Only eight teams are left in the MLB playoffs right now, and almost 40% of ’em are still hunting for their first-ever World Series crown. Talk about high stakes! For us in Seattle, we know that gut-wrenching feeling all too well. Our Mariners got one win away from making the World Series last year, and it absolutely stung. We’re the only team that’s never even played in the Fall Classic. So, while we’re watching the rest of the league battle it out, there are three other franchises still fighting for their very first ring: the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. Let’s dig into a couple of them.
The Padres’ Uphill Climb to History
The San Diego Padres, with their 91-71 record this season, are listed as the third most likely of this group to break through with +1100 odds to win it all. These guys have been a bit of a rollercoaster, finally breaking through in 1984 to win the NL West, even coming back from an 0-2 deficit in the NLCS to snag their first pennant. They lost that World Series 4-1 to the Tigers, but it was a heck of a run! They got back to the World Series in 1998, only to get swept by the Yankees dynasty. They’ve also had a couple of playoff runs in the 2000s without moving forward. More recently, they’ve made the postseason five times in the last seven years, but only one NLCS appearance in 2022 where the Phillies bounced them 4-1. They’re looking strong now, but they’re running straight into Milwaukee, who’s been called the best team in baseball this round. If they somehow get past that, it’s gonna be an absurdly tough road.
The Rays, Always a Contender, Never a Champ
Sitting at number two on the list, the Tampa Bay Rays are rolling with a 98-64 record this year and +800 odds to win the World Series. Remember when they were the “Devil Rays” and a perpetual joke? Well, they dropped the “devil” before the 2008 season, and it’s been a whole different ballgame ever since. They went from being last place in the AL East to making the playoffs in four out of six seasons from 2008-13. After a five-year playoff drought, they made five straight postseasons from 2019-23. They missed the last two years, but they’re back now and had the best record in the American League this season. Here’s a wild coincidence: the Rays have *never* lost an ALCS. They’ve only made it there twice, winning both times, before losing in the World Series (to the Phillies in 2008 and the Dodgers in 2020). It looks like their biggest challenge this time might be in the ALDS, not the ALCS, so that history of winning the ALCS could stick. They’ll either lose the ALDS or make it all the way back to the World Series.
This is the kind of drama that makes playoff baseball so good. While we’re all still dreaming of the day the M’s finally get there, watching these other teams chase that elusive first title is a wild ride. Who’s gonna be the one to finally break through? We’ll be watching every pitch.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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