If the 2023 MLB postseason has taught us something, it’s that it doesn’t matter when, how, and with what record: the most important thing is getting to the postseason.
In fact, recent evidence suggests that the teams with the best records haven’t fared well, and those who managed to sneak in through the window are the ones performing well at the moment.
It might seem hard to believe, but it’s true.
“The teams with the five best records in the MLB regular season are 1-12 in the postseason. Yes, you read that right,” SportsCenter tweeted, with a graphic showing the records of those five squads.
The teams with the five best records in the MLB regular season are 1-12 in the postseason
Yes, you read that right. pic.twitter.com/imMTP1nBME
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 12, 2023
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Baltimore Orioles, two elite regular-season organizations that earned first-round byes, were swept in the Division Series.
The Atlanta Braves have their backs against the wall, down 1-2 to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last but not least, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays were swept in the Wild Card round, both 0-2.
That adds up to a total record of 1-12.
Of the four clubs that earned first-round byes, two are already eliminated in the Dodgers and the Orioles, one is hanging by a thread (the Braves), and only one has found its way to the Championship Series: the Houston Astros.
People have pointed out that resting for a week might be counterproductive for these squads, and they might have a point: the Astros are the lone exception, and they are built for postseason baseball as proven by their seven consecutive ALCS appearances.
It appears it’s better to keep playing almost everyday than resting for an extended period of time ahead of important games.
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