Dutch Lion’s 2023 MLB Playoffs Preview

Dutch Lion’s 2023 MLB Playoffs Preview

It’s been a long time since Dutch put pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keyboard. I think it was the broken fingers incurred by gambling losses when he didn’t pay up, and so then the men with brass knuckles took out their aggressions.

Anyway, let’s get to it. The Baseball Playoffs are back….. and as usual, nobody seems to notice or care because we’re in the middle of football season, which always takes control of sports fans attention every autumn. As you know, Dutch Lion invented his solution to this crisis, called the “Dutch Lion Plan”, or “DLP”. The DLP is how baseball will become the national pastime once again, with a simple schedule adjustment. The MLB Playoffs should be in August. It’s the dog days of Summer. There’s no football. The nation’s attention would be fully on BASEBALL. The lost revenue from more lousy regular season games would be made up for tenfold with higher TV ratings in August. The owners would be ecstatic. The fans wouldn’t be distracted by pro football, college football, NBA basketball, college basketball, and NHL hockey. Think about it. For more info, read about the DLP here.

Until the DLP is actually realized, thus making Dutch Lion famous, let’s predict what will happen this October.

American League Playoffs

1. Baltimore (101-61) – BYE
2. Houston (90-72) – BYE
3. Minnesota Twins (87-75)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (99-63)
5. Texas Rangers (90-72)
6. Toronto Blue Jays (89-73)

ALWC – Wild Card Series (Best-of-3)

#3 Minnesota vs #6 Toronto – The Twins have an infamous streak of losing playoff games. It doesn’t really matter, but the Blue Jays are a better team in my opinion. PICK: Toronto

#4 Tampa Bay vs #5 Texas – Texas will have a hard time with Tampa, in Tampa, at the miserable Tropicana Field Dome. But will anyone attend? I doubt the Rays sell out but for some reason they are good almost every year. PICK: Texas

ALDS – Divisional Series (Best-of-5)

#1 Baltimore vs #4/#5 winner (Texas) – Baltimore came out of nowhere to have a great season. If deGrom, Scherzer, and Eovaldi were all fully healthy, I’d take the Rangers. But they aren’t. Congrats to the Orioles. PICK: Baltimore in 4

#2 Houston vs #3/#6 winner (Toronto) – Somehow Houston snuck in as the NL West Champion after trailing the Rangers almost the entire season. So the Astros got the bye while the Rangers had to play in the Wild Card Series. We’ll take the Blue Jays in an upset here. PICK: Toronto in 5

ALCS – Championship Series (Best-of-7)

#1 Baltimore vs #6 Toronto – There’s just something about the Baltimore Orioles in 2023. It’s almost hard to fathom, but they are flat out solid. They are third in MLB in doubles this year, yet below average in home runs. What does that tell me? It tells me they are line drive hitters. They have speed, and don’t swing for the fences. They pressure the opposing pitchers and defense. Pitching is the O’s strength. They are 7th in ERA and 4th in HR allowed. They are 7th in walks allowed and 8th in WHIP. Obviously Toronto is good too. Their lineup will pressure Baltimore’s pitching staff, especially without recently injured closer Felix Bautista. PICK: Baltimore in 7

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National League Playoffs

1. Atlanta Braves (104-58) – BYE
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (100-62) – BYE
3. Milwaukee Brewers (92-70)
4. Philadelphia Phillies (90-72)
5. Miami Marlins (84-77)
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78)

NLWC – Wild Card (Best-of-3)

#3 Milwaukee vs #6 Arizona – Arizona had a magnificent year. They came from out of nowhere to make the NL Playoff field for their first time since 2017. In fact, the D’Backs just lost 110 games two years ago! However, this rebuild happened quickly. Last year they finished 74-88. This year they climbed to 84 wins with young stars such as Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno. Carroll is a superstar already. He put up a .285 avg, 25 HR, 76 RBI, and 54 SB! However, Milwaukee is better. PICK: Milwaukee

#4 Philadelphia vs #5 Miami – The Phillies went all the way to the World Series last year. Can they do it again? PICK: Philadelphia

NLDS – Divisional Series (Best-of-5)

#1 Atlanta vs #4/#5 winner (Philadelphia) – Atlanta is the class of baseball right now. They earned the #1 seed and first round bye with 104 victories this year. Can anyone beat them? Philly might be one of the only teams that can. Will Bryce Harper turn it on? The Phillies lineup is as good as anyone’s, including Atlanta’s. PICK: Atlanta in 5

#2 L.A. Dodgers vs #3/#6 winner (Milwaukee) – There’s just something about L.A. They fear nobody. Their organization is the best. They’ve been winners so consistently, for so long, it’s actually amazing they haven’t won more World Championships since 1988. They won it all in 2020, but have so many heartbreaking losses that people might forget how dominant this franchise truly is. PICK: L.A. Dodgers in 4

NLCS – Championship Series (Best-of-7)

#1 Atlanta vs #2 Los Angeles – This is a battle royale for the National League Pennant. Ultimately, I think the injuries to the Braves pitching staff (Max Fried and Charlie Morton) will be the nail in the coffin. The Dodgers have been looking forward to the postseason ALL season, so they have overcome their pitching injuries with help from an “easier” division. Lance Lynn will make a difference, along with the always present Clayton Kershaw. Watch out for Bobby Miller too. PICK: L.A. Dodgers in 7

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World Series (Best-of-7)

AL Champion Baltimore Orioles vs NL Champion Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers are experienced. The Orioles are young. Ultimately, this will be the difference. The Dodgers are due to win another World Series before Clayton Kershaw retires. I foresee Orioles wunderkind catcher Adley Rutschman becoming a superstar this October, but the Dodgers will prevail, with Freddie Freeman winning MVP. For years while in Atlanta, I thought Freeman was overrated. Uhh, not anymore. Now he’s on his way to Cooperstown. He’s been on a heater all year! Freeman hit .331, 29 HR, 102 RBI, and an amazing 59 doubles! (next highest had 42). Only nine players hit over .300 this year. Two Dodgers achieved this goal. Don’t forget about Mookie Betts. He only put up 39 bombs with his .307 average. Will Smith, Max Muncy, J.D. Martinez….these guys are going all the way. Your 2023 World Series Champions will be…. the Los Angeles Dodgers.