National League:
The National League, just like the American League, is also anybody’s game. As there is a big super team in the Braves, but also a serious underdog like the Marlins or Diamondbacks. Regardless, the baseball being played will be fierce and without haste. Here are the teams who made it this year:
#1 Atlanta Braves:
To no one’s surprise, the Atlanta Braves are once again the best team in baseball. Pretty handily too they have good pitchers, hitters, and fielders too. Ronald Acuna is having a bounceback season for the ages, 40+ home runs and 70+ stolen bases are unheard of. Spencer Strider striking out 100+ by July is also unheard of, he has cooled off a bit but is still not breaking his stride. This would be a safe bet to pick to make it to the World Series, or so we think.
#2 Los Angeles Dodgers:
In what we thought would be a tough division, the Dodgers are still a constant to make it out as NL West winners. They have a tougher road than they have had in seasons past, most of their pitching rotation is out with it being injuries like Clayton Kershaw and poor off-the-field decisions like Julio Urias. Regardless, they’ll need to keep getting good performances out of Ryan Yarbrough and Bobby Miller to have a chance at keeping up with the Joneses of the National League. At least the Los Angeles Lakers season is starting back up soon.
#3 Milwaukee Brewers:
This is one of the most wild cards of wild card teams this season. Even though they won their division it is still really tough to judge them, they’re either shooting well above their station. Or they are who they thought they were and just fall apart. They have the firepower to make it out but will have to desperately rely on their elite rotation to lead them anywhere. They need a run badly since the Milwaukee local government is very fickle about stadium renovations. Good thing the Bucks traded for Damian Lillard for Wisconsinite’s sake.
#4 Philadelphia Phillies:
It was looking rough at the beginning of the season, it appeared they had a World Series slump and were back down. But the reality is often quite peculiar, just like their hitting core. They have good contact guys but also crazy power hitters. Kyle Schwarber has really only three true outcomes, Home Run, Single or out. Don’t believe me? He has 215 strikeouts, 47 home runs and 48 singles. They’ll need a little bit more to make it far, but the Marlins aren’t the toughest team in the world. They just need to play like they have been.
#5 Miami Marlins:
For the first time in a full season, the Miami Marlins are back in the playoffs. The last time in a full year was back in 2003, coincidentally winning the World Series that year. Despite him falling off a bit, Luis Arraez is an on-base machine with a .354 batting average. They’ll need him and Jorge Soler to get out of the funk and fast. Against a division rival like Philadelphia, you can’t take any chances. They won’t mind, this is just a learning experience for them but a deep playoff run always helps.
#6 Arizona Diamondbacks:
Another sleeper team this season is Arizona, a very young team. Going up and down the roller coaster, winning 8 straight and losing 7 of 10. Just constant struggling, followed by constant success. Corbin Carroll could be their missing piece for the future with his superstar season. They may not be a great team, they probably will get crushed by Milwaukee. But if there’s a team to shock the world, it’d be this one.
National League Representative Prediction:
In terms of predictions, it is pretty much an educated guess. Any team could really make it out and I wouldn’t be shocked. But my pick to make it out is the Dodgers. The Braves are really good but they kind of lack one thing, playoff experience. These games will be a treat to watch, and play ball!
