The two teams that met in the World Series last year have remote chances of qualifying for the playoffs in October, but there could still be some intriguing matchups in Major League Baseball’s 2016 postseason. They are currently in third place in the AL Central division and are chasing two other clubs for a wild card spot. Their 2015 World Series opponents are in worse shape in the National League, where they trail Miami and Washington in the East division and two other teams in the Wild Card race.
The favorite all season to win it all has been the Chicago Cubs, who have the best record in the majors. His most interesting opponent in the World Series would be the team that leads the American League centerpiece, the Cleveland Indians, by six games.
By meeting in the fall classic, one of the two teams with the longest wingspans since winning the World Series would end that dubious streak. The Cubs last won it all in 1908, while the Indians last took home the title in 1948.
To get that far, the Indians would have to face Boston, Cleveland team manager Terry Francona forced to leave just a year after leading the Red Sox to their first World Series title in more than fifty years. . That matchup would also be an emotional one for Cleveland’s Mike Napoli, who previously helped the Red Sox win a World Series title.
Another highly anticipated American League series would feature the East-leading Blue Jays against the West-leading Rangers, the two teams who met in the league semifinals last October. Those games were marked by bad feelings that carried into 2016, resulting in Texas infielder Roughned Odor being suspended for hitting Toronto outfielder Jose Bautista after sliding into second base.
The team chasing Texas is Seattle, a team that could have two intriguing opponents if it wins the American League pennant. Washington would provide a historic opponent, as the Mariners and Nationals are two of the few remaining clubs yet to make it to the World Series.
Washington’s closest competitor in the NL East, the Marlins, would also be a notable opponent for the Mariners in the fall classic. That matchup would allow future Miami Hall of Fame outfielder Ichiro Suzuki to return to the city where he spent most of his career.
The Marlins, of course, would likely have to get past Dusty Baker-led Washington before planning any trip to Seattle. Baker himself might have to face several of his former clubs, either as a player or manager, to win a pennant.
One of those former teams is the Wild Card, leaders of San Francisco, the club that Baker led to its only pennant more than a decade ago. He also made the postseason with his next team, the Cubs, who currently have the best record in the entire sport. The West-leading Dodgers would also be an emotional playoff foe for Baker, who spent most of his playing career in Los Angeles.
Two of the game’s classic rivals could pose the most anticipated round of the playoffs, assuming both St. Louis and Chicago end up qualifying. This rematch would give the Cardinals a chance to eliminate the Cubs, who did the same thing to St. Louis last year.
Regardless of the ten teams that make it to the postseason, old rivalries are sure to be renewed or new rivalries to emerge.