The MLB playoffs are well underway. Why did this article come out after the Wild Card games? Wild Card games are not playoff baseball. So without further ado, here is my ranking:

The Contenders

1. The Los Angeles Dodgers

The defending World Series champions are looking to repeat. The Dodgers boasted one of the best starting rotations in baseball. However, star off-season acquisition Trevor Bauer has been indefinitely suspended due to harrowing sexual assault allegations. Thus, in true Dodgers fashion, they traded for future Hall-of-Famer Max Scherzer, who happened to be having a Cy Young calibre season. Not only did they get Mad Max, but he arrived with All-Star Trea Turner. They added an All-Star to an already elite offence. The Dodgers gave up basically nothing for the haul. The rich keep getting richer. Their bullpen is also fantastic. The Dodgers have perfected the balance of analytics and money. They are reaping the rewards. The only concern? They have to play the NL Wild Card game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The rules of the Wild Card game? Win the game and you are in. Lose the game and the season is over. The Dodgers have won 106 games this season, and they could be out in one. Tread carefully.

2: The San Francisco Giants

The Giants were not expected to do anything this year. As the season progressed, the entire baseball world was shocked when it became clear that the Giants were once again relevant. So incredibly relevant, that they actually leap-frogged the Dodgers for the best record in the regular season with 107 wins. The Giants have no weaknesses. Their ragtag rotation, offence, and bullpen rank high among the elite. Interestingly, the team is old. They are the third oldest team in the league. As baseball has evolved into a more dynamic and athletic game, it is interesting that a randomly built team of over-the-hill stars, travelled veterans, and average athletes have dominated the regular season. They added a star in Kris Bryant during the trade deadline. Although a rental, the Giants had to go all in. Do not expect them to be back next year. It is now or never.

3: The Tampa Bay Rays

The defending American League Champions have used their voodoo magic to dominate the American League once again. The Rays pride themselves in using a Three-True-Outcomes (TTO) approach. TTO is a philosophy where batters strive to either: hit a home run, walk, or strike out. The Rays are top ten in home runs hit, top ten in walks, and top three in batters stuck out. With the addition of star Nelson Cruz, although forty-one years old, they added even more power to the lineup. Combined with the emergence of a generational talent in Wander Franco, the Rays look posed to win the AL. Although they lost star pitcher Tyler Glasnow to season ending injury, the rotation is good enough. The Rays have a deep farm system littered with potential stars. Just plug and replace. It also helps when they play in that despicable excuse for a stadium, Tropicana Field, which is known to hinder hitters.

The Dark Horses

4: The Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers boast three Cy Young calibre pitchers. The rotation can go toe-to-toe with any in the league. Superstar closer Josh Hader will handle the pressure of having to close a game or keeping the Brew-Crew in games. The Brewers acquired star shortstop Willy Adames from the Rays early in the season. Adames was having an awful season due to having to play in a blackhole stadium of sadness and shame. Once he left, he became an All-Star. However, the Brewers are not necessarily a clear-cut contender like the three teams above. The Brewers have trouble scoring runs. Although their offence is not bad, it is not great. The reason is because former NL MVP Christian Yelich has been a shell of himself. Yelich has been consistently injured, meaning he has not gotten into any hitting rhythm. It is hard to win games in the playoffs when your pitchers need to be near perfect.

5: The Houston Astros

The Astros’ window is closing. The winners of the 2017 World Series via cheating by banging trash cans, the “Trashtros” are looking for one more run. They arrive to the playoffs with one of the best offences and rotations in baseball. But the Astros do not seem as formidable as they used to be. It is true that they have replaced star outfielder George Springer, but something else seems to be missing. The Astros of the past four years were dominant. They would do everything right. They would be perfect or near perfect. That seems to have faded. They are a tad inconsistent and the rotation, although still good, seems to be a bit lacking in star power. Speaking of stars, Carlos Correa has publicly declared that he is gone this coming off-season. Correa was apparently “slighted” by the contract the Astros offered. Houston might exemplify how a championship team slowly erodes after a title.

7: The Chicago White Sox

South-Side is back. With Tony La Russa as manager, the White Sox have made it back to the playoffs in back-to-back years. Chicago has an elite rotation and an elite offence. They just under-perform consistently. The difference between the White Sox and the other six teams ahead of them? The White Sox played in an atrocious division. By simply not being garbage, the White Sox made the playoffs. Carlos Rodon is a stud, and the offence is led by star first baseman Jose Abreu and eccentric infielder Tim Anderson. The White Sox went out and got star closer Craig Kimbrel to pair with star closer Liam Hendriks. However, Kimbrel has struggled, and the offence has been under-performing. South-Side will probably have to wait at least another year before their next title.

The Others

8: The Atlanta Braves

The Braves lost superstar Roanld Acuna Jr. to injury this season. While all hope was lost, they decided that they would fight as hard as they could for their division. The division responded to this opportunity by being hot garbage. The Braves get a nice pat-on-the-back and a deserved participation trophy.

9: The St Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals were dead in the water in late August. They then decided to go on an incredible seventeen game winning streak. Adam Wainwright is pitching like he is ten years younger while JA Happ and Jon Lester found their groove after arriving at the trade deadline. Will they beat the Dodgers? Probably not, but the Wild Card game still has to be played.

10: The New York Yankees/Boston Red Sox

As the US media waxes over the potential of the classic rivalry, a question must be posed: Who cares? The Yankees have been so disappointing this year their own fans boo their players off the field. The Red Sox ended up playing one of the easiest schedules in the month of September and still almost lost out to the Blue Jays and Mariners. Either team will be easy pickings for the Rays. Before you ask, no, this is not because I am a salty Jays fan.