It is difficult enough to reach the postseason, and even harder, once you’ve made it there, to win. Postseason wins should never be taken for granted. Because you never know how long it will take you to get another one.

So today, we step into the wayback machine -- some teams go further back in the machine than others -- and look at the last postseason victory for every MLB team. Only one current team has the ideal last postseason victory -- a win in the final game of the 2023 World Series. For almost every other team, the wait has lasted longer than it had hoped. Winning only makes you want more winning. The waiting is the hardest part.

AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST

Blue Jays -- Oct. 18, 2016, ALCS Game 4

Cleveland was already up 3-0 in the series by this point, so the Blue Jays were mostly just delaying the inevitable. Aaron Sanchez was terrific in this one, and Josh Donaldson homered off Corey Kluber in this 5-1 win. No Blue Jay who played in this game remains on the roster today, and the franchise has since lost seven straight playoff games. (Box score)

Orioles -- Oct. 5, 2014, ALDS Game 3

The Orioles wrapped up a sweep over the Tigers behind 6 1/3 shutout innings from Bud Norris, and then Andrew Miller and Zack Britton finished off Detroit, outdueling David Price. The only Orioles runs in this 2-1 triumph came from a two-run homer from Nelson Cruz, who we all thought was old even then. The O’s were subsequently swept by the Royals in the AL Championship Series. (Box score)

Rays -- Oct. 7, 2021, ALDS Game 1

After a electrifying run to the World Series in 2020, the Rays opened up their quest to the '21 Fall Classic in thrilling fashion once again. Randy Arozarena continued his postseason dominance in the series opener, swatting a solo homer and stealing home in their 5-0 win. Unfortunately for Arozarena and the Rays, it would be their only win in the '21 postseason, as they fell to the Red Sox in four games. (Box score)

Red Sox -- Oct. 18, 2021, ALCS Game 3

Fueled by Kyle Schwarber's grand slam in the second inning, the Red Sox won big in Game 3 of the ALCS over the Astros, 12-3. Boston scored nine runs in the first three innings and never looked back, as four different Red Sox batters had multiple RBIs in the contest. The Red Sox probably wished they saved some of those runs for later in the series, though, as they scored just three runs in the final three games of the series, falling in six games to Houston. (Box score)

Yankees -- Oct. 18, 2022, ALDS Game 5

This was a hard-fought series, going to a decisive fifth game, but Giancarlo Stanton ripped a three-run homer off Cleveland's Aaron Civale in the first inning to quell some of the suspense. Nestor Cortes tossed five solid innings in New York's 5-1 victory, but the club's postseason run then hit a brick wall in the form of the eventual World Series champion Astros. (Box score)

AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL

Guardians -- Oct. 15, 2022, ALDS Game 3

What a thriller. The Guardians trailed the Yankees, 5-3, going into the bottom of the ninth inning at Progressive Field. But after a leadoff out, five of the next six Cleveland batters hit safely, with a double and four singles. The last, rookie Oscar Gonzalez's two-run single up the middle, was a walk-off winner. Unfortunately for Cleveland, New York came back to win the next two games and the series. (Box score)

Royals -- Nov. 1, 2015, World Series Game 5

One of three teams in baseball whose last postseason win was a World Series clincher. This game went 12 innings, with the Royals scoring two in the ninth to tie it and then five in the 12th to put the Mets away with a 7-2 victory. (Box score)

Tigers -- Oct. 16, 2013, ALCS Game 4

The Tigers looked set up for one or two more postseason runs yet to come when they tied this ALCS at 2 with a convincing 7-3 win behind Doug Fister. But they lost the next two to the Red Sox, were swept by the Orioles the next season. (Box score)

Twins -- Oct. 8, 2023, ALDS Game 2

The Twins finally snapped a 19-year, 18-game postseason losing streak against the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card Series, earning a two-game sweep to advance to the ALDS. They then won Game 2 in Houston to even the series but dropped the next two back at Target Field to fall short of the ALCS. (Box score)

White Sox -- Oct. 10, 2021, ALDS Game 3

Down 2-0 in the series against the Astros, the White Sox did exactly what they needed to with their backs against the wall in Game 3. After going down 5-1 following the top of the third inning, Chicago buckled down and scored five in the bottom half of the third and added three more runs in the fourth to stay alive. Their momentum ran out quickly, though, as they fell in Game 4. (Box score)

AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST

Angels -- Oct. 22, 2009, ALCS Game 5

This 7-6 win against the Yankees was, of course, a few years before Mike Trout arrived ... which allows us to remind you once again that Trout, amazingly, has still never won a postseason game. The Angels, of course, would lose Game 6 to the Yankees, who went on to win their most recent World Series crown. (Box score)

Astros -- Oct. 20, 2023, ALCS Game 5

In 2021, the Astros and manager Dusty Baker finished two wins short of a championship, falling to the Braves in six games. In 2022, they finished the job. In 2023, Houston made another spirited run, grabbing a 3-2 ALCS lead by taking three straight games on the road. But Baker's club couldn't finish the job back in Houston, and the beloved skipper announced his retirement afterward. (Box score)

A’s -- Oct. 7, 2020, ALDS Game 3

Losing to their division rivals in the ALDS was a difficult pill to swallow for the A’s, particularly since it happened at Dodger Stadium, a place that has been cruel to the A’s over the years. After falling behind 2-0, Oakland did rally to extend the series in Game 3, hitting five homers off five Astros pitchers. (Box score)

Mariners -- Oct. 8, 2022, ALWC Game 2

The date of Oct. 20, 2001, stood for way too long. That was Game 3 of the 2001 ALCS, and for 20 excruciating seasons afterward, the Mariners put together the sport's longest playoff drought. That finally ended in 2022, and Seattle celebrated with a two-game sweep of the Blue Jays in the AL Wild Card Series. The clincher marked only the third time in postseason history that a team came back to win after trailing by seven runs or more. (Box score)

