MLB postseason bracket. Graphic by Keytron Braden/CBS Sports
In a stunning sixth-inning upset, shortstop Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam for the New York Mets. The Mets, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by one run with a score of 0-1, welcomed four runners home and let their bullpen handle the rest of the game. The Mets, who haven’t been to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) since 2015, celebrated traditionally, jumping and cheering on the field before heading to their locker room to celebrate with champagne at their home ballpark, Citi Field.
2,800 miles away at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers fans watched as their team beat the San Diego Padres in Game 5 of their own National League Division Series, advancing to the NLCS.
Meanwhile, in the American League, the New York Yankees advanced to the ALCS on Thursday night, beating the Kansas City Royals 3-1 at Kauffman Stadium. The Cleveland Guardians became their opponent Saturday after defeating the Detroit Tigers 7-3.
While Mets fans are hopeful about making it to the World Series after nine years, the odds currently favor the Dodgers as a solid postseason pick over the Mets, who made it into the postseason as a wild card. New York has relied on clutch hitting, with Francisco Lindor and first baseman Pete Alonso as prime examples, while the Dodgers are home run-happy, and their bullpen excels at ensuring scoreless innings to keep opponents at bay.
At this point, it’s anybody’s game. As a hopeful and long-suffering Mets fan myself, you can be sure who I’m rooting for. However, if I know one thing about baseball, it’s that statistics aren’t everything. You have to be ready for the unexpected to come to fruition.
