[Globe Life Field, Stadium of the Texas Rangers, Photo Credit to Picryl]

The 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) Postseason concluded with the Texas Rangers’ franchise securing their first-ever World Series victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks, defying all odds in a Postseason that showcased an unpredictable turn of events.

Under the guidance of manager Bruce Bochy, the Texas Rangers claimed their World Series title by winning 5-0 in Game 5 of the 2023 MLB postseason World Series at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 2nd (Korea time).

Surprisingly, one of the only reasons the two league champions (the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers) got the opportunity to climb up to the World Series was a newly introduced expanded playoff bracket in 2022; the Diamondbacks would have only made the playoffs with the new playoff format.

This new playoff format consisted of 12 teams (instead of the past 10) divided into two leagues: The National and American leagues.

All 100+ win team juggernauts considered the favorites, such as the Braves, Dodgers, and Orioles, all fell within the Division Series, cracking under pressure.

Meanwhile, the two teams crowned league champions had one of the lowest preseason odds of winning the World Series, with the Texas Rangers predicted to have a 2.1% chance and the Arizona Diamondbacks with a mere 0.8%.

In fact, the probability of these two teams facing off on the sport's highest stage was a minuscule one in a 1,750 chance, marking it “the most unlikely World Series matchup of all time.”

Ironically, the Texas Rangers lost their division to the Houston Astros in the last game of the series.

The outcome of the division was hinged on whether the Rangers would be able to stand victorious in their last game or if the Astros would suffer defeat in one of four games against the NLCS champion: the Diamondbacks.

However, as the Astros proceeded to win these last four games, sweeping the Diamondbacks and clinching their division for the sixth time in seven seasons, they earned home-field advantage against the Rangers.

On the other hand, the Rangers were only two years removed from a 100-loss season before their imminent resurgence.

After the Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, the team favored to win the series, they squared off against their division rivals.

In an intense back-and-forth series that reached the elimination game (Game 7), the Rangers ultimately beat the Astros, securing their first World Series berth since 2011.

In the national league, the Diamondbacks prevailed against two of the most formidable teams in the sport: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Los Angeles Dodgers dominated the Diamondbacks in the regular 162-game season, claiming eight out of thirteen games and finishing the season with over fifteen more wins.

However, the Dodgers’ season faltered in the NLDS as two of their Most Valuable Player (MVP) candidates, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, combined to hit 1-21 (0.048 batting average) despite hitting over a .300 batting average in the regular season.

Similar to the Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves set historical precedents in the regular season, displaying the highest slugging percentage of any historical franchise at a whopping .501, but ultimately met their fate in the second series of the MLB Postseason.

The Diamondback’s NLCS opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies, overcame a major obstacle and was able to beat the Braves, the overwhelming favorites to win the World Series.

With their ardent fanbase, the Phillies came out on top and were set to match up against the Diamondbacks in the NLCS.

The Phillies jumped out to an early series lead, winning the first two games of the best-of-seven series.

At this point, the idea of the Diamondbacks reaching the World Series was so inconceivable to the extent that a renowned MLB reporter, Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, explicitly vowed to retire if the Diamondbacks beat the Phillies.

However, the Diamondbacks won game seven of the NLCS, advancing them to the World Series against the Rangers.

These two distinct, dynamic teams clashed in the World Series, but the Rangers emerged victorious in five games, securing their first franchise championship.

Now, after the 2023 season, only five teams remain without a World Series ring: the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, and the Seattle Mariners.