Two first-time postseason meetings will take place during the League Championship Series, with these fresh matchups underlining the upset-filled nature of the 2023 playoffs. We could also be heading towards an entirely fresh World Series matchup as well, or potentially a rematch of last year’s Fall Classic. The ALCS begins Sunday in Houston, with the NLCS getting underway on Monday in Philadelphia.
Rangers vs. Astros
Amidst all of the postseason’s unpredictability, the Astros remain the constant. Houston is in the ALCS for the seventh consecutive year, with two World Series titles (2017 and last season) and two other AL pennants to show for this incredible run of success. The Astros know what to do in October, and their ALDS victory over the Twins also saw a player without a championship ring suddenly step up, as Jose Abreu hit three homers over the four-game series. The regular season was a disappointment for Abreu, but if he has suddenly locked in and found his old White Sox form, Houston’s lineup will look even more imposing.
Then again, the Rangers can roll out an awfully imposing group of hitters themselves. Texas is a perfect 5-0 over its series triumphs over the Rays and Orioles, in part because Corey Seager and the rookie duo of Evan Carter and Josh Jung have been almost impossible to get out. The Texas rotation and bullpen will inevitably have question marks, yet their arms have gotten the job done thus far, with a 2.25 ERA over 45 postseason innings. Plus, the pitching staff might get even stronger with the expected return of Max Scherzer in some capacity for the ALCS.
There is already a fierce rivalry between these two Lone Star State rivals, as the Rangers’ return to prominence will now face a critical test against the benchmark that is the Astros. Though the Rangers led the AL West for most of the season, the Astros slipped ahead to clinch the division on a tiebreaker — both clubs finished with a 90-72 record, but Houston held a comfortably 9-4 advantage in head-to-head play.
Justin Verlander has been announced as Houston’s starter for Game 1, and Jordan Montgomery will take the ball for Texas. Both pitchers were acquired at the trade deadline, though naturally Verlander already has a long history in an Astros uniform.
Diamondbacks vs. Phillies
The first season of the expanded playoffs saw the Phillies go from sixth seed to NL champions in 2022, and now a year later, the Phils find themselves as the favorites trying to hold off another sixth-seeded upstart. Like the Rangers, the Diamondbacks have yet to drop even a single game in these playoffs, after sweeping away the Brewers and the Dodgers over the first two rounds. The Phillies (1.53, .892 OPS) and D’Backs (2.20, .877) lead all postseason teams in ERA and OPS, showing the well-rounded nature of both clubs’ performances thus far.
Star youngsters Corbin Carroll and Gabriel Moreno have led the way for Arizona, and the rotation depth that plagued the D’Backs during the regular season hasn’t been an issue in the short-series environment of the postseason. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly are a formidable pair of frontline arms, and rookie Brandon Pfaadt looked sharp in 4 1/3 shutout innings against Los Angeles in Game 3 of the NLDS. Arizona also has an unusual bit of superstition on its side, in that every team to ever eliminate the Brewers from a postseason series has also won at least a league pennant.
While the underdog Diamondbacks have shown no fear during these playoffs, they’ll be facing a tough assignment in facing a tested Phillies team that has both a raucous home crowd and the home-field advantage. Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, Bryce Harper, and J.T. Realmuto have been a four-man wrecking crew during the playoffs, combining for nine homers and 19 RBI over Philadelphia’s six games. If there is one downside, it is that the rest of the Phillies’ lineup has been mostly quiet, though there is still plenty of talent that could emerge in a new series.
Arizona will start Gallen, Kelly, and Pfaadt over the first three NLDS games. A well-rested Zack Wheeler is expected to start Game 1 for Philadelphia, with Aaron Nola and Ranger Suarez probably lining up for the next two starts.
Can’t sleep on the Dbacks.
MLB will fix it. Houston wins the World Series and gives the keys to the Hall of Fame to Dusty Baker. Got to get the fox in cause Baker could never do it on his own
I think I speak for everyone outside of Houston when I say “Go Rangers.”
Yes you do!!!( at least in my case)
Considering how there are several Astros who live outside of Houston, you don’t speak for everyone.
I live in the Alamo City. Go Astros!
Aren’t there still some Astros who can’t speak? English anyway; it is what we speak here.
Weird comment by dcahen is weird.
goastros123, Agree, though your comment seems to have come from the department of redundancy department.
You must be new to the internet.
You would be wrong.
