The non-bye division winners, seeds No. 3 and No. 4, are a safer bet. But they don’t succeed as frequently as you would think. Perhaps this is the year that parity returns to the postseason.

The Giants moved within one victory of the World Series on Wednesday night, and they did so in their signature, suspenseful fashion. Torture? Nah, this has progressed to the “Hmmm-maybe” stage ...