For the fifth season in a row, the MLB playoffs do not include the Mets, who are instead already in the midst of an offseason that could include lots of change.

But for Mets fans who will be watching the postseason, here is a rooting guide, with teams ranked in order of most palatable to least palatable...

1. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays, who have been postseason stalwarts for years, have yet to get over the final hump and win the World Series.

They've come close twice, losing in the Fall Classic to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020.

And although the Rays have played like a juggernaut at times this season, they have done so with a payroll (just shy of $67 million on Opening Day) that ranks among the lowest in baseball.

The Rays feature budding star Wander Franco, have persevered after losing ace Tyler Glasnow, and are in prime position to win their first title. Tampa winning it all would also twist the knife for Yankees fans.

2. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers, with a rotation that includes Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta, rose to the top of the NL Central and clinched it before the St. Louis Cardinals' insane late-season surge threatened them.

As far as their playoff history, Milwaukee had a near-miss in 2018 when they fell to the Dodgers in the NLCS in seven games, but they haven't been in the World Series since 1982.

That '82 World Series appearance is the only one Milwaukee has ever had, and they remain one of six MLB teams to never win it all.

3. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox last won the World Series in 2005, when they broke an 88-year drought.

They entered this season as title favorites for some pundits, and weathered a bunch of key injuries -- including to Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert -- as they won a putrid AL Central.

With Jimenez, Robert, Yoan Moncada, Tim Anderson, Craig Kimbrel, Liam Hendriks, Carlos Rodon, and others, the Sox are a ton of fun. But do they have enough to go all the way?

4. Boston Red Sox

The Sox winning it all would be a tougher pill for Yankees fans to swallow than the Rays doing it, and the Sox are in position to keep going after eliminating the Yanks in the Wild Card game.

Despite having won a lot recently, Boston is a fun team to root for, featuring young stars including Rafael Devers and Alex Verdugo.

It's also always cool to watch late-October baseball from the cathedral that is Fenway Park.

5. San Francisco Giants

The Giants have won three titles over the last decade (2010, 2012, 2014), so they've had enough to celebrate lately.

They also helped derail the Mets' 2021 season, and ended their season in 2016 when they won the Wild Card Game at Citi Field.

San Francisco has former Met Wilmer Flores, who remains likeable, but they're only this high on the list due to the nails-on-a-chalkboard nature of the teams below them.

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