Under MLB’s new playoff format, a little rest isn’t always the best strategy. Shohei Ohtani has proven his prowess by crushing 100 mph fastballs for home runs and stealing bases against some of the league’s elite catchers. He recently concluded one of the most remarkable regular seasons in Major League Baseball history.
Now, these top teams face a five-day break.
Since the introduction of MLB’s 12-team playoff format in 2022, five of the eight highest seeds have stumbled in the Division Series, failing to take advantage of the bye they earned by skipping the Wild Card Series.
This season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies hold the top two seeds in the National League, while the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians are the leading teams in the American League. All four teams now have five days to gear up for the best-of-five series starting Saturday.
While a few days off can help players recover from minor injuries, it also comes with its drawbacks.
“It’s not a vacation,” remarked Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott after a recent workout.
Five days can feel like an eternity, and historically, it hasn’t always benefited the teams.
Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations for the Guardians, noted, “It’s a trade-off. The benefit is you get time off. The downside is you’re not in the major league environment facing live major league pitching in the normal cadence that you would be during the season.”
Despite the risks, Antonetti expressed his preference for the bye, stating, “On balance, I think I’d still take the trade-off.”
To combat the potential rust, the Guardians have engaged in simulated games over the past three days. They even played in an empty Progressive Field, complete with piped-in crowd noise, reminiscent of the unique atmosphere during the pandemic-affected 2020 season.
“What we’ve tried to do is be really deliberate this week about the environments we’re creating to keep our guys ready and prepared to compete on Saturday,” Antonetti explained.
The Yankees have found success in the current playoff format, winning their 2022 Division Series against the Guardians after a similar five-day layoff. Manager Aaron Boone shared that he plans to bring in minor league players to provide fresh arms for hitters to face while they await Saturday’s game.
“We’ll do our best to prioritize taking advantage of the rest, which I’m sure will benefit several guys at this time of the year,” Boone said. “But we’re also trying to make sure we keep that mental edge and keep guys as sharp as we possibly can with live looks.”
The Dodgers exemplify what can go wrong after a lengthy break in October. They were the top NL seed in 2022 but fell to the San Diego Padres in four games. Last season, they also earned a bye before being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Now, Los Angeles finds itself in a similar situation. The Dodgers boast one of the league’s most formidable lineups, featuring stars like Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, and secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs with a strong 98-64 record in the regular season.
They have adjusted their approach during this five-day break compared to previous years, utilizing high-velocity pitching machines to simulate game conditions. Additionally, some players have organized watch parties for the Wild Card games to maintain team camaraderie.
However, one critical element they will lack on Saturday is momentum.
They will need to generate it quickly.
