Road to the World Series! Why Each Playoff Team Will (and Won't) Win It All

Each of the 12 MLB playoff teams can win the World Series, right?

Some are expected to, while others are just relieved to reach October. Each team has plenty of reasons as to why they'll be hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy in five weeks' time – and several for why they'll fall short. 

FOX Sports MLB reporters Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar break down the playoff field and what to expect with the postseason now here.

Toronto Blue Jays

Record: 94-68 (1st in AL East; No. 1 seed)

Why They Will: The Blue Jays’ brand is playing bold, heads-up baseball — and it works. They make contact, they get on base, they pressure defenses into making bang-bang plays. It’s a similar strategy to the Brewers’ success this year, and there’s reason to believe that bullying the other team will work even better in the postseason, where luck can be just as much of a factor as tangible results. When the Blue Jays are at their best, they’re excellent at exposing the opposing team’s flaws and hanging in there every game. 

Why They Won't: The pitching staff doesn’t boast many trusted options. It’s wild to think their season-long bullpen troubles have taken a back seat to fresher, bigger challenges – like who is starting Game 3 of a playoff series? Jose Berrios and Chris Bassitt are injured. Max Scherzer has been mediocre dating back to August. He has a 9.00 ERA (25 earned runs, 25 innings) in his last six starts. After Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber, it’s Mad Max and hopes and prayers for Toronto’s playoff rotation. That staff, from the starting pitchers to the relievers, is not inducing confidence. 

Will Bo Bichette be back in action for the playoffs after missing most of September? (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

One Big Stat: Toronto