The 2023 Major League Baseball World Series is just around the corner, and fans are already speculating on which teams will be vying for the title. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are two of the favourites but don’t count out the Boston Red Sox or 2022’s champions, the Houston Astros. With so many talented teams in contention, it’s shaping up to be an exciting World Series.
Here’s a look at what to expect from the 2023 MLB World Series.
A quick recap of the 2022 World Series
The 2022 World Series was a hard-fought battle. It truly was an exciting series from start to finish, full of high drama and thrilling plays that kept baseball fans on the edge of their seats.
The Philadelphia Phillies took the initial lead of 2-1, but it was the Houston Astros who would claim the title for the second time in six seasons, with Astros’ Jeremy Peña winning the World Series Most Valuable Player Award. This is the first-position player to win the MVP award as a rookie.
Exciting matchups between some of baseball’s best teams
Baseball fans across the country are eagerly anticipating the upcoming season, with plenty of exciting matchups in store. From the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees rivalry to the Chicago Cubs taking on the St. Louis Cardinals, these clashes promise plenty of drama and nail-biting moments.
Twelve teams will advance to the playoffs, including three division winners and three Wild Card teams from each league. Depending on how well they perform and their regular season records, each of the teams will be assigned a 1-6 seed in their appropriate league.
Similar to 2022, a Wild Card series will be played, and the winning teams from that series will then advance to the best-of-five Division series. The winners from the best-of-five will then advance to the seven-game Championship series. The two winners will then advance to the World Series.
Will the Houston Astros be able to defend their title, or will there be a new challenger ready to dethrone the men from Houston? Fans of all teams will look forward to these epic games as they battle for their top spots in the standings. Each of these games has its own special history, rivalries, and tradition, so it’s sure to be an entertaining season for everyone involved!
This year’s World Series odds thus far
This year’s World Series has already become a trending topic filled with much speculation, with some predicting that the Astros have the best chance to retain the trophy. According to the latest World Series Betting Odds, the current favourites for the title are:
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- New York Mets
- New York Yankees
- Atlanta Braves
Nothing is set in stone which is why all eyes will be on this year’s regular season to see how the teams perform leading into the World Series in October.
World Series Statistics
The World Series is one of the most exciting times of the year for sports fans. Not only does it bring a thrilling end to the baseball season, but every at-bat can come with heavy implications. Whether it’s a home run or a strikeout—every statistic matters when all eyes are on the field.
- To date, the New York Yankees have won the most World Series Championships, totalling 27.
- Fourteen teams have won the World Series twice in a row, can the Astros repeat recent success and be the latest to do so?
- As of 2022, Toronto has the best team batting average, 0.263 to be precise.
- The Houston Astros had the highest team win % in all games – 66.9% followed by the Dodgers with 67.5%
- Currently, the top three MLB rankings and ratings are as follows: 1. LA Dodgers (1.41), 2. NY Yankees (1.15), 3. Houston Astros (1)
The pressure is high as players and teams strive to make their mark in the annals of history by becoming champions. To this end, these championship games showcase the best that baseball has to offer, as fans understand that each minute detail carries weight within such an iconic event. Hence, when discussing World Series statistics, there’s no doubt that said numbers signify much more than mere data—they determine legacies and influence careers.
The regular season starts on 30 March under the new balanced schedule
Baseball is back! Well, almost. On 30 March, the 2023 MLB regular season is finally getting underway, and fans will be able to once again have a reason to cheer on their favourite team this summer. In a big change from years past, teams will now face all opponents in at least one series, thanks to the introduction of a new balanced schedule.
The changes also include: 52 divisional games (previously 76), 64 intraleague games (previously 66), and 46 interleague games (previously 20). These changes could add some extra interest to cross-division matchups as geographic rivals play each other more often for bragging rights. It should also serve as an interesting test to see if teams can replicate their performance against certain rosters even when there is no dominant home-field advantage at play.
Regardless of how it plays out, it promises to make the coming season much more fun for all involved and hopefully break up some rivalries along the way.
Excitement is already building for the 2023 World Series, and some experts are already making predictions about who will take home the title. With so many great teams in baseball right now, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be crowned champion. What we do know is that there are sure to be some exciting matchups between some of baseball’s best teams.
Keep an eye on the World Series odds as the season progresses to get an idea of which team might have the edge come October. And don’t forget to brush up on your World Series statistics before the Fall classic begins!