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2009 World Series
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Chase For World Series Crown Down To 8
First Round Of MLB Playoffs Begins
POSTED: 12:13 pm EDT September 29, 2008
UPDATED: 11:03 am EDT October 1, 2008
As the MLB postseason gets under way, take a look at the teams that are playing for this year's World Series crown.
The Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first American League East title in franchise history this season. They became just the third team to win the division since 1998, as the Yankees won the AL East crown from 1998 to 2007, and the Boston Red Sox claimed the title last season.
Offensive, the Rays are led by Akinori Iwamura and Carlos Pena. Iwamura boasts the team's best batting average, hitting .274, while Pena leads the team in RBI (102) and home runs (31).James Shields has been solid for Tampa Bay from the mound this season. He recorded a record of 14-8) and tallied a team-best earned run average (3.56). Scott Kazmir leads the squad in strikeouts with 166, and Troy Percival tops the roster in saves with 28.Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox earned their postseason berth with a victory over the Minnesota Twins in a tiebreaker in the Windy City on Sept. 30. The American League Central teams finished the regular season with identical records, forcing the clubs to play in one final game to determine who would advance to the postseason. The White Sox clinched the 1-0 victory off of Jim Thome's home run.Jermaine Dye and Carlos Quentin lead the White Sox from the plate. Dye has tallied a team-best .292 batting average while Quentin has hit 36 home runs and recorded 100 RBI.A trio of pitchers have led the team from the mound. Gavin Floyd has won a team-best 17 games while John Danks has a team-best 3.32 ERA and Javier Vazquez has recorded 200 strikeouts. Closer Bobby Jenks has saved 30 games.Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox enter the postseason looking to defend their 2007 World Series crown. The defending champions finished second in the AL East standings, behind Tampa Bay.The Red Sox are led offensively this season by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. Pedroia has provided the consistency -- he leads the team with a .326 batting average -- while Youkilis has provided the power. Youkilis leads Boston in home runs (29) and RBI (115).Daisuke Matsuzaka has led the squad from the mound. Dice-K boasts a team-best record of 18-3 and has an ERA of 2.90. Josh Beckett leads the team in strikeouts with 172, while Jonathan Papelbon has been the team's late-game ace with 41 saves.L.A. Angels
The Angels clinched their playoff berth by finishing first in the American League West division with the AL's best record at 100-62.Vladimir Guerrero has been the team's offensive star this season. The outfielder leads the team in batting average (.303), home runs (27) and RBI (91).From the mound, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana starred for the Angels. Saunders leads the club in wins (17-7), ERA (3.41). Santana has a team-best 214 strikeouts. Closer Francisco Rodriguez tallied a record 62 saves this season.
The Chicago Cubs finished the regular season with a National-League best record of 97-64. The team enters the postseason looking to end the squad's championship drought, as the Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.The Cubs are led by a trio of offensive threats. Ryan Theriot leads the team in batting average at .307, while Alfonso Soriano boasts a team-high 29 home runs and Aramis Ramirez has a team-best 111 RBI.Ryan Dempster has starred for Chicago from the mound. He leads the team with 17 wins, a 2.96 ERA and 187 strikeouts. Closer Kerry Wood has tallied 34 saves this season.L.A. Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing in the postseason in the first season under manager Joe Torre. The former Yankees manager led the team to an NL West-best 84-78 record.Offensively, the Dodgers are led by Andre Ethier and James Loney. Ethier has average .305 from the plate and has knocked out a team-best 20 home runs. Loney leads the team in RBI with 90.Chad Billingsley has been the Dodgers' top pitcher this season. He leads the team in wins (16), ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (201). Takashi Saito has recorded 18 saves this season.Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their second straight National League East crown to mark the first time since 1980-81 that the team has made back-to-back postseason appearances.The club is led offensively by Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard. Victorino leads the Phillies in batting average by hitting .293 at the plate, while Howard tops the team in home runs (48) and RBI (146).From the mound, Jamie Moyer leads Philadelphia in wins with a 16-7 record, while Cole Hamels has a team-best earned run average (3.09) and strikeouts (196). Closer Brad Lidge has been perfect late in the game, coming out successful in all 41 of his save opportunities.Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are playing the postseason for the first time since 1982. By clinching the NL wild card, the Brewers will take on Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.Ryan Braun has been the club's offensive leader. He boasts a team-best .285 batting average, 37 home runs and 106 RBI.Pitcher CC Sabathia, who was acquired in a midseason trade, was clutch for Milwaukee down the stretch, pitching on short rest to help send the Brewers into the postseason. Ben Sheets has also been solid for Milwaukee, leading the team in wins (13), ERA (3.09) and strikeouts (158). Closer Salomon Torres tallied 28 saves in the season.
