MLB Playoff Power Rankings: Braves class of baseball heading into post-season

After a wild race to the finish line in both leagues, just 12 teams remain as the MLB post-season is officially here.

It took until Game 162 to figure out what the bracket actually looked like, but now that the dust has settled, we can take a look at how this year's crop of playoff-bound clubs stack up.

From the 104-win Atlanta Braves to the 84-win Arizona Diamondbacks, playoff teams come in all shapes and sizes. So what better time than now to break down where all 12 teams stand heading into this week's Wild-Card Round?

Here are our MLB playoff Power Rankings:

12. MIAMI MARLINS (84-77)

MLB Offence Ranks: 26th in runs scored (668), fourth in batting average (.259), 23rd in home runs (166), 19th in OPS (.722), 25th in stolen bases (86)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 16th in ERA (4.22), fifth in strikeouts per nine (9.34), 15th in walks per nine (3.22), 10th in FIP (4.13)

Despite finishing with a negative run differential on the season, the Marlins managed to claim a spot in October with their excellent play down the stretch. They went 17-9 in September and won five of their final seven games to pass to the floundering Chicago Cubs on Sept. 29.

Even with its impressive finish, Miami still rates as below-average on both sides of the ball. The Marlins have one of the more unique post-season track records in MLB history. The franchise has never won a division title, but has won two World Series and has only ever lost one round in the playoffs — a defeat in the 2020 NLDS to the Atlanta Braves. So perhaps Miami will continue to punch above its weight in 2023.

11. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (84-78)

MLB Offence Ranks: 15th in runs scored (746), 14th in batting average (.250), 22nd in home runs (166), 17th in OPS (.730), second in stolen bases (166)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 20th in ERA (4.48), 23rd in strikeouts per nine (8.47), 16th in walks per nine (3.29), 19th in FIP (4.36)

Similarly to the Marlins, the Diamondbacks come into their wild-card series with 84 wins and a negative run differential. However, they got to this point much differently.

Arizona followed up a 52-39 first half that saw it enter the All-Star Break tied for the NL West lead with a 32-39 record the rest of the way. While Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly have been excellent for the second straight year, the rest of the pitching staff hasn't quite held up its end of the bargain. The Diamondbacks' bullpen has ranked in the bottom half of MLB all season long, and outside of their No. 1 and 2 starters, they haven't been able to get consistent results.

10. MINNESOTA TWINS (87-75)

MLB Offence Ranks: 10th in runs scored (778), 21st in batting average (.243), third in home runs (233), seventh in OPS (.753), 24th in stolen bases (88)

MLB Pitching Ranks: fifth in ERA (3.87), first in strikeouts per nine (9.67), fourth in walks per nine (2.75), third in FIP (3.89)

At this point in the season, there are no bad teams remaining. There's no doubt that the Twins put together an impressive season and a fantastic second half on their way to the AL Central crown, but they also may have had the easiest schedule in baseball to get there.

With that said, the Twins do feature a formula that has proven successful in past Octobers. With the two-headed monster of Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray atop their rotation, along with a lineup that mashes home runs, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see Minnesota continue their strong play and make a run through the playoff bracket.

9. TEXAS RANGERS (90-72)

MLB Offence Ranks: Third in runs scored (881), second in batting average (.263), fourth in home runs (233), third in OPS (.790), 27th in stolen bases (79)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 18th in ERA (4.28), 24th in strikeouts per nine (8.47), 11th in walks per nine (3.08), 18th in FIP (4.32)

After spending 139 days of the season atop the AL West, the Rangers' second-half struggles forced them into the wild-card round.

Despite the late slip, Texas still poses a significant threat in the playoff picture. With the best offence in the American League, the shortening of their pitching staff might give the Rangers a shot to overcome their shoddy bullpen.

While Max Scherzer hasn't fully been ruled out as of yet, Texas can run out a wild-card rotation of Jordan Montgomery, Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning, putting Andrew Heaney and Martin Perez in the bullpen — offering an upgrade over some of the Rangers' current relief options.

8. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (92-70)

MLB Offence Ranks: 17th in runs scored (728), 23rd in batting average (.240), 25th in home runs (165), 23rd in OPS (.705), 11th in stolen bases (129)

MLB Pitching Ranks: First in ERA (3.73), 14th in strikeouts per nine (8.89), 10th in walks per nine (3.07), 14th in FIP (4.22)

There's no secret about how the Brewers are going to try and win the playoffs. With Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta headlining the rotation and Devin Williams, Joel Payamps and Hoby Milner closing out games, Milwaukee might have the best pitching staff in the National League.

However, we've seen this story in Milwaukee before, and the team has won just one series, despite making the playoffs in each of the last five seasons.

It will come down to the Brewers' bats to get them over the hump. While they did perform better as a team over the final month, Christian Yelich and William Contreras are the only two hitters in the lineup that started the season in Milwaukee to post above-league-average seasons at the plate. Both Carlos Santana and Mark Canha have proven to be solid mid-season additions, but it remains to be seen if the Brewers can muster enough runs to go deep into October.

7. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (89-73)

MLB Offence Ranks: 14th in runs scored (746), eighth in batting average (.256), 16th in home runs (188), 11th in OPS (.746), 22nd in stolen bases (99)

MLB Pitching Ranks: Fourth in ERA (3.79), third in strikeouts per nine (9.47), ninth in walks per nine (3.03), seventh in FIP (4.06)

With one of the top rotations in baseball and an offence that has slowly started to perform better, the Blue Jays might be primed to go on an October run.

