MLB Playoff Predictions: Post Trade Deadline and the Mariners outlook

League Division Series

NLDS: 

San Diego over Philadelphia in 4, Los Angeles over Arizona in 5

As we have seen in the first two seasons of the expanded MLB playoffs, the wild card teams continue to push these top seeds that are sitting home and resting (or rusting?). 

San Diego loaded up with bullpen arms, including lefty Tanner Scott, who becomes the most important player in the series, shutting down Schwarber and Harper in three relief appearances, while the offense does just enough for the Padres to get revenge from their 2022 NLCS defeat against the Phillies. 

Last year, the Diamondbacks ambushed LA, ending that series before it really even started. This year, we see a five game classic on the west coast as the Dodgers get their version of revenge on the defending NL champs. 

ALDS: 

New York over Baltimore in 5, Seattle over Cleveland in 4

While we have a classic on the west coast, the east coast has a classic of their own as the Yankees and Orioles go five games, with New York leaving the young Birds disappointed in back to back postseasons. 

For the Mariners, it’s a rematch of the forgotten, but entertaining 2001 ALDS between these two franchises. Cleveland is able to take game one between the two division champs, but after that, the Mariners prove to have too much pitching for a Cleveland squad that again can’t get past the LDS Round. Justin Turner and Victor Robles may only be in Seattle for this one season, but they make their mark forever as Turner hits a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 3, while Robles smacks not one, but TWO three run home runs in a 12-3 route in Game 4 as the Mariners return to the ALCS for the first time since 2001. 

League Championship Series

NLCS: 

Los Angeles over San Diego in 7

The Dodgers once again have to prove they are the rightful champions of the NL West, as they are once again pushed to the brink, this time by a game San Diego squad. Timely hitting and a dominant bullpen push the Padres to a 3-2 series lead as they head back to Los Angeles, but the excessive use of the arms comes back to haunt the Padres as NLCS MVP Mookie Betts gets back into his groove just in the nick of time to save LA, with a go ahead two run shot in the bottom of the 8th, after San Diego was just five outs away from the World Series. 

In Game 7, the Dodgers once again come from behind late, scoring five runs in the 7th to eliminate the Padres 7-2. The Dodgers return to their fourth Fall Classic in the past eight years. 

ALCS: 

New York over Seattle in 6 

Mariners fans may want to look away. Another ALCS opportunity against the New York Yankees, and another heartbreaking defeat. 

After the Yankees obliterated Seattle in Game 1 (11-1), the Mariners came back and won the next two games to take a 2-1 series lead. Unfortunately, a blown lead in Game 4 led to the Yankee floodgates being opened, as Soto and Judge manhandled Seattle’s pitching to three straight victories, and their first American League pennant since 2009. 

At the end of the day, the Mariners struggled to contain the powerful offensive duo over the course of a six game series, while the Seattle offense looked one to two bats short when battling one of the best offenses in baseball.