be here as it is ranked 20th in lowest ERA with a 4.48. The team is ranked 22nd in home runs hit at 166 and a 14th league best batting average. However, this team has gotten hot at the right time and was able to dispatch both the second and third seeds with relative ease and are now facing the Phillies in this best of seven series. The main worry of this team is whether it can handle another team getting the same wind it is riding on right now. If the Diamondbacks can handle it, it may make it to its first World Series since 2001.
