The Major League Baseball’s Divisional Series has officially wrapped up, allowing four teams to move closer to clinching a berth to the World Series. With both American League (AL) and National League (NL) games officially done, some teams have begun their championship match ups.
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NL:
New York Mets beat Philadelphia Phillies in four games; 3-1
Overshadowed by the big match up between the Dodgers and Padres, the Mets vs. Phillies games were not to be scoffed at. The Mets, being complete underdogs going into the playoffs, stunned many with their wild card win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Going up against the Phillies, who are poised with big hitters and clutch tendencies, were expected to put up a good fight against the Mets. However this was not the case, as the Phillies lost their momentum against a rather good Mets pitching roster. Led by Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, the Mets had full control over this series, only losing one game. This will be the Mets first trip to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) since their World Series run in 2015.
Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Diego Padres in five games; 3-2
The highly anticipated match up between the two most dominant California teams did not disappoint in the slightest. There was plenty of back and forth between the two teams, as both traded wins and losses, leading to the fateful Game Five with the series set at 2-2. Held at Dodger Stadium, the pressure on the Padres was definitely high as Dodgers faithful showed out in their support to again hopefully make a World Series run. With the Dodgers winning Game Five 2-0, it was the final nail in the coffin for the Padres, as the Dodgers would move on to play the Mets in the Championship Series.
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AL:
New York Yankees beat Kansas City Royals in four games; 3-1
The AL saw its share of powerhouse teams and scrappy, perseverant teams. The Yankees, highly favored to advance to the World Series, saw their fair fight with the young Royals team. Though one game did slip from the Yankees, they held pretty good control over the whole series, with their juggernaut hitting lineup of Soto and Judge. That little bit of hope for the Royals was slowly crushed, but the promising future for the Royals young stars may see a rematch in near future.
Cleveland Guardians beat Detroit Tigers in five games; 3-2
This game was a battle between two scrappy teams who have seen little success in the past but are making names for themselves. Much like the Royals, the Tigers are a young team, yet the Guardians are also a relatively young team with many promising future stars. This series was a battle for the future, as many can anticipate these two teams to face off many more times in the future. Cleveland, however, had the upper hand against a rather strong-willed Detroit team that proved themselves in many ways. Hitting was strong, defense was present, and their pitching was great. The last game saw their small flaws get the best of them, as Cleveland took advantage of a pitching mistake by Detroit, leading to a grand slam that ultimately sealed the game. Cleveland will now have to face New York in a battle for the AL title.
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The Divisional Series is now set, and some games are underway. The fight for the World Series is surely set to be action packed and certain to not disappoint.
