And just like that, there were four.
One member of this quartet is going to be hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in the next fortnight or so, and whoever does so is going to make for an incredible story. As difficult as it can be to predict a postseason series — as all those predictions-gone-wrong-already littered behind us can attest — at the very least, we can try to figure out where everyone stands. Thus: An MLB Power Rankings for the four teams in the League Championship Series.
These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.
In these rankings, in honor of the possibility of them winning that World Series, we’ll give a Reason To Believe they can do it, and a Reason For Concern that they can’t.
1. Dodgers
Last title: 2024 (Eighth in franchise history)
Last World Series appearance: 2024 (beat NYY)
Last postseason result: Won 2024 World Series
Reason To Believe: The Dodgers, you might not remember now, were actually the No. 3 seed in the National League heading into these playoffs. Their start-and-stop regular season, which never seemed to get in a groove, may finally be nestling into one now. That’s in large part because they finally have their pitching lined up. The rotation is healthy (and often dominant), the lineup has all its key pieces in place now that Will Smith is back, and the bullpen now features Roki Sasaki, the sort of high-leverage weapon that wins teams championships. This is the team the Dodgers have been waiting for all year.
Reason For Concern: Whenever the Dodgers lineup would struggle this year, it could always count on Shohei Ohtani to be consistently transcendent. Well, Ohtani has picked the worst possible time to have his worst slump of the season. He was 1-for-18 with nine strikeouts in the NLDS and spent an inordinate amount of time shaking his head and muttering to himself on the way back to the dugout. The Phillies and all of their tough left-handers provided a uniquely difficult matchup, but still, Ohtani didn’t look like himself. The Dodgers, fair to say, need him to change that.
2. Blue Jays
Last title: 1993 (2nd in franchise history)
Last World Series appearance: 1993 (beat PHI)
Last postseason result: Lost 2023 ALWC (vs. MIN)
Reason To Believe: The postseason is about much more than vibes, obviously, but there is no question: The Blue Jays’ vibes are immaculate right now. The joy in that clubhouse after finishing off the Yankees spoke to how much this season has meant for this franchise and its fanbase, and it’s even more fitting that Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the signature Blue Jays star now and maybe forever, spent most of the ALDS launching homers and looking completely in the zone. The rotation is set up well, they’re getting clutch hits and, all told, they almost have more pitchers than they know what to do with. And they have home-field advantage in the ALCS.
Reason For Concern: You’d feel a lot better about the Blue Jays if Bo Bichette were 100% healthy, but he isn’t. It’s possible that he comes back and is able to DH, but that requires some defensive maneuvering that could weaken Toronto in the field. It’s hard to say that the Jays need Bichette’s bat given their eruption in the ALDS, but this offense obviously looks more robust with him alongside Guerrero in the middle of the lineup.
3. Mariners
Last title: None
Last World Series appearance: None
Last postseason result: Lost 2022 ALDS (vs. HOU)
Reason To Believe: This is the best Mariners team since that 116-win version in 2001 — and by a pretty large margin. Their lineup is deeper, their rotation is stacked and they have a lockdown closer (Andrés Muñoz), plus a potential franchise icon (already) in Julio Rodríguez. Oh yeah, they also have a catcher (Cal Raleigh) who just hit 60 homers and has an inner-circle Hall of Fame nickname. Also, Bryan Woo, their most reliable starter, is expected to be back on the roster for this series — a welcome development given that the team used three members of its rotation to pull out that 15-inning victory in ALDS Game 5. This is Seattle’s best chance in a long time to reach the World Series.
Reason For Concern: That deep lineup has been a little top-heavy in the postseason, and there are bullpen concerns that popped up in the Tigers series, which pushed the Mariners to the brink while the Blue Jays rested. Also, when you’re the one franchise in the entire sport that has never reached the World Series, that’s something you can’t help but have in the back of your mind.
4. Brewers
Last title: None
Last World Series appearance: 1982 (lost to STL)
Last postseason result: Lost 2024 NLWC (vs. NYM)
Reason To Believe: Well, this is the team that had the best record in baseball. They kept finding a way to win games, in the regular season and in the postseason. The Brewers have a knack for making the right play at the right time, for getting a clutch hit when they most need one, and they are a team that has added up to more than the sum of its parts all year. Plus: Uecker Kismet, you know?
Reason For Concern: Jackson Chourio’s hamstring has everybody worried, especially since he has been such a large part of the offense up to this point. Also, they’re facing the Dodgers, a team that, fair to say, has slightly more star power. And traditionally, whatever your thoughts on glitz, star power does tend to win out in the postseason. Just ask the Dodgers of last year.
Voters: Nathalie Alonso, Jason Catania, Mark Feinsand, Daniel Feldman, Doug Gausepohl, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, David Venn, Zac Vierra.
