MLB Playoffs Picture: White Sox enter hunt

The Chicago White Sox are coming. Since it was announced that manager Tony La Russa would be out indefinitely, the “Southsiders” have won 13 of 19 games under interim manager Miguel Cairo, inserting themselves into the MLB Playoffs picture.

Prior to that, the White Sox were underperforming. They were 63-65, in third place in the American League Central, and written off as under-performers in a winnable division.

On paper, the White Sox have one of the best teams in the league. They feature a rotation of perennial Cy Young candidates in Lucas Giolito, Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn. They trot out a lineup made up of hitters like former AL MVP José Abreu, Eloy Jiménez, and Luis Robert.

Yet, numerous questionable managerial decisions on behalf of La Russa held the team back. Fortunately, Cairo has sparked the South Side of Chicago, leaving team owners with a difficult decision to make.

With La Russa’s health improving, do they allow the Hall of Famer to return to his post? Or do they continue riding the hot hand?

For me, it’s a no brainer. The White Sox have responded well to Cairo. Let the 48-year-old Venezolano stay.

A Few Changes to the MLB Playoffs

The MLB playoffs start on Oct. 7.

To prepare for October and November baseball, here’s a comprehensive look at the MLB playoff picture. 

Here, you will see exactly which teams are in the postseason, including their seeding, and which teams on the outside looking in are in the hunt.

The pool of teams has been expanded from 10 to 12 (six teams in each league). Division leaders will determine the top three seeds. The bottom three seeds will go to teams with the next best record.

The top two division leaders will receive byes in the first round. The other teams will play in four best-of-three series (two in each league). 

The remaining division leader will enter the Wild Card Series and face the 6 seed. 

Each Wild Card Series will determine who faces the 1 and 2 seed in the Division Series

The MLB Postseason Picture

Here’s a look at the MLB Postseason bracket of the regular season ended today.

American League

1. Houston Astros (96-51)
2. New York Yankees (88-58)
3. Cleveland Guardians (79-67)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (83-64)
5. Tampa Bay Rays (82-64)
6. Seattle Mariners (80-65)

National League

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (101-44)
2. New York Mets (93-55)
3. St. Louis Cardinals (87-61)
4. Atlanta Braves (91-55)
5. San Diego Padres (81-66)
6. Philadelphia Phillies (80-66)

Still in the MLB Playoff Hunt