The Brewers, Dodgers, and Rays Advance

I’m going to take this morning recap in whole, rather than breaking down each game, simply because I’m excited about what I’m seeing overall: the best teams are winning. The Brewers have been the best team in the NL all season.

They are moving on in the NLCS to take on the second-best team in the NL, the Dodgers. The Rays are the best team in the AL, and they are moving on to play - well, we don’t know yet.

The Sox could put a wrench in my theory if they eliminate the Guardians tonight. But for the most part, the best teams throughout the season are the ones still dancing.

That doesn’t mean there wasn’t bitter disappointment in San Diego, Atlanta, and the Bronx. On the contrary, it was bitter disappointment, especially in Atlanta and the Bronx.

Yankees and Braves fans are not only disappointed, but downright angry with their teams. I understand the high expectations, but the anger online in Atlanta and the Bronx surprised me a little.

All baseball fans should be angry about something: around the same time the Braves were being eliminated from the playoffs, it was announced that their star, Ronald Acuna Jr., is the first active MLB player to partner with the prediction market Kalshi. Allowing these partnerships in professional sports is, at best, short-sighted.

If I were betting on Kalshi or PolyMarket, I would bet this will ultimately harm professional sports and society at large. Congrats to the Dodgers, Brewers, and Rays for moving on.

The White Sox and Guardians play tonight at 8 PM EST. If the Sox clinch at home, it will the their first postseason series win in Chicago since 1906.