It's hard, you know -- repeating as the champions of a sport. This is the case for any athletic pursuit, and it's probably fair to say it's especially difficult in baseball, which has some much structural randomness and a related knack for defying expectations.

The MLB Playoffs are ongoing right now but front offices around the league are devising plans on who to bring on-board to make their team better and strengthen their shot at a World Series title well beyond 2025.

The Mariners are ESPN’s choice to advance to the World Series, also, with a panel-high 14 votes to win the ALCS (the Yankees were second with seven votes). Five voters on the panel picked the Mariners to win it all, second behind only the Philadelphia Phillies from the National League.

The rotation was inconsistent for most of the season but really settled in down the stretch. The best versions of Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Luis Castillo would mean four frontline starters (think 2005 White Sox ). The back-end of the bullpen is great, too, with All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz leading the way.

For more sports betting insights, check out BetMGM.com. It didn’t take long for the Los Angeles Dodgers to return to being the World Series favorites. Following a sweep in their National League Wild Card Series,

We're down to eight teams. Here's what Fall Classic matchup you should be pulling for if your squad isn't playing in October.

The Athletic's MLB staff takes a swing at predicting which teams will meet in the World Series ... and which one will come home a champion.

The Philadelphia Phillies get a well-deserved break before they start their National League Divisional Series on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

There are eight teams still standing, which equals 16 possible World Series matchups, including a rematch of last year's World Series (Dodgers vs. Yankees). There has not been a World Series rematch since Dodgers vs. Yankees in 1977 and 1978.