2023 MLB playoff predictions: Top values on Wild Card Series, World Series winner from proven model

The MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday with the wild-card round. In the American League, the winner of the No. 6 seed Toronto Blue Jays at No. 3 seed Minnesota Twins series would face the AL West champion and No. 2 seed Houston Astros in the ALDS as the Astros try to become the first team to repeat as World Series champions since the Yankees won their third in a row in 2000. The winner of the No. 5 Texas Rangers at No. 4 Tampa Bay Rays series will take on AL East champion and No. 1 overall seed Baltimore Orioles.

In the National League, the No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks visit the No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers, with the winner heading to the No. 2 seed and NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The No. 5 seed Miami Marlins visit the No. 4 Philadelphia Phillies and the winner goes to play the No. 1 overall Atlanta Braves. 

The Braves finished with the majors' best record and tied an MLB mark for home runs with 309. They are the +310 favorites to win the World Series for the second time in three years, but over the 54 seasons since MLB switched to a divisional format, only 14 times has the team with the top record won the World Series. In the Wild Card era, a total of 14 Wild Card teams have reached the Fall Classic -- including the 2022 Philadelphia Phillies -- and seven won it, most recently the 2019 Washington Nationals. 

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It went 331-285 on top-rated MLB money-line picks (+357) over the past two seasons. It entered the 2023 MLB playoffs 91-73 on all top-rated MLB picks this season and has excelled on top-rated run-line picks, going 18-6 (+766). Anybody following has seen big returns! 

Check out the model's top picks on each Wild Card Series matchup as well as win percentage projection for every playoff team to secure its league pennant and the World Series.