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The Major League Baseball playoffs started yesterday, and I’m wonder if it’s an advantage to be one of the teams that has to continue to play after the regular season ends.

The four division winners with the best records get byes, but they have to figure out how they can stay sharp while the wild card round goes on.

Now teams can play intersquad games, but it’s difficult to simulate a real game like that. It’s the same with going through situations. It’s going to be different than it will be in an actual game.

Obviously the one big plus is that injured players can have the time to rest and recover. I’m just not sure that off sets the waiting time for these teams.

Yesterday the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Philles won Game 1 of their wild card series. That means that those four teams are now just win away from advancing to the next round.

Out of yesterday’s four winner the Diamondbacks were the only road team that picked up a victory. In the wild card round all three games are played at the team with the best records home field.

Depending on the outcome of today’s game the winner of these wild card series could have two or three days off before starting their next series on Saturday.

So, my question to you is would you rather be the team with the extended time off or would you prefer to be the team that has had to continue to play.

The four teams that received byes the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros won’t have played an actual game since Sunday October 1st. Those four teams will go five full days without playing an actual game.

I’m not sure if five days is enough for players to develop any kind of rust, but you have to think that it might take hitters an at bat or two to adjust to game speed. Since pitchers are handle so differently in today’s game the time off might be good for them. It’s not like any pitcher is going to throw a complete game.

While I’ve got you hear why don’t you make some predictions for me. Do you see any of the teams that lost yesterday coming back to win that series?

Also let me know who you think will win the National and American League pennant. Of course, I also want to know who you think will win the World Series.

Don’t forget to look for me on X, I’m @Burketime.