MLB is gonna fix what? Oh the 2019 Juiced ball vs humidor conspiracy theory? Yeah they strapped it to a boat and it sailed off the flat earth strapped to one of Elon Musks rockets with a GIANT face of Biff Tannen painted on the side wearing a Astros Hat? With a MGM flag waving in the background and some weird spider out of IROBOT crawling up it?
Rumor has it, it throws some WICKED breaking balls, and looks better than Bonds did back in ’02?
Von – neither of these are “my team”. At this point as an mlb fan, I think we might see some good old fashion pitchers duels in NLCS – Gallen / Merrill v Wheeler / Nola could get interesting.
I’d prefer Houston to get knocked out but really am ok with either NL team at this point . Don’t love them and don’t hate them.
I feel like this is the Phillies year
Bryce has waited long enough. He left Washington (for a mega contract) the year before they won it all. He’s had 4 years to think about if going for the money was the right choice. It’s time. Expecting Bryce to be vintage MVP level Bryce the next 3 weeks.
Highly doubt it. Really hard to see them getting more than a couple games off either AL team.
Phillies had a shot last year. Feel like another WS is coming to Texas, whether it be arlington or Houston
They were overrated. I think they are better this year but I’m not sure they can beat the Astros again. I think they’ll beat any other team IMHO.
I smell a 2022 rematch, but really you can’t sleep on any of these teams.
If we have a rematch it would be the first time in MLB since 1977-78!
That being said go rangers and dbacks.
NL lost both of those, Von would want a different outcome….
The pennant was the same teams too both years:
Dodgers – Phillies
Yankees – Royals
@ VonPurpleHayes
True! It all comes down to who’s hot at the moment the series begins and can keep the momentum going their way.
Just ask the Braves, Dodgers and Orioles. They all went cold, and struggled to keep the momentum going their way.
Right Arcia and the Braves? You got the momentum in your favor in the 6th inning in Game 2 through the last out of Game 2. But then couldn’t capitalize on it and continue with the momentum.
Homegrown talent always wins out in the end. Astros the first repeat champ since 2000.
Sounds like you are rooting for DBacks then
Astros have 13 homegrown players on their ALCS roster.
Diamondbacks have 12.
Of all 12 playoff teams, Astros have the most.
Houston took care of PHI last year, no hot Philly including a no hitter. They are not intimidated by anyone and just as good as anyone. There is a reason people chat “we want Houston” and regret it.
Philly is a much better team in 2023. I can’t say that about Houston, but Hoiston is Houston. Can never doubt them. Rangers and Dbacks are on fire. Coin flips everywhere.
Yet they barely won the division and wouldn’t have won it if they didn’t make the Verlander trade
I would prefer the Rangers and Diamondbacks win, but think the Astros and Phillies will….
Diamondbacks-team of destiny
They’re all teams of destiny right now.
Run it back: Astros-Phillies
The D-Bags are playing with house money. At this point all four teams are hot and anyone can win.
People will vote with their heart and not their mind. Arizona beating Philly is less of an upset than Dallas beating Houston.
That’s technically not true, but hey, let’s run with it.
Not being a fan of any of these teams, like many other voters, my heart was not a factor. It’s the Phillies year.
Says it’s not from the heart, then follows it up with it’s the Phillies’ destiny.
I hope your heart is right though!
Dbacks beat the Astros in 7 in a massive upset. Become heroes to Yankee fans as we forget about 2001.
But not 2004!!! Sorry Buzz still pissed on 99 grandslam a month ago!!!
The Dallas Rangers are pretty tough, but you gotta knock off Galveston if you want a ring.
I’m surprised so many are picking the Rangers. I want the Rangers to win, and I think they do have a clear path, but the Astros always find ways to win.
Same with the D-Backs in regards to the Rangers.
Probably a Phillies/Astros series again with Astros on top.
I’m hoping it’s the Rangers but Astros don’t disappoint.
Bochy coming out of retirement and leading the Rangers to a championship is the storybook ending the White Sox envisioned when they hired Tony LaRussa. Now granted it hasn’t actually happened but it’s easy to root for the Rangers. However, how do Giants fans feel about watching two of their last 3 Managers battle it out in the ALCS after having to endure the Gabe Kapler era?
Dusty managed the Giants more than 20 years ago. Plus he managed 3 other teams in between the Giants and Astros. Giants’ fans are happy that he finally was able to get a ring, but any imagined connection is non-existent. I doubt anyone misses him running the Giants.
