The League Championship Series are set with the New York Yankees facing the Cleveland Guardians in the American League and the Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the New York Mets in the National League. The Yankees and Dodgers are two of the highest payroll teams in MLB, while the Guardians and Mets have lower payrolls. The teams are ranked in terms of their likelihood to win the Commissioner’s Trophy at the end of the postseason.
Starting with the New York Mets, they have shown momentum in October despite their flaws on paper. They have key players like Kodai Senga, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso performing well. The team’s starters excelled in their NLDS series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The prediction is that the Mets might have an advantage over the Phillies due to their late-season struggles and will face a tough challenge from the Dodgers in the upcoming series.
Next, the Cleveland Guardians are viewed as lovable underdogs in the postseason despite having a strong bullpen and defense. The team led the AL Central for most of the regular season and beat a tough pitcher like Tarik Skubal in their do-or-die Game 5 against the Tigers. However, the Guardians are lacking one elite bat and pitcher to compete at a higher level, which might be exposed against a superior team like the Yankees in a best-of-seven series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a strong performance in the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, shutting down their lineup in the last 24 innings of the series. Their lineup is deep, and the team has quality relievers to rely on. The concern lies with their pitching staff enduring a seven-game series, especially with the absence of left-hander Alex Vesia due to injury. The Dodgers have a strong rotation that might be able to handle the challenges in the upcoming series against the Mets.
Finally, the New York Yankees rank as the top team in terms of winning the Commissioner’s Trophy. They have a solid lineup, capable starters like Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, and a strong bullpen led by closer Clay Holmes. Despite some potential weaknesses in their bullpen and the performance of key players like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees have shown consistency in their play throughout the postseason. As they face the Guardians in the ALCS, they might have the edge in securing a spot in the World Series.
