MLB Power Rankings: 10 teams most desperate to win the 2023 World Series
By Tim Boyle
8. MLB Power Rankings: St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are usually pretty good. However, a long time has passed since they last won a World Series. The 2011 Cardinals took down the Texas Rangers in one of the most memorable World Series of the last 25 years. They did make it back in 2013 but lost to the Boston Red Sox. Ever since, they’ve been a bridesmaid yet never the bride.
The Cardinals remain a stacked ball club and could get even better this offseason. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado at the corners plus many other quality players give them an advantage over everyone else in the division. Winning the National League Central is fun. Expectations need to be much higher for this team.
After losing both of their playoff games to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2022, St. Louis needs to ask for more from its players in 2023. They aren’t quite desperate enough to finish higher than eighth. However, with the ten-year anniversary of their last World Series appearance coming up, it’s starting to feel like a very long time since they made it far enough.
7. MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays
The layoff between World Series appearances is even longer for the Toronto Blue Jays. They haven’t been there since they won it all in 1993. Those days of the Blue Jays dominating the American League are long over. While often a factor in the postseason, they haven’t gotten far enough.
Soon, the Blue Jays may begin to feel like another one of those teams with a lot of young talent that has gone to waste. Imagine if the Chicago Cubs never won the 2016 World Series. They would have been viewed much differently in the history of this game.
The desperation level hasn’t overloaded the fans quite yet because of how young many of its core players are. With another year of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting closer to free agency, we can feel the breeze soften. Windows to win it all can close quickly.