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5 teams with the most pressure to win the 2023 World Series

By John Grimaldi

PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres walks across the field before the Spring Training Game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2023 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 11: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres walks across the field before the Spring Training Game against the Chicago White Sox at Peoria Stadium on March 11, 2023 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

4. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies had a great postseason run last year, but ran out of steam when they faced the Houston Astros in the World Series. There’s no reason the Phillies can’t fight their way back to that spot. They are basically running it back with that same team, and added one of the best hitters and base stealers in the league with Trea Turner, who signed a massive contract this offseason. Despite being in arguably the most difficult division in baseball, they have a legitimate shot to win on the backs of their pitching staff, lead by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, as well as their deep lineup.

3. New York Yankees

There has always been tremendous pressure on the Yankees to win. It’s what the fans expect, it’s what ownership expects, and it’s what the players expect when they don the uniform. However, the Yankees haven’t even made the World Series since they won win 2009. They handed out a massive contract to Aaron Judge, the AL MVP, and named him team captain, the first since Derek Jeter. They signed Carlos Rodon (who will start the year on the injured list), and, of course, they still have Gerrit Cole. They have some promising talent coming up soon with Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, and Jasson Dominguez, but this core isn’t getting any younger. They’ve also been plagued by the Astros several times in the playoffs. It’s time for the once “Evil Empire” to assert themselves back at the top sooner rather than later.

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