AND THEY’RE OFF! As of Sep. 30, the race to claim the 2019 World Series Title has begun. That’s right, October Baseball is back. The playoffs are upon us, and they are shaping up to make for an exciting World Series. Six regional winners, three from each the American League and the National League, and the four wild card spots are locked in and ready to embark on their journey to glory.
The team representing the AL East is the New York Yankees, with a regular season record of 103-59. The AL Central is being represented by the Minnesota Twins, who finished the regular season with a record of 101-61. The team that emerged from the AL West is the Houston Astros, who bolstered the best record in the regular season of 107-55. Coming from the NL East, we see the Atlanta Braves, who finished the regular season with a record of 97-65. The team representing the NL Central, with a record of 91-71, is the St. Louis Cardinals. The sixth and final automatic entry, representing the NL West and sporting a 106-56 record, is the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The four wild card teams, two of whom will join the six automatic entries in the Divisional Round Series, are the Oakland Athletics, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Washington Nationals and the Milwaukee Brewers. These teams will play each other to advance to the five-game, divisional series.
Oct. 1 marked the beginning of the playoffs as the Washington Nationals battled the Milwaukee Brewers at National Park in D.C. The Nationals emerged victorious, and they will advance to face the Dodgers starting Oct. 3. The Oakland Athletics will battle the Tampa Bay rays for a birth in the Divisional Series on October 2nd. The winner of that game will go on to face the Astros starting Oct. 4. The third matchup between the Cardinals and the Braves will begin Oct. 3. The remaining series will be between the Yankees and the Twins and will begin on Oct. 4.
As the post-season progresses, make sure to take some time to enjoy America’s favorite pastime. The players are eager to bring a World Series back to their hometown, fans, and organization. October baseball is electric and will have you on the edge of your seat. Even if your favorite team was unfortunate enough to not make the cut *cough cough, Boston Red Sox, cough cough*, make sure to spend some time with friends and watch a couple innings. As the great Nolan Ryan once said, “One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.” This quote speaks volumes to the mentality of these ball players and the excitement that comes with elimination on the brink. Make sure to tune in and keep up. The World Series Game 1 is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 22.