​Only two head-to-head series deep into the 2018 season, all baseball fans, not just the ones localized in New York and New England, would die for a Red Sox-Yankees playoff rematch, something that hasn't happened since 2004.





But no one on earth wants that heated, teeth-grinding matchup to be only a best-of-five series.





Unfortunately, thanks to Major League Baseball's recent legislating and messing around, it's almost guaranteed that if these ​teams butt heads, it comes immediately to open the playoffs, with dissatisfying stakes.

THE YANKEES ARE BACK IN FIRST PLACE AS THEY BEAT THE RED SOX. SEVERINO WITH 11 STRIKEOUTS AND BIG DADDY STANTON WITH TWO HOMERS. AARON JUDGE IN THE CLUTCH. 16 of 17 FULL SPEEED AHEAD pic.twitter.com/8ycaZvmnRr — Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) May 9, 2018

Through the season's first quarter, the classic AL East foes have proven to be the two best teams in baseball by leaps and bounds.





Sure, the Red Sox may be playing over their heads just a bit, but who's to say Mookie Betts' true talent isn't at this level? And the Yankees, in all likelihood, aren't even clicking yet; Didi Gregorius is 1-for-45 since his insanely hot April, ​Gary Sanchez is still hovering at .204, and they don't have Greg Bird.





Based on what we've seen thus far and the level of competition in the AL, these are the league's best, and they're both likely to keep piling up wins in the weeks to come.

Best winning percentages in Major League Baseball:



1. Yankees (.700)

2. Red Sox (.682)

3. Astros (.622)

4. Braves (.619)

5. Phillies (.609) — Joe Giglio (@JoeGiglioSports) May 18, 2018

When Major League Baseball restructured the postseason and added a second Wild Card (which is good!) they also dismantled the failsafe that prevented teams from the same division from meeting in the ALDS. That was an excellent rule! In 2003 and 2004, it wouldn't have mattered, and the Yanks and Sox wouldn't have met until the ALCS regardless, but the point still stands.





Now, it's not only possible the two will lock horns in the first round this year (if at all). It's the overwhelming favorite scenario.





If the Yanks and Sox finish with dueling best records in the AL--and since they'll be spending the entire summer driving each other to win daily in a desperate attempt to avoid the one-game Wild Card Game, it's quite likely--one will win the division while the other will be sent to purgatory. If the Wild Card loser beats Shohei Ohtani (or someone else, we guess) in that one-gamer, they'll be delivered right to their chief rival.

THREE DING DONGS FOR MOOKIE BETTS, DING DONGS FOR BROCK HOLT, RAFFY BIG STICK AND JBJESUS, DAVEY TINGLE FINGERS CRUISES, 10 RUNS ON 15 HITS, SHOHEI OHTANI IS A BUM, WILL THE RED SOX EVER SEE REAL COMPETITION?! #WINTITSREPEAT #GOLDBOTTLES pic.twitter.com/NeLq27DKkM — Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 18, 2018





On the other hand, the Houston Astros' prize for winning the AL West with a likely inferior record will be...the winner of the decrepit AL Central.

No one will win the AL Central. One team will just lose it less. — Mike Axisa (@mikeaxisa) May 19, 2018

Still likely to be the Cleveland Indians, simply because the division is otherwise populated with Walking Tank-Fests, that means Houston, with the likely third-best record in the league, will be given a cakewalk in the opener, while the Yanks and Sox fight to the death on the other side. The Astros should be your World Series favorite for that reason alone--a several-games-long breather before they face the class of the East.





And sure, the defending World Champs are the only ones who can throw a wrench into this already-annoying playoff scenario by copping the league's best record for themselves. They're lucky the Yankees let them take Gerrit Cole; otherwise this wouldn't even be a conversation.

Another day, another dominant outing for Gerrit Cole. #ColeTrain🚂 pic.twitter.com/oFnsONRFQi — Houston Astros (@astros) May 10, 2018

But with only a top-heavy Angels team and playoff-starved and Cano-less Mariners squad to compete with for the division, will they really be as driven as the Yanks and Sox to pile up summer victories?





Especially once they realize the Indians (or Tigers?!?) are waiting for them.





So thanks, Major League Baseball. The Astros aren't motivated to outgun the Yankees or Red Sox, leaving those two heavyweights likely to lock horns in the postseason's opening round, done in a blink before the national stage can even get frothed up about East Coast bias. It's not fair to either team, clearly deserving of the national spotlight and a warmup round before being forced to fend each other off for the AL title.





Hey, at least they won't be playing the ​ALDS in London. That's something.