The MLB season had plenty of exciting matchups. Here are the top five games that made the list of the best games in the MLB for 2023.
The MLB plays about 5,000 games every single year. Of course, we’re going to have plenty that stand out from the rest due to individual performances and epic comebacks. That’s what the sport is all about!
Below, we’ve listed the top five games of 2023 that might have made cash or cost big some of the top MLB betting sites like Bovada (check our Bovada Review).
5. Elly De La Cruz Hits For The Cycle On June 23
The Cincinnati Reds were just starting to play playoff-level baseball at this time. They brought up Elly De La Cruz, along with many other prospects, and started doing the improbable. The Reds started to win games in a season where the owner’s words didn’t sit well with fans at the beginning of the season.
Reds fans got a glimpse of what the future will hold. A 21-year-old Elly De La Cruz hit for the cycle just two weeks into his MLB career in an 11-10 victory over the Braves. He achieved the cycle by the sixth inning in his 15th career game.
De La Cruz blasted a double to center field and then smacked a home run in the third inning. By the fifth inning, he slapped a single into center field and then added a triple to right-center field that drove in a run and made history.
4. Pete Alonso Wills The Mets To Victory On May 17
The New York Mets had high expectations coming into the 2023 MLB season. By May 17, the Mets were already three games below .500. In the 7th inning, the Mets were down 2-0.
However, Mark Vientos hit his first home run of the season and his second career home run to tie the game at two. Eventually, the Mets bullpen let the game get away for a little bit. The Rays got ahead 5-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. But with two outs and two runners on, Mets prospect and rookie Francisco Alvarez hit a bomb to tie the game at five. Alvarez’s home run had an exit velocity of 104.6.
With that home run, the Mets forced extra innings. However, the Rays added two runs in the top of the 10th to go up 7-5. Eventually, in the bottom of the 10th, the Mets got two runners on for Pete Alonso, who smacked the game-winning, walk-off home run against the Rays in the most electric fashion. What a game!
3. Andrew Vaughn Caps Ninth Inning Rally Over The Rays on April 30
The Chicago White Sox were on a ten-game losing streak by April 30. The White Sox trailed 9-5 going into the bottom of the ninth after they had a 4-2 lead in the 8th. The Rays had scored five in the eighth and two more in the ninth in that game.
However, the White Sox didn’t let that get to them. Instead, Chicago added seven runs in the 9th inning thanks to an Andrew Vaughn walk-off three-run home run that gave the White Sox a 12-9 win over the Rays. That ended a 10-game losing streak and was one of the most exciting games that the MLB had to offer this season.
2. 29 Runs Between The Diamondbacks and Braves on July 18
If you like runs, this was the game for you. The Diamondbacks and Braves combined for 29 runs, including 27 hits and many errors by the Braves.
The Diamondbacks started the game with two runs in the first inning. However, the Braves responded with five runs in that same inning. But the Diamondbacks took that personally and scored five runs in the second inning. With Arizona up 7-5, there was no scoring until the fourth inning. Arizona scored one run, but Atlanta added four runs to re-take the lead, 9-8.
The game see-sawed back and forth until Arizona added four runs in the 8th and 9th innings to escape with the win. Christian Walker had two home runs for Arizona, while Austin Riley added two home runs for the Braves.
1. Atlanta’s Comeback Win On June 8
The Braves were involved in many high-scoring games in 2023. Atlanta had the best offense in the MLB. This was another see-saw game, where the Braves got on top, but the Mets hit their way back in front.
Eventually, the Mets were up 10-6 heading into the 8th inning. New York allowed the Braves two runs in the 8th, a run in the ninth, and three runs in the 10th to lose, 13-10 in extra innings. The Braves added 19 hits, while the Mets earned 14 hits in the disheartening loss.
New York’s Francisco Alvarez had two home runs, and Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam. But that wasn’t enough against a Braves lineup that hit five home runs in that game.
