A Mets Fan’s Guide To The 2023 Playoffs

October isn’t the same without the Mets in the playoffs.

The magical run never happened, leaving improbable comebacks, glorifying wins, or even crushing losses to the imagination. Or maybe next season.

Without Mets’ playoff baseball, most fans are focused on the more important aspects of life: fantasy football, the National Football League (sorry Jets and Giants fans), College Football, heck, maybe even hockey.

But if you’re like me, you can’t get enough of baseball. And it’s going to be over soon.

If you’re stuck watching a playoff field without the Mets, like me, then you’re going to have to pick a team to bandwagon on. Now that the uncertainty of the wildcard rounds is over, it’s time to latch on to one of the remaining eight teams.

To help Mets fans locate their fandom for the remainder of October, I’ve ranked the teams I am rooting for this postseason from last to first.

8. Phillies

Everyone knew the Braves or Phillies would be last on this list. It really just depends on which decade you were born in.

As a 2000s kid, I watched the downfall of the ’06 team and ’07 team, and swore that if I ever made the major leagues I would never sign a contract with the Phillies.

Luckily for me, my baseball career ended early and I never had to make that gut-wrenching decision.

Anyway, there’s nothing enjoyable about this Phillies team from a Mets fan’s perspective. Former Met Zack Wheeler is shoving it in the playoffs, Bryce Harper is inevitably going to hit an important bomb, and J.T. Realmuto is going to be calling games while some Mets fan convinces themself James McCann was still a better signing.

Regardless, the rivalry runs deep between the cities of New York and Philadelphia. I don’t like the Eagles, I don’t like the Sixers, and I certainly don’t like the Flyers.

The only positive might be Taijuan Walker getting a World Series ring.

7. Braves

The Braves could easily be the last team on this ranking. In fact, it probably is on most people’s list.

They clawed back against the Mets last season and took the division from them in the last week of the regular season, and then this season went 10-3 against the Mets and never worried about another National League East team fighting them for the division.

To make matters worse, the Braves team as a whole had a historic season. They had five players hit at least 33 home runs, had two MVP-caliber seasons from Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson, and tied the 2019 Twins for the most home runs hit in a season (307) without help from a juiced ball.

This team is dangerous, and unlike the “dynasty” Braves teams from the 90s, this core could easily win more than one ring.

This Braves’ core runs deep. And they’re all signed through 2028. If they’re last on most people’s lists, I understand. But the way I look at it, I never disliked the Braves in 2015 when they were winning 60 games a season. Just like I don’t despise the Nationals now that they’re rebuilding. Still, don’t root for the Braves.

6. Dodgers

Now that the division rivalries are out of the way, the next six are up for opinion.

Still, the Dodgers should be sixth on most lists. Rooting for them is never easy. They’re consistently winning 100 games a season with ease and putting themselves in a position to win a World Series.

Let’s just call this ranking for what it is. I’m jealous.

Emmet Sheehan, James Outman, and Bobby Miller are the newest rookies who look like the real deal. Mookie Betts had another nonchalant .987 OPS with 39 homers. The Dodgers were even able to revitalize J.D. Martinez‘s career and turned him into an All-Star this season.

This is a roster that features a foundation of two superstars with promising rookies built on top. They even have a couple of veterans having career years as the cherry on top. Basically everything I’ve ever wanted as a Mets fan.

Even if you’re not the jealous type, the Dodgers roster hosts former Mets’ killers. Freddie Freeman is at the forefront of the Dodger offense and had another dominant year with 59 doubles and a .976 OPS. Miguel Rojas, who seemed to always have a big hit against the Mets as a Marlin, has manned shortstop for the Dodgers after Gavin Lux missed the entire season.

The Dodgers are the Yankees of the NL. If you’re able to find an angle to root for them, go for it. I won’t be unless Amed Rosario starts a game in the World Series.

5. Astros

Does anyone like the Astros anymore?

It’s a fair question to ask. The team cheated its way to a 2017 World Series title, and despite being caught and forced to play fairly, the team won again in 2022.

Karma hasn’t found its way to Houston yet. Plus, the team is loaded again. Jose Altuve continues his push toward the Hall of Fame, Yordan Alvarez might be the best pure hitter in baseball, Kyle Tucker is debatably the best-left fielder in the American League, and Alex Bregman casually and quietly hit 25 homers with an .807 OPS.