American League
Tampa Bay RaysThe Tampa Bay Rays clinched their first American League East title in franchise history this season. They became just the third team to win the division since 1998, as the Yankees won the AL East crown from 1998 to 2007, and the Boston Red Sox claimed the title last season.
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The Chicago White Sox earned their postseason berth with a victory over the Minnesota Twins in a tiebreaker in the Windy City on Sept. 30. The American League Central teams finished the regular season with identical records, forcing the clubs to play in one final game to determine who would advance to the postseason. The White Sox clinched the 1-0 victory off of Jim Thome's home run.Jermaine Dye and Carlos Quentin lead the White Sox from the plate. Dye has tallied a team-best .292 batting average while Quentin has hit 36 home runs and recorded 100 RBI.A trio of pitchers have led the team from the mound. Gavin Floyd has won a team-best 17 games while John Danks has a team-best 3.32 ERA and Javier Vazquez has recorded 200 strikeouts. Closer Bobby Jenks has saved 30 games.Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox enter the postseason looking to defend their 2007 World Series crown. The defending champions finished second in the AL East standings, behind Tampa Bay.The Red Sox are led offensively this season by Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis. Pedroia has provided the consistency -- he leads the team with a .326 batting average -- while Youkilis has provided the power. Youkilis leads Boston in home runs (29) and RBI (115).Daisuke Matsuzaka has led the squad from the mound. Dice-K boasts a team-best record of 18-3 and has an ERA of 2.90. Josh Beckett leads the team in strikeouts with 172, while Jonathan Papelbon has been the team's late-game ace with 41 saves.L.A. Angels
The Angels clinched their playoff berth by finishing first in the American League West division with the AL's best record at 100-62.Vladimir Guerrero has been the team's offensive star this season. The outfielder leads the team in batting average (.303), home runs (27) and RBI (91).From the mound, Joe Saunders and Ervin Santana starred for the Angels. Saunders leads the club in wins (17-7), ERA (3.41). Santana has a team-best 214 strikeouts. Closer Francisco Rodriguez tallied a record 62 saves this season.
National League
Chicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs finished the regular season with a National-League best record of 97-64. The team enters the postseason looking to end the squad's championship drought, as the Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.The Cubs are led by a trio of offensive threats. Ryan Theriot leads the team in batting average at .307, while Alfonso Soriano boasts a team-high 29 home runs and Aramis Ramirez has a team-best 111 RBI.Ryan Dempster has starred for Chicago from the mound. He leads the team with 17 wins, a 2.96 ERA and 187 strikeouts. Closer Kerry Wood has tallied 34 saves this season.L.A. Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing in the postseason in the first season under manager Joe Torre. The former Yankees manager led the team to an NL West-best 84-78 record.Offensively, the Dodgers are led by Andre Ethier and James Loney. Ethier has average .305 from the plate and has knocked out a team-best 20 home runs. Loney leads the team in RBI with 90.Chad Billingsley has been the Dodgers' top pitcher this season. He leads the team in wins (16), ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (201). Takashi Saito has recorded 18 saves this season.Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies clinched their second straight National League East crown to mark the first time since 1980-81 that the team has made back-to-back postseason appearances.The club is led offensively by Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard. Victorino leads the Phillies in batting average by hitting .293 at the plate, while Howard tops the team in home runs (48) and RBI (146).From the mound, Jamie Moyer leads Philadelphia in wins with a 16-7 record, while Cole Hamels has a team-best earned run average (3.09) and strikeouts (196). Closer Brad Lidge has been perfect late in the game, coming out successful in all 41 of his save opportunities.Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are playing the postseason for the first time since 1982. By clinching the NL wild card, the Brewers will take on Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.Ryan Braun has been the club's offensive leader. He boasts a team-best .285 batting average, 37 home runs and 106 RBI.Pitcher CC Sabathia, who was acquired in a midseason trade, was clutch for Milwaukee down the stretch, pitching on short rest to help send the Brewers into the postseason. Ben Sheets has also been solid for Milwaukee, leading the team in wins (13), ERA (3.09) and strikeouts (158). Closer Salomon Torres tallied 28 saves in the season.
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