Four teams, the Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers, have swept their rivals and secured a spot in the 2023 MLB Division Series.
The Texas Rangers achieved victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in a two-game series, thanks to their impeccable pitching. Both left-hander Jordan Montgomery and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi shut down the Rays’ offense in their respective games. Closer Jose Leclerc, along with relievers Aroldis Chapman and Josh Sborz, also performed exceptionally well on the mound. Despite not having star pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer due to injury, Texas’ starting rotation stood out.
On the offensive side, the Texas Rangers capitalized on their opponents’ defensive errors and showcased timely hitting. Evan Carter and Corey Seager were the main figures, while Adolis Garcia hit a home run in the second match.
In the American League Divisional Series, the Texas Rangers will face the Baltimore Orioles. It is expected to be a close series, played as a best-of-five.
In the other wild card series in the American League, the Minnesota Twins eliminated the Toronto Blue Jays. Carlos Correa and rookie Royce Lewis led the Twins’ offense, while pitchers Sonny Gray and Pablo Lopez dominated the Blue Jays’ lineup.
Carlos Correa will face his former team, the Houston Astros, as the Minnesota Twins aim to advance to the American League championship series.
In the National League, the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Milwaukee Brewers. Despite a shaky performance by opener Brandon Pfaadt, the rest of the pitching staff performed exceptionally well. Corbin Carroll led the offensive charge for the Diamondbacks, with contributions from Gabriel Moreno and Marte Kettle.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next phase, posing a more challenging opponent.
The Philadelphia Phillies eliminated the Miami Marlins with stellar pitching performances from Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. The bullpen, lead by flamethrowers Jose Alvarado and Gregory Soto, was also effective in shutting down the Marlins’ offense. Trea Turner and J.T. Realmuto stood out offensively for the Phillies, with Bryson Stott hitting a grand slam in the second game.
The Philadelphia Phillies will now face the Atlanta Braves in the MLB Division Series of the National League.
Overall, these four teams have displayed exceptional performances on both pitching and offense, setting the stage for intense and exciting divisional series matchups.