The Astros, still, find their way in the middle of my rankings. The cheating scandal never affected the Mets’ chances at a World Series. They also stripped the Phillies of a ring in 2022. That’s worth something to me.

I’m also rooting for Justin Verlander. His Mets’ tenure was short, but he was a likable player and was classy on his way out. Another ring for the future Hall-of-Famer wouldn’t leave a sour taste in my mouth.

4. Rangers

The Rangers being this high might surprise some.

The team doesn’t have many ties to the Mets, and the ones they do might erk some of you.

If the Rangers win, Max Scherzer will get another ring after his controversial exit from the Mets. And in order to win, Mets fans will have to watch Scherzer have some lights-out performances in the postseason.

That might not be easy to watch. But personally, I want to see Jacob deGrom get a ring. He gave us all a reason to watch the Mets in 2018 (remember Adrián González?), won back-to-back Cy Youngs, and his departure from the team didn’t impact me like others. It was strictly business.

Also, deGrom isn’t going to throw a single pitch this postseason. Maybe that angle will make it easier for Mets fans to agree with me.

Outside of the Mets connections, the Rangers are a fun team. Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are explosive bats, Josh Jung is an exciting rookie with 30-homer power, and Adolis García‘s bat flips are electric.

And don’t forget about former Met and Shakira fan Travis Jankowski. A World Series ring might get us another cameo of the two.

3. Twins

The Twins are a likable and easy team to bandwagon.

Coming into the 2023 postseason, the Twins were amid a nasty 19-game playoff losing streak.

After winning a weak AL Central, they ended their losing streak in Game 1 of the wild card round against the Blue Jays, and then marched on to the AL Division Series with a dominant showing from their bullpen in Game 2.

With their losing streak behind them, and their new two-game winning streak on their backs, the Twins’ reward for pushing past the wild card round is the defending World Series champion Astros.

The series is going to be fun. Carlos Correa faces his former team alongside rookie sensation Royce Lewis, Pablo López and Sonny Gray are a lethal one-two punch,  and if the Twins get past the Astros, they could get to the World Series for the first time since 1991.

It’s a clear good versus evil script. Jump on the Twins bandwagon while it’s still early.

2. Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks may be the most exciting team in the postseason.

The lineup is built around speedy, young outfielders in Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and Alek Thomas, and is rounded out by veterans in Christian Walker, Evan Longoria, and former Met Tommy Pham.

Sprinkle in Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Ketel Marte who are in their prime, and the Diamondbacks lineup is underrated and scary when clicking on all cylinders.

Even if the lineup doesn’t click, the Diamondback’s rotation is more than good enough to carry them through the playoffs. Zac Gallen (3.47) and Merrill Kelly (3.29) both finished the year with top-seven ERAs in the NL, and Gallen looked like a shoo-in for the NL Cy Young award after the first half of the season.

The team has the talent to get there, and Torey Lovullo is a manager who can lead this team through October. Age and inexperience might prevent them from achieving greatness, but I’ll be rooting for them to get to the World Series on the NL side of the bracket.

Longoria deserves a ring. Please, whoever writes the scripts, let him get it.

1. Orioles

Okay, I lied. The most exciting team in the playoffs is probably the Orioles

After years of losing and drafting, the Orioles’ rebuild is finally over. They shocked everyone when they were in the wild card race late last season, and shocked everyone again by winning the AL East with a commanding 101-61 record.

The only people who weren’t shocked were the Orioles, who got major contributions from the players they drafted during their rebuild.

Adley Rutschman backed up his breakout season by reaching the 20-homer plateau and recording a 128 OPS+, Gunnar Henderson is going to take home the AL Rookie of the Year award after clubbing 28 homers, and 23-year-old Grayson Rodriguez recorded a 2.41 ERA in the final two months of the season.

The offense is loaded, and the pitching staff is underrated. As mentioned, Rodriguez broke out in the final couple of months of the season, and righty Kyle Bradish had a 2.83 ERA and 4.9 bWAR in his 26-year-old season.

A young, talented team that endured multiple seasons of losing and is finally good is a team anyone could root for. But for Mets fans, this one hits a little too close to the heart. Hence why I put the Orioles at number one. I’ll be rooting for them to take home the title, and all you should too.