Allie Wenskoski, Junior
Sunday, September 27, marked the last of the regular season games for Major League Baseball. Today will be the first games of the playoffs, starting off with the wildcard games. This year was an odd season overall as Covid-19 affected the original start of the season, how many games were played, and what teams would play who. Though the original Opening Day was scheduled for March 26, the season was delayed until July 23. Additionally, instead of the normal 162 games played per team, each team would only be playing a total of 60 games. These games would only be played between teams in their own divisions and their corresponding geographic division (meaning the NL West would play the AL West and so on). The playoffs this year are different as well. In 2020, sixteen out of thirty teams will make the playoffs compared to the normal ten. That is over half of the teams in the league, so your team has a pretty good shot of making the playoffs. But before we jump into the postseason, let’s take a look at how the 2020 regular season fared.
Starting off in the National League East, the Braves surprised everyone by winning the division. Atlanta ended with a pretty sparkling record of 35-25 and easily earned themselves a playoff spot. The Miami Marlins got 2nd in the division, ending with a record of 31-29 and additionally will be making a playoff appearance. As for the Phillies, the Nationals, and the Mets, they ended the season with losing records and will not be playing baseball again until March.
The NL Central has a different story. Four out of the five teams made the playoffs with the exception of the Pirates. The Chicago Cubs won the division with a record of 34-26. The Cardinals were close behind, earning second place and a finishing record of 30-28. Those two teams were guaranteed playoff spots. The Cincinnati Reds, though finishing third, earned one of the wildcard spots for the National League. Finally, the Brewers, though finishing in fourth and in a normal year would never sniff the playoffs, also earned one of the wildcard spots. Sadly, we will say goodbye to the Pirates until next year, who finished fifth with a losing record of 19-41.
In the NL West, the Dodgers swept the division as predicted back in the beginning of the season. They made the playoffs and are currently the favorites to win the World Series. Their record was outstanding, 43-17. Getting second in the NL West is the Padres, who ended six games back from the Dodgers, but still made the playoffs due to the new rules this season. Their final record was 37-23 for the season. However, this means that the Giants, Rockies, and Diamondbacks missed the postseason and will have to try again next year.
Moving to the American League, the AL East had another impressive showing. The Rays took the division title by a landslide and a record of 40-20. Seven games back fell the New York Yankees, who still made the playoffs with their record of 33-27. However, finishing third was the Toronto Bluejays (who moved to Buffalo, NY for the season and are now being referred to as the Buffalo Bluejays), who made the postseason after snagging a wildcard spot. The Orioles and the Red Sox both missed the playoffs with their losing records.
The AL Central had three teams make the postseason as well. The Minnesota Twins clinched the playoffs and the AL Central title with a record of 36-24. Every game counted though, because the next two teams were right on their tail and actually ended up tying for second based on the record of 35-25. Though this would have caused an issue in normal seasons, both teams (the Indians and the White Sox) made the playoffs, one being the second place team, and the other making one of the American League’s wildcard spots. Only the Royals and the Tigers will be saying goodbye to baseball until the spring for now.
The last division, the AL West, held a bit of an easier competition as the Oakland Athletics won in a landslide. Their record of 36-24 was not even close to the Astros, who got second in the division. The Astros ended up seven games back and a record of 29-31, which caused some controversy. This is the first year that a team with a losing record, or a record where the team lost more games than they won, could make the playoffs. However, this left out the Mariners, who have missed the last 19 playoffs in a row, as well as the Angels and Rangers. For these teams, maybe next year.
Who will win the World Series? You’ll have to watch to find out. Baseball fans, don’t worry. We still have a month of baseball left and these are the most exciting games. As the regular season comes to a close, the postseason arrives and lots of close games, controversial calls and a race for the last team standing awaits.
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