Since 2019, the National League Pennant Winner (in a full season) has been the team with the Worst Record that was in the playoffs. Let that sink in for a minute. What does that mean? Let’s look back at the records:
2019 – Washington Nationals – 93-69
2020 – Dodgers won in the COVID Partial Season while playing the most rounds ever!
2021 – Atlanta Braves -88-73
2022– Philadelphia Phillies – 87-75
2023 – Arizona Diamondbacks – 84-78
Many say the playoffs are a “crapshoot,” and they may be partially right, but it seems to me that having to play competitive games until the end of the season also impacts a team’s readiness to play in the playoffs.