I agree that the “storybook” season sounds enticing. But truly, how often does a storybook ending actually happen?
If Scherzer is activated, the Rangers will lose their mojo and fall to the Astros
@Judgement – I agree. I just don’t see how the Rangers close out games with that bullpen. There may be a few games where they run up the score enough where it doesn’t matter, but bad bullpens usually catch up with a team in the postseason.
“but the Astros always find ways to win.”
yup no matter how illegal or low they will bend and break whatever rules they have to to win.
Lol they live rent free permanently it seems
I don’t know
I think the Astros and Phillies are better
I like the Phillies and Rangers better
Rangers/Phillies could be a slugfest
Hard to pick against the Phillies right now. It’s just feels like their time. The Bank was pure electricity this week. They absolutely love those guys. Side note, remember the whole Trout/Harper debate about 10 years ago, and how lopsided it was toward Trout? I love Mike Trout, but gimme Harper 10 days out of 10. Both HOFers, but it’s Harper for me.
Because Trout was the clear winner for most those years. Right now it’s Harper.
It’s been Harper for awhile now. Again, I’m not hating Mike Trout, I just think Harper has something that Trout, and most players for that matter, don’t have. That killer vibe. That I want the ball in the big moment and I’m going to deliver vibe. I just don’t catch that from 27. Hope he gets a ring.
I think it is hard to say since we never see Trout in the postseason. Also, Harper had very pedestrian postseason stats with the Nationals, but something about being in Philly has turned him into a postseason beast.
The vote for the Rangers is likely a vote against the Astros. That said, I picked the Rangers up front to win the AL as they’re streaky, and when they’re hot, as they are now, they’re very tough to beat. A Rangers-Phillies World Series would be fun.
Voting against the Astros, based on what happened 6 years ago is really dumb. It’s not which team you like, it’s who you think will win.
It’s not the same team. Altuve and Bregman are the only 2 position players from the 2017 team. Lance McCullers is the only pitcher, but he spent the season on the 60-day IL, and didn’t pitch at all this season.
It was hilarious when Twins fans were booing Altuve.
It’s not dumb. Fans are fans. They vote based on emotion.
No, dumb fans base their votes on emotions. Not all fans are that dumb.
Until altuve and bregman are gone, the hate for the astros will stay alive. Rightly so in my opinion, as they should’ve been banned for life.
Cool take, now do one on Mookie.
Another uninformed opinion. It’s been widely proven that Altuve didn’t use the system, even by the publication that brought it all to the light. Bregman is fair game, but the hate for Altuve is just silly and uninformed. Doesnt matter though, he will still be a hall of famer one day, and he rightfully deserves it.
By that logic their hate should also spread to the Blue Jays, Braves, Padres, Twins, Marlins, Angels, Giants, and A’s since they all have players from the 2017 Astros team.
You are 100% correct, but they forget very quickly when any of those players are helping their teams.
“How I Got Away With It” by Jose Altuve Forward by OJ Simpson – a good read, you should check it out.
“Yeah, kinda,” Altuve said when asked if they knew what they did was wrong in 2017. “That’s why we feel bad. I’m not going to say to you it was good. It was wrong and we feel bad. We feel remorse. Like I said, the impact on the fans and the impact on the game, we feel bad.”
So, he felt bad and remorse for not cheating? Ok…
Nope. Not the teams just the dirtbag players and managers.
Its tough to bet against the Astros who are in their American League record 7th consecutive ALCS but the Rangers are a good team and both clubs are showing Old school still works. Same can be said for the Phillies and Diamondbacks who also take more of an old school approach with their Managers. Meanwhile the most analytics driven teams sit at home and watch on tv. Prompting the question: When will teams go back to realizing the game is played on the field with real people and not on laptops and tablets with computer algorithms?
You really need a mix of both to win these days. Can’t go too much one or the other
Astros
Marsh needs to do something with his hair. I don’t mind it long. It looks like his hair was used as a mop at the end of the day at Jiffy Lube. Know what I’m saying Punk?
He dumps water on it in between innings.
Back in March, I don’t think Mets fans envisioned THIS as the way we would see Verlander and Scherzer pitch in the LCS in 2023.
Really good point there hi! And yet, aren’t the Mets paying them still?
Are the Mets spending more money on players in the postseason than the DBacks? The fact that it may be close is fascinating, and I’m not trying to kick the Mets when they’re down.
