It's almost September, the days are a little bit shorter in the north, and sports fans in North America are going to be thinking about a few different events in the weeks to come. One of those will be the Major League Baseball pennant races. These will lead to the 2023 MLB playoffs and the fall classic. Here's a rundown of what's happened in Major League Baseball this season along with a look at the 2023 World Series odds.
American League: Summarizing the Season to Date
In the American League this season, the Tampa Bay Rays were the hottest team out of the gates. However, a poor June and July saw the team regress.
Simultaneously, it was the Baltimore Orioles that improved the most in the standings. Heading into the games on August 22nd, 2023, the Orioles have a three-game lead in the AL East standings. That feels like a large lead, pretty much because the O's are really hard to beat. With the Wild Card factored in, ESPN projects a 99.0% chance for Baltimore to make the postseason this year.
In the AL Central, the Minnesota Twins have taken control over the last month. They now have a six-game lead on Cleveland. This is a division where it looks like only the winner gets into the playoffs this season. Cleveland's .472 winning percentage won't beat the beasts of the AL East, let alone the runner-ups in the AL West.
In the AL West, a three-way race has developed. Texas is the division leader but they are a shaky team. The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are both threats in this division. Seattle, in particular, has played at an excellent level for weeks.
If the American League playoffs started today, it would be Baltimore, Minnesota, and Texas as division leaders. The three AL Wild Cards would go to Tampa Bay, Houston, and Seattle with the Toronto Blue Jays bubbling.
National League: Season Summary to Date
The National League has been about the Atlanta Braves so far this season. They are very comfortable atop the NL East. They are the team most likely to make the postseason as well. They are also the 2023 World Series favorites by betting odds (+270 with bet365). With a 12.5-game lead and just 38 games to go in their schedule, you have to wonder when they will go into coast mode. With a .645 winning percentage this season, it would be scary if they are already half there.
In the NL Central division, there is potential for a close pennant race. The Milwaukee Brewers have played well lately but the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds are not far behind. Chicago, in particular, has surged over the last several weeks. Meanwhile, the Reds have drifted and their playoff chances have faded in kind.
In the NL West, the regular season started with a surprising jolt out of the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, they are now 12.5 games behind the LA Dodgers. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants are 12 games back of the Dodgers. The NL West, like the NL East, appears to be a runaway. That means the races of interest will be in the Central Division and the Wild Card race.
If the playoffs started today, it would be Atlanta, Milwaukee, and LAD as division winners. The Wild Cards would be Philadelphia, Chicago, and San Francisco. However, there is a lot of potential for change in this latter race.
2023 World Series Odds (from bet365)
If you relied on betting odds to do all your thinking for you, then you'd think that the World Series would be between the Atlanta Braves and the Baltimore Orioles. These are the betting odds for the teams that still have a reasonable chance to make the playoffs this season.
- Atlanta Braves +270
- LA Dodgers +290
- Baltimore Orioles +700
- Texas Rangers +750
- Houston Astros +750
- Tampa Bay Rays +850
- Seattle Mariners +1400
- Toronto Blue Jays +1800
- Philadelphia Phillies +2200
- Milwaukee Brewers +2200
- Minnesota Twins +2500
- San Francisco Giants +4000
- Arizona Diamondbacks +4500
- Chicago Cubs +4500
- Cincinnati Reds +6600
- Boston Red Sox +6600
- Miami Marlins +7500
The Yankees and Mets have each lost their grips. They are both 400 to 1 heading into Tuesday, August 22nd, 2023. However, Mets' fans could take one last look at their team in the week ahead following a stretch where they, the Mets, have played well. They are among a contingent of teams that can't wait any longer. If they have a higher gear to go to, then it must be gone to immediately.
The Yankees, San Diego Padres, and the LA Angels are approaching their last rites. Also, if the Cleveland Guardians or the Detroit Tigers are to make things interesting in the AL Central, then there is no time to wait. Their last rites could also come soon as the once-huge MLB schedule is down to less than 40 games as the start of September nears.
