This season’s 60-game schedule felt like a breeze as the World Series is upon us. Normal 182-game seasons will feel like an eternity compared to this unique one. After many baseball players tested positive for covid-19 before the season and also during, the MLB was still able to pull off a season of professional baseball. Unlike the NBA, the MLB was unable to create a bubble or anything like it due to the wide number of players and staff per team and also the fact that they are beginning their season and not right on the verge of the playoffs. Coming into this year, the format was much different, but the stakes were never higher. The two remaining suitors for the Commissioner’s Trophy are: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays.

Starting off in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers know what heartbreak in the playoffs feels like. Recently extending their playoff streak of 8 straight years, they will be looking to finally end it with the trophy in their hands. Just before the season had begun, the Dodgers acquired former MVP and 5-Tool superstar, Mookie Betts, from the Boston Red Sox. He was paired up with another MVP in, Cody Bellinger, and an excellent supporting cast of great pitchers and hitters. With World Series losses in 2017 and 2018, the Dodgers will look to finally have a happy ending in this shortened MLB season.

The opposing American League champs were somehow underrated after compiling the best record in their division. This year’s Tampa Bay Rays look to win the first championship in the organization’s history. Led by some of best pitchers in the league and a stellar bullpen to close out games, scoring does not come easy against this ballclub. After an unexpected and incredible postseason run by rookie outfielder, Randy Arozarena, the Rays find themselves a few wins a way from baseball glory.

In conclusion, this year’s postseason has been great to watch as the anticipation for the World Series begins. Baseball was able to be played in a safe way where it could be enjoyed by everyone including the fans and players. Due to immense size of MLB programs, the prevention of covid-19 was much harder than many other sports. With only a few games having to be rescheduled, I would chalk this season down as a success regardless. As of now, the series is all tied up at one game a piece as they head into Game 3 on October 23^rd.