And while they aren’t paying deGrom we can’t forget that he was connected to Mets and they at least got a pass on him – for 2023 anyway. Not so much the few years prior. Let’s call him an “almost/could have been even worse” with the Verlander / Scherzer convo.
I figured they would lose, honestly, but I didn’t picture both pitchers gone
I’m a big Texas fan and am quite excited about them this year, but I don’t get this. I honestly thought it was 40/60 instead of 60/40. I don’t get how wishing Texas wins makes it likely, but at least Texas gets some respect after being predicted to finish 4th on here by writers and on pools to start the season.
Texas/Houston vs. Arizona would shut out the East Coast talking heads and MLB ad revenue….I can envision ESPN treating this as a non-series….
I know those East coast people are annoying but someone has to pay for all of your hurricane bailouts and small business tax breaks that in no way ramped up inflation.
@NJBirds, do you have any idea how large the Texas economy is? We supply 43% of the oil in the US lol. Texas subsidizes every other state, especially NY and California.
Nope, he definitely doesn’t.
Texas subsidizes California huh? They subsidize the world’s FOURTH largest economy? That’s hilarious.
Please don’t take Birds as an EC representative. In fact, just ignore the state of New Jersey entirely. I’m kidding of course. Kind of. Nothing but love.
I’d watch the participation trophy championship series, but think I’ll take the advice of some annoying twit from Philly and find a different sport.
You seem like the annoying twit from NJ. Cry because your team didn’t make it and then come here just to be negative, all while feeling like you are witty. Put the phone down, have mommy make you a sandwich, and go back to your video game world.
as a philly fan I’m not going to be like a Dodger fan and the Brewers fans and sit there and say I’ll thank God we got we’re going to play the Diamondbacks in the NLCS we’re guaranteed to go to World Series because doctor fans thought that about the nlds and you saw what happened and roof install it and wild card he’s so what happened. with all that said I think it will be feeling Houston in the world series for the second straight year and is someone eluded earlier in another post I think everything is set up for the Phillies this year and if they could somehow do get Rhys Hoskins back just a boost of abandoned uniform would be great for the team. official prediction Philadelphia and Houston in the World Series and Philly wins the World Series in six games
@ bumpy93 (and all of our other great Phillies fans who believe bringing Hoskins back for the WS would help the Phillies win it all.)
I have to disagree with your comment about Rhys coming back for the WS and being the force to help them win it all.
Look at reality. It would mean he would have to come back with no live game pitching rehab.
Players are not capable of coming back from a season long injury and coming out immediately hitting HRs.
Look how long it took Superman Harper to get back into his HR hitting swing from his… “only a couple of months” recovery. And his recovery was from elbow repair. Yes, Hoskins ACL injury is the same as Schwarber’s. But it is an injury in the legs part of the body, not the upper arm part of the body. The legs area is used by hitters for power batting. Look at how that lower part of the body injury to Howard’s (Achilles injury) affected his hitting. Now look at what Schwarber did in his return from ACL injury in time for the WS? 0 for 4. Will a 0 for X by Hoskins help us (the Phillies) win it all?
Bringing Hoskins back for the series would be detrimental to the team. Taking up a spot on the roster of a fully healthy productive hitter or pitcher. And for what? A potential live pitching rehab DH bat? That would be a bad move.
As much as I feel Hoskins would inject power into the minds of the fans and team. It would not be a wise decision.
I fully believe the Phillies can win this all… and with Rhys staying right where he was all season long, as the dugout cheerleader for the team. It will be sad for him not to be on the field being an active playing player of the win. But we have to look at the reality and what will be best for the team to win it all.
I didn’t mean to imply he was going to come out and be a beast offensively I meant more just emotionally and being there would be even more of a pickup even without him being a major player in the series itself. only reason I think it might not happen is because he would take a roster spot from somebody and if he isn’t going to be relied on for a major role there’s no sense of wasting one of the roster spots on him
He’s been in the dugout with his uniform on all season. Just not this past series because he has been trying to ramp up his rehab in FL to be back on the team for the WS.
So, the emotional impact for the team has been there all season.
There has been a lot of talk from the fans and writers wanting him back for the WS.
That’s why I took your post as implying you too were on the bandwagon to get him back on the roster for the WS.
I believe it would hurt more than help by taking away a roster spot. Just have him in the dugout as a non-roster player like he was all season is what I am saying.
Astros are your future 2023 world series champions. I’m not afraid of being wrong.
