What’s been the clearest path to the World Series in the three years since Major League Baseball expanded its postseason field to include 12 teams–six from both the American and National League?

You would think clinching the best record in your league would be a clear advantage, right? That may work this year for the Yankees, the top seed in the American League that just earned a trip to the ALCS after beating Kansas City in four games in the ALDS. The Dodgers, who came into the playoffs as the number-one seed in the National League, still have one more hurdle to climb before making it to the NLCS and are set to take on the wildcard Padres in Game 5 of the NLDS in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Heck, just winning your division and earning a bye into the LDS, like the Guardians did this year, should be a huge edge, no? It may be when all is said and done, but Cleveland still has to get by a wildcard Tigers squad, which it will face in a Game 5 ALDS matchup on Saturday evening.

Of all the easiest paths to the Fall Classic, the toughest one has been the clearest in the National League (if that makes any sense): I’m talking about the sixth seed; that’s right, since postseason expansion, the number-six seed in the National League has yet to be eliminated prior to the World Series.

The New York Mets, who had to split a doubleheader with the Braves on the last day of the regular season just to clinch a wildcard berth, are the latest sixth seed from the senior circuit that refuses to be eliminated. New York started its postseason journey by taking on the National League Central Division champion Brewers in a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series. The teams split the first two games, and Milwaukee then took a 2-0 lead into the top of the ninth inning of Game 3. However, first baseman Pete Alonso smacked a three-run homer to give the Mets the lead, and they went on to win by a score of 4-2.

The Phillies, the National League Eastern Division champions and the number-two seed, proved to be much lighter work in the NLDS; the Mets, who finished six back of Philadelphia in the regular-season standings, won in four games to advance to the NLCS for the first time since 2015.

The Phillies, a wildcard team in 2023, were also bounced by the last seed, as Arizona defeated them, 4-3, in the NLCS to advance to the World Series.

Interestingly enough, the Phillies kicked off the latest postseason expansion by advancing to the 2022 World Series as the National League’s sixth seed before losing to the Astros.

Will the Mets become the latest number-six seed to represent the National League in the Fall Classic? If they do, will they take on a wildcard Tigers team? If you remember last year’s World Series, the fifth-seeded Rangers defeated Arizona in five games to clinch their first world title in franchise history.

If you’re counting at home, the past two World Series have been comprised of three wildcard entrants and one division winner.

I’d say MLB’s decision to expand its postseason field has worked out so far…at least if you’re a wildcard team, and especially if you’re the sixth seed in the National League.