Ranking All 12 MLB Playoff Teams By Toughest Paths to Win The World Series

Ranking All 12 MLB Playoff Teams By Toughest Paths to Win The World Series. read Ranking All 12 MLB Playoff Teams By Toughest Paths to Win The World Series

Ranking All 12 MLB Playoff Teams By Toughest Paths to Win The World Series

The MLB playoffs are finally here. After a long summer with many storylines and breakout players, the 12-team playoff stage is set. However, each team’s path to the World Series is very different. Who has the easiest and most challenging path? Let’s dive in!

No. 12 - Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds just slid into the final spot in the National League and will have a tough task in the opening round, facing the reigning World Series Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers have not been as dominant this season, this is a tall task for a young team.

If the Reds were to pull off the impressive upset, they would travel to Philadelphia to face the high-flying Phillies, which would be another difficult matchup.

No. 11 - San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres were able to secure the No. 5 spot in the NL, which will set them up for a trip to Wrigley Field in the Wild Card round. They will face a potent Cubs team that will be without breakout Cade Horton due to injury. However, traveling to Wrigley Field is no easy task.

In the second round, they would then face the top seed in the conference, the Milwaukee Brewers. While the Padres could be on upset watch in the first round, they will have to take down the top seed in the second round. However, the Padres have the lineup and bullpen to make noise in October.

No. 10 - Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox have been one of the most surprising teams all summer. After acquiring superstar pitcher Garrett Crochet in the winter, the Red Sox were able to return to the postseason and clinch the No. 5 spot in the AL. However, their opening round match will be against their familiar foe, the New York Yankees, in the Bronx.

The Red Sox drew one of the toughest matchups in the Wild Card round, as the Yankees actually have the second-best record in the AL. If they were to upset the Bronx Bombers, they would travel north to face the top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays.

No. 9 - Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers maintained a comfortable lead at the top of the AL Central for most of the summer but lost their lead to the Cleveland Guardians in the final months, ultimately securing the No. 6 seed. In the opening round, they will face these same Guardians in Cleveland.

However, given Detroit’s elite pitching staff is led by one of the top pitchers in the game (Tarik Skubal), they could be in a great spot to pull off the upset. In the second round, they would travel to face the Seattle Mariners, who hold the No. 2 seed, which is more favorable than traveling to Toronto.

No. 8 - New York Yankees

The New York Yankees were unable to secure the top spot in their division, as the Blue Jays held on in Game 162. As a result, the Yankees will play host to the Red Sox in the Wild Card round. While the Yankees are the favorites and should take care of business, the Red Sox could pose a threat to upset.

In the second round, the Yankees would have to travel to Toronto (No. 1 seed) to face the Blue Jays, whom they have struggled against this season, posting a modest 5-8 record.

No. 7 - Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs were able to welcome back Kyle Tucker to their lineup in the final weekend, which could be the difference between them winning or losing in the opening round against the Padres. While the Cubs will be at home, which gives them the edge in the opening series, they will be without their top pitcher, Cade Horton, putting them at a significant disadvantage.

If they were to win, they would travel to Milwaukee to face the top seed, whom they have held their own against this season, going 6-7.

No. 6 - Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians recently swept the Tigers in a three-game set this month and will look to do the same again in the opening round. In this series, Cleveland’s pitching led the way, allowing only six total runs across all three games.

Top pitchers Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams will likely be given the ball in the first two games. Bibee has held a 1.40 ERA over his last 27 2/3 innings, while Williams is coming off a 12-K performance against these Tigers. They would avoid the top-seed Blue Jays in the ALDS and instead travel to Seattle.

No. 5 - Los Angeles Dodgers

Coming in at the No. 5 spot are the reigning champions. The Dodgers were unable to secure one of the top two seeds, which will put them in a Wild Card round match against the Cincinnati Reds, who were able to sneak in to the final spot in the postseason.

Sitting as heavy favorites in Round 1, the Dodgers would then avoid the No. 1 seed and face the Phillies in the NLDS. With their offense led by Shohei Ohtani, who recently broke his own personal HR record, expect the Dodgers to be poised for another long postseason run.

No. 4 - Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays took care of business in the final game of the regular season, which secured them the top spot in the American League. After years of falling short of expectations, the Blue Jays look poised to take their long-awaited postseason run.

Among the teams that hold the first-round bye, the Blue Jays have the most challenging path as they will face either the reigning AL Champion, the New York Yankees, or the red-hot Boston Red Sox in Round 2, which is no easy task.

No. 3 - Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies secured the No. 2 spot in the National League and will await the winner of the Los Angeles Dodgers/Cincinnati Reds series. While the Phillies have posted an elite .648% Win% since August 1, potentially facing the Dodgers in their opening playoff series is not ideal.

If they were to win, they would likely travel to the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers, assuming the other half of the NL bracket plays out accordingly.

No. 2 - Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers sit as the top seed in the National League and will face the winner of the Chicago Cubs/San Diego Padres series in Round 2. Either way, the Brewers will sit as the favorite in this matchup and will avoid both the Dodgers and the Phillies until the NLCS.

While the Brewers will face a tough opponent in the NLCS, among the teams in the National League, they have the easiest path to reach the Championship Series. Even so, they will host the NLCS, giving them even more of an advantage compared to the rest of the National League.

No. 1 - Seattle Mariners

Coming in at the top spot are the Seattle Mariners. Even though they are the No. 2 seed in the American League, they have a much easier path to reach the ALCS compared to the Blue Jays. Instead of facing the second-best team in the AL in Round 2, the New York Yankees (according to record), they will face the Cleveland Guardians (assuming they defeat the lower-seeded Detroit Tigers).

While the Mariners will then travel to Toronto in the ALCS, they have an elite pitching staff, led by Logan Gilbert, who has held a 2.30 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over his last 27 1/3 innings of work, which is more than capable of leading them to the World Series.