In past seasons, Toronto's post-season formula has been to mash first and ask questions later, but in 2023, it's switched up its approach. Pitching and defence are going to be what carries the Blue Jays to any playoff success.

If they can lean on the trio of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt (as they did all year), continue to get excellent pitching from the back end of the bullpen, and get some timely hitting from an offence that hit .309 with runners in scoring position in September, the Blue Jays will be a scary opponent for any team over the coming weeks.

6. TAMPA BAY RAYS (99-63)

MLB Offence Ranks: Fourth in runs scored (860), third in batting average (.260), sixth in home runs (230), fourth in OPS (.776), fourth in stolen bases (160)

MLB Pitching Ranks: Sixth in ERA (3.88), fourth in strikeouts per nine (9.41), third in walks per nine (2.74), first in FIP (3.81)

Despite losing what equates to a rotation of its own to the injured list, the Rays still nearly reached 100 wins while going 33-19 in August and September.

With Yandy Diaz and Randy Arozarena in the lineup and Tyler Glasnow and Zach Eflin in the rotation, Tampa Bay still has the pieces to make some noise in the American League. The Rays have gone out in the first round in the last two post-seasons and look primed to reverse their fortunes in 2023.

5. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (90-72)

MLB Offence Ranks: Eighth in runs scored (796), ninth in batting average (.256), eighth in home runs (220), sixth in OPS (.765), seventh in stolen bases (141)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 12th in ERA (4.02), ninth in strikeouts per nine (9.07), seventh in walks per nine (2.93), sixth in FIP (4.00)

After last season's run to the World Series, the Phillies are back with what might be an even better roster than a year ago.

Behind an offence that has seen a significant turnaround from prized off-season addition Trea Turner and second-half surges from Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia is rounding into form at the right time.

A year ago, there were a multitude of questions about the Phillies' bullpen, but in 2023, they have quietly had one of the best relief corps in MLB.

4. HOUSTON ASTROS (90-72)

MLB Offence Ranks: Fifth in runs scored (827), fifth in batting average (.259), seventh in home runs (222), fifth in OPS (.768), 18th in stolen bases (107)

MLB Pitching Ranks: Eighth in ERA (3.94), seventh in strikeouts per nine (9.09), 20th in walks per nine (3.34), 17th in FIP (4.31)

Despite slipping in September, the Astros won their sixth AL West title in the last seven seasons and will look to defend their 2022 World Series championship.

By OPS, Houston has had the best offence in the American League since the All-Star Break, and has gotten significant production from its stars. Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman have all been 50 per cent better than league average, by wRC+, in the second half.

While their rotation hasn't been great in September, the Astros should get a boost from the shortened pitching staff of October by leaning on Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez and their high-leverage relievers to get them to a second straight title.

3. BALTIMORE ORIOLES (101-61)

MLB Offence Ranks: Seventh in runs scored (807), 10th in batting average (.255), 17th in home runs (183), 14th in OPS (.742), 16th in stolen bases (114)

MLB Pitching Ranks: Seventh in ERA (3.91), 16th in strikeouts per nine (8.86), sixth in walks per nine (2.93), fifth in FIP (3.98)

On their way to their first playoff berth since 2016, the Orioles won 101 games and rode their young core to the top of the American League.

While Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson take the headlines, Baltimore's starting pitching has emerged as a group that can get the job done.

Kyle Bradish (2.34 ERA) and Grayson Rodriguez (2.58 ERA) have been two of the best starters in baseball in the second half and look capable of leading a legitimate run at a World Series. The loss of Felix Bautista stings, but the Orioles still have had a top-10 bullpen since he last pitched.

2. LOS ANGELES DODGERS (100-62)

MLB Offence Ranks: Second in runs scored (906), seventh in batting average (.257), second in home runs (249), second in OPS (.795), 19th in stolen bases (105)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 13th in ERA (4.06), 17th in strikeouts per nine (8.64), fifth in walks per nine (2.83), 15th in FIP (4.23)

Led by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers scored 900 runs for the first time since 1953.

Despite the high-powered offence, Los Angeles does have some question marks in its rotation. Bobby Miller and Clayton Kershaw have been great in the second half, but beyond them, the Dodgers are going to have to lean on their revamped bullpen to get a lot of outs if they want to get back to the World Series. Nonetheless, the Dodgers are always a tough out in October, and this year will be no different.

1. ATLANTA BRAVES (104-58)

MLB Offence Ranks: First in runs scored (947), first in batting average (.276), first in home runs (307), first in OPS (.845), 10th in stolen bases (132)

MLB Pitching Ranks: 15th in ERA (4.14), second in strikeouts per nine (9.48), 18th in walks per nine (3.34), eighth in FIP (4.10)

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Braves will be the team to beat in the post-season.

They had one of the best offensive seasons in recent memory, tying the single-season record for home runs and have the deepest lineup in MLB.

However, if there is a nit to pick, it's with their pitching staff. Atlanta pitchers rank around league average, and beyond Spencer Strider, there isn't much to write home about in the rotation. Charlie Morton is likely to miss the NLDS, and Max Fried is scheduled to come off the IL before the Division Series, but that still leaves with one or two starts to fill.

But with Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Sean Murphy and... well you get the point, the Braves are the favourites to take home the Commissioner's Trophy.