The MLB 2021 post-season is underway. The defending champions LA Dodgers are looking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in their history but will they succeed? TIBS News looks at how it’s all shaping out in America.
Who are the teams in the post-season?
The 2021 MLB post-season began on Tuesday evening with one of the greatest rivalries in baseball, the New York Yankees versus the Boston Red Sox. This was only decided in Game 162 after a flurry of tie-breaker scenarios left the long-time rivals as play-off teams. And on Tuesday it was the Red Sox who came out on top 6-2 and will now face the Tampa Bay Rays next.
The defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers return to the post-season this year, along with 2020 runners-up Tampa Bay Rays. A team to watch would be the San Francisco Giants, who exceeded all expectations and led the National League in wins for the season.
The post-season picture looks different from what was expected at the beginning of the season back in March, with former favourites San Diego Padres and the New York Mets missing out after finishing the season with losing records.
Despite winning 106 games this season, the defending champions must defeat the St Louis Cardinals in a winner-takes-all game in order to advance. The Cardinals made the post-season on the back of an impressive 17 games in a row, securing their third-consecutive play-off appearance. The winner of this game will play the Giants in a best of 5 series.
The other NL series will feature the star-loaded Milwaukee Brewers, and their elite pitching staff, against the NL East champion Atlanta Braves – who took advantage of the Mets struggles in the second half to win the NL East.
From the American League perspective, the winner of the game between the Yankees and Red Sox will play the 2020 American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in what promises to be an exciting series, whoever the opponent. Tampa Bay will hope the depleted starting rotation will do enough to send them through.
The other AL Series will feature the star-studded line-up of the Houston Astros, led by one of the most experienced managers in baseball history, Dusty Baker. They will face off against veteran manager Tony La Russa’s Chicago White Sox and his young and powerful line-up.
How does it work?
In both the National and American Leagues, the winners of the first series will face off in a seven-game series to decide who makes it to the World Series. The winner of the National League and American League will face off in the World Series. It is scheduled to begin on October 26, and the team first to four wins will win it all.
Who are the favourites to win the World Series?
Despite having to play a single-elimination game, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still favourites to win back-to-back World Series titles for the first time in franchise history.
The Houston Astros are the second-favourites. They are still associated with a cheating scandal, making them the villains of the post-season. But Dusty Baker is still hunting his first world series as a manager and this year could be it – their line-up is experienced and dangerous, and their pitching staff is excellent.
The Tampa Bay Rays are third-favourites to win the World Series. This year might be more demanding for the Rays. Having traded many of the pitchers that led them to the World Series last year, it is their weakest point. But their line-up remains deadly and potent, and the bullpen remains as dominant as ever.
Two of the wildcard teams, the Boston Red Sox and St Louis Cardinals, are among the unlikely candidates to win the World Series. But nothing is impossible. The Cardinals have the chance to cause one of the biggest upsets in recent post-season history, knocking out the favourites Dodgers in the wildcard game. Only time will tell.
The post-season began on Tuesday, and if the World Series reaches seven games, it will finish on the November 4. It promises to be one of the most entertaining post-seasons in history.
By Alex Worth
