2023 MLB playoffs: Four things to know about repeat World Series matchups as Astros, Phillies aim for rematch

Major League Baseball’s postseason will resume on Sunday with the beginning of the American League Championship Series between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros. The National League’s, pitting the Philadelphia Phillies in opposition to the Arizona Diamondbacks, gets underway on Monday. Sooner than later, we will be told who will play one some other on this fall’s World Series.

The Astros and the Phillies achieving MLB’s model of the general 4 manner that they have got the chance to do one thing that has no longer been completed in just about a half of century: meet in consecutive World Series. Indeed, MLB has no longer witnessed a rematch within the World Series since 1978, when the New York Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers two Fall Classics in a row. 

To honor the potential of the Astros and Phillies working it again q4, listed here are 4 different things to know about World Series rematches.

1. Used to occur extra continuously 

World Series rematches used to be extra common. 

MLB.com’s David Adler chronicled all the rematches a few falls ago. The Yankees-Dodgers repeat is the one one to occur because the ’70s (for causes we will extend upon beneath). Prior to that, MLB had a minimum of one rematch in 4 of the previous 5 many years. Heck, MLB had two separate rematches within the ’30s, and within the ’20s, had the similar World Series matchup 3 years in a row. 

So, why have World Series rematches turn into an extraordinary prevalence? At the danger of pointing out the most obvious, enlargement to each the league and the postseason has made it trickier for the similar groups to dominate the playoff scene. Consider that the Phillies have already had to win a couple of playoff collection to succeed in the LCS. Back in 1978, the Yankees and the Dodgers began their postseason within the LCS. (The Yankees had to defeat the Boston Red Sox in a department tiebreaker sport.)

It’s most probably no longer a accident that World Series rematches have all however vanished since unfastened company used to be accredited, as groups are now not ready to hoard skill the way in which they might underneath the reserve clause. 

2. No transparent favourite in rematches

You would possibly wonder whether one staff or the opposite has a bonus the second one or 3rd consecutive time they meet in a World Series. Perhaps the reigning champions get a bit complacent, or the runner-up proves extra hungry. We’re right here to record that there’s no transparent development to how rematches move.

It’s true that the ones ’77-78 Yankees bested the Dodgers in each World Series. But in case you take a look at the ten rematches in World Series historical past (counting the 1921-23 matchups between the Yankees and New York Giants as two separate rematches) then you definately get a 5-5 depend when it comes to sweeps as opposed to splits.

Take a glance:

Everyone could have their most popular narrative if the Astros and the Phillies do meet once more this October — the Phillies taking a look to get revenge for ultimate fall, or the Astros proving they are the extra dominant staff. Based at the ancient information, it does not seem that there is any actual predictive energy to be discovered there.

3. Most contemporary shut calls

While there hasn’t been a World Series rematch in just about a half-century, there were events over the past 3 many years the place one appeared within the playing cards.

The Yankees and the Atlanta Braves ruled their respective leagues right through the ’90s. Consider that the ones groups occupied 9 of the 20 World Series slots to be had from 1990 thru 2000. The Yankees and Braves even met in two World Series, albeit a couple of years aside: first in 1996, after which later in 1999. That does no longer depend as a real rematch because it wasn’t in back-to-back years.

Since the ultimate spherical of MLB enlargement, again in 1998, there were 8 groups who’ve reached consecutive World Series. (For reference: we are classifying groups who reached 3 in a row as two separate repeats.) The most up-to-date staff to do it’s, neatly, those Astros. They misplaced to the Braves within the 2021 Fall Classic prior to rallying and upending the Phillies ultimate fall.

Speaking of the Astros ….

4. Astros were championship mainstay 

If we do get a World Series rematch q4, it’s going to be becoming that the Astros are a part of the equation. After all, they are taking part in of their 7th consecutive ALCS. The Astros have made 4 World Series right through that point, profitable a couple of them. They’ve confronted other foes every time, on the other hand, and feature impressed their honest quantity of controversy alongside the way in which. 

Here’s a handy guide a rough take a look at their playoff trips over that point: 

• 2017: The Astros win the franchise’s first World Series in a seven-game set in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 
• 2018: The Astros lose in 5 video games to the Red Sox within the ALCS, inflicting them to fail to spot a rematch with the Dodgers. The Dodgers, in the meantime, lose to the Red Sox in 5 video games.
• 2019: The Astros go back to the World Series, this time dropping to the Washington Nationals in seven video games.
• 2020: The Astros lose within the ALCS to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays then lose to the Dodgers.
• 2021: The Astros go back to the World Series, the place they lose to the Braves in six video games.
• 2022: The Astros once more go back to the World Series. They defeat the Phillies in six video games. 

We’ll in finding out quickly sufficient the place the Astros’ 2023 postseason trek takes them. For now, apparently a well-known opponent might lie forward.