What was learned from the 2023 MLB ALDS and NLDS?

The MLB second round has come to a close. The Division Series could be summed up with two words: multiple upsets. For the first time in MLB playoff history, two teams who won 100 or more games were swept at the same time. The 90 win Texas Rangers upset the 101 win Baltimore Orioles and the 84 win Diamondbacks upset the 100 win LA Dodgers. Both series felt like total mismatches. The Rangers offense dominated with clutch home runs from Corey Seager, Mitch Garver and Adolis Garcia. The starting pitching from Nathan Eovaldi was at an elite level. The Orioles starting pitching struggled deeply and their offense went cold in games one and three. The Texas Rangers Vs Baltimore Orioles series could be best described as a veteran caliber team out-slugging and out-pitching a young team on the rise. The Arizona Diamondbacks Vs LA Dodgers series could be described as the complete opposite. The Dodgers were the veteran team, who were competely out-played and out-hustled by the up and coming Dbacks. The LA Dodgers best hitters Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman were 1 for 21 in the series. The team averaged to score two runs in each game, while starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller and Lance Lyne couldn’t make it past the 3rd inning. The 90 win Philadelphia Phillies would lastly complete the third and final upset, eliminating the 104 win Atlanta Braves in 4 games. The Braves offense was shut out in the first game and scored two runs or fewer in game three and four. The Houston Astros eliminating the Minnesota Twins was the only non upset of the entire second round. The Astros delivered as expected and will face their lonestar rival Texas Rangers in the American League Champion Series. A key factor of these second round upsets could be the six day layoff. The Orioles, Braves and Dodgers received first round byes after winning their respective divisions. They faced no live pitching during the week of the Wild Card Series. All three teams played completely lost and lifeless following their returns to action. The Baltimore Orioles can look back at their regular season being a success when comparing their 101 win season to losing 110 games two seasons ago. They can head into 2024 feeling proud and optimistic about their future. The same perspective could not be said about the Atlanta Braves and LA Dodgers, who both lost in their first round matchups in back to back years. Their futures look very questionable when comparing their regular season success to their post season failures. Where do these eliminated teams go from here? Should MLB look into changing the playoff format? History is always welcoming in this era of sports and it will always be remembered how the five best teams in the entire league could not win a single playoff series.