I don’t have a team left in it but I’m thinking Phillies over Stros this time.
Rangers vs Phillies with the Phillies getting crushed.
Phillies aren’t getting crushed by anyone. With Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez, and their firepower, they may not win it all, but they aren’t getting steamrolled either.
The Rangers aren’t crushing the Phillies. Will be difficult to do when they’re on vacation and watching from afar.
I think it’s gonna be Astros-Phillies again, but opposite result with the Phillies taking it home. Love the Astros, but they were thoroughly mediocre a lot of the year and the Phillies did not sputter at the end of the season like the Astros did.
That said, I want it to be Astros-D-Backs because if the Astros did end up losing, it’d still be cool to see Evan Longoria get a ring before he’s done.
As an Astros fan, I lean towards what you are saying here. This is not the same team from last year and I do feel that the Phillies would have the upper hand this time. I hope not, but it’s likely.
Padres fan here, go Dbacks
Houston in 5
It just seems like the Phillies are on an entirely different level right now. They actually have a starting rotation, unlike the Dodgers, and the miles of experience is going to sink the Diamondbacks. It could be a very one-sided NLCS. In regards to the ALCS; one thing it will not be is one-sided. Could easily go to seven games. As a Mariners fan, it’s really hard to pick which one I would prefer to win. They are pretty close, except for Astros bullpen. If the Rangers offense remains hot, the Astros superb bullpen may be a moot point.
Imo, the Dbacks as currently constructed are not a 84 win team. They solidified their bullpen late in the season finding the right mix of guys and utilizing them in the right spots. If this bullpen had been in place as of June 1, I believe the Dbacks would have won 90+ games. That said, the Dbacks lack of starting pitching may become a factor in a longer series.
After my O’s got sent home rather unceremoniously for a 100+ win team, I still want to see the Rangers in the World Series, preferably against the D-backs.
Went with rematch. I like Philly chances the best but not like Arizona can’t win. AL game is coin flip or even Texas but not betting against Houston even though Texas has looked better.
I agree completely.
I brought back a skunk the last round of predictions so…
I wanted an O’s v Diamonds WS.
Predicting Phillies but rooting for Diamonds.
Predicting Rangers but rooting for Astros.
Why?
Predicting who will win doesn’t mean it’s who I want to win. I think both Texas and Philadelphia will win.
I mean, why do you want Houston to win?
Houston has mostly developed their team. They made smart trades and added some mid level free agents. Justin Verlander is the only high profile trade but he has a history with the team.
Although Arlington developed a couple players and made some smart trades, Texas bought most of their team of high profile free agents and high end trades.
The same goes for Philadelphia v Phoenix.
Wyatt Langford is about to change that.
Where exactly are the high profile FAs on the DBacks roster and how have they contributed to success?
Merrill Kelly? He was signed out of KBO, which he was playing in due to flaming out in MiLB
Evan Longoria? He’s at the back end of his career (37/38 years old) and is a platoon player
Miguel Castro? He’s the 7th inning guy
Ryan Thompson? Joe Mantiply? They were signed as FAs after TBR/NYY (respectively) released them (Austin Adams fits here as well after being released by SDP)
Scott McGough? He was signed out of NPB after flaming out in MiLB
Maybe you’re talking about Madison Bumgarner or Mark Melancon? Those two hurt the team more than they ever helped, even though their technically the “highest profile” signings
As far as trades go, I fail to see the point in distinguishing between high profile and not, because either way you’re giving up players from the system (more often than not homegrown guys). Ex: DBacks had to give up Jazz Chisholm (their #1 prospect at the time) to get Zac Gallen, or giving up Mitch Haniger+ to acquire Ketel Marte+
I’d actually argue that the Astros invested heavier in high profile FAs than the DBacks, like Michael Brantley (in his age 31-32 season) or Jose Abreu (three seasons after winning the AL MVP)
I’m not arguing about who’s made more savvy deals, because every team remaining has done so in some regard; however, you seem to have a bit of a misconception as to how the DBacks have gotten to where they currently are
Like the Rangers, the high profile free agents are on the Phillies. For the same reason I favor the Astros,
the Diamonds built their team in a similar fashion.
As a Mets fan I’ll say this, Philly wins it all. I think Texas takes down Houston but Philly, AZ won’t be close. Philly has the momentum and seems like this year they won’t be denied. I think they roll through whoever comes out of the AL. I hope anyone else but them wins it but I’m not betting against them.
Astros