Rangers -- Nov. 1, 2023, World Series Game 5

At long last, the Rangers won the World Series, in the franchise's 63rd season overall and 52nd in Texas. Previously one of six MLB teams to never capture a title, the Rangers shook off past playoff disappointments -- most notably in 2011 -- to go all the way. (Box score)

NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST

Braves -- Oct. 9, 2023, NLDS Game 2

Since their 2021 World Series title, the Braves have lost the NLDS in four games to the Phillies two years in a row, both times winning only Game 2. While winning only one playoff game was not what anyone expected from a club that won 104 in the regular season, at least it was a memorable thriller. (Box score)

Marlins -- Oct. 2, 2020, NLWC Game 2

The story of this series was more the Cubs’ lack of offense than it was anything particularly powerful the Marlins did -- but that would also be selling Sixto Sánchez short. Sánchez was fantastic in shutting down the Cubs over five scoreless innings. Chicago would end up scoring just one run in the two games, and in Game 2, the homer Garrett Cooper hit off Yu Darvish in the seventh inning would prove to be more than enough. The two wins in this series were the Marlins’ first postseason wins in 17 years. (Box score)

Mets -- Oct. 8, 2022, NLWC Game 2

Yes, the Mets won their first postseason game in seven years with this 7-3 victory over the Padres, which featured a solid Jacob deGrom start and homers from Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. But San Diego recovered to win a decisive Game 3 the next night, ending the 101-win Mets' season before the NLDS. (Box score)

Nationals -- October 30, 2019, World Series Game 7

Nationals fans may have some vague recollection of this game. They were down 2-0 in the top of the seventh until they suddenly, gloriously, were not. Howie Kendrick’s go-ahead two-run homer is the one that everyone remembers the most, but it was Anthony Rendon who finally broke the shutout with a homer of his own just two batters earlier. The Nationals ended up with their first World Series title … which is the perfect way to have your most recent postseason game end. (Box score)

Phillies -- Oct. 21, 2023, NLCS Game 5

After missing the postseason for 10 straight seasons, the Phillies pulled off a magical run to the World Series in 2022, and it looked like the '23 edition was headed back there. Philadelphia jumped out to NLCS leads of 2-0 and 3-2 against Arizona, needing to win just one game back at a raucous Citizens Bank Park. But it was not to be. (Box score)

NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL

Brewers -- Oct. 10, 2021, NLDS Game 1

The Brewers opened up the postseason with a close win over the eventual NL champs, the Atlanta Braves. Corbin Burnes carried his stellar regular season into October, allowing just two hits in six shutout innings. They scraped by with a 2-1 win thanks to Rowdy Tellez's go-ahead two-run homer off of Charlie Morton, but they couldn't take another game in the series, as the Braves advanced in four games. (Box score)

Cardinals -- Sept. 30, 2020, NLWC Game 1

The Padres might have been one of the most exciting young teams in baseball, but it was the old stalwart Cardinals who won the Padres’ first playoff game in more than a decade. St. Louis jumped on San Diego early, too, scoring four runs in the first inning, spurred by a homer from Paul Goldschmidt. The Cards would race out to a quick lead in Game 2, as well, but Fernando Tatis Jr. would end up having a say in what happened next. (Box score)

Cubs -- Oct. 18, 2017, NLCS Game 4

The Cubs salvaged one game against the Dodgers, winning Game 4 by a final of 3-2, before Los Angeles finished off the gentleman’s sweep. Did the Cubs ever imagine at this time this would be Joe Maddon’s last postseason victory with the Cubs? (Box score)

Pirates -- Oct. 6, 2013, NLDS Game 3

It looked so glorious for the Pirates at this point after beating St. Louis, 5-3. The Bucs had a 2-1 series lead over the Cardinals, with a riotous PNC Park crowd ready to take them home in Game 4. But Michael Wacha was brilliant for the Cardinals in that game, St. Louis took Game 5, the Pirates lost two straight Wild Card Games the next two years, and that was it for that. (Box score)

Reds -- Oct. 7, 2012, NLDS Game 2

Imagine how the previous decade of baseball history might have been different if the Reds -- who cruised to a 9-0 victory here against the Giants -- had hung onto their 2-0 series lead rather than drop three straight at home to the eventual champs. (Box score)

NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST

D-backs -- Oct. 28, 2023, World Series Game 2

Just two years after going 52-110, the D-backs squeezed into the postseason field in 2023, then went on a shocking run all the way to the World Series. Once there, a scrappy Arizona club responded to an 11-inning, gut-punch loss to the Rangers in Game 1 by winning Game 2, 9-1, in Texas. But that's as far as the D-backs would get, going on to drop three straight games back at Chase Field. (Box score)

Dodgers -- Oct. 11, 2022, NLDS Game 1

The 2022 Dodgers stormed to 111 victories, winning the NL West by 22 games over the Padres. And it looked as if the NLDS between the two clubs would follow the same script when L.A. jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in Game 1 and hung on for the victory. It was not to be, as San Diego won each of the next three, sending the Dodgers home early. (Box score)

Giants -- Oct. 11, 2021, NLDS Game 3

The Giants were the ultimate underdog story during the regular season in 2021, outlasting the 106-win Dodgers to take their first NL West title since 2012. Fate had it that the two would meet in the NLDS, where the series went down to the very last pitch. The Giants took a 2-1 series lead in Game 3, winning 1-0 thanks to Evan Longoria's solo homer off of Max Scherzer, but they dropped the next two to their division rival, ending their incredible season. (Box score)

Padres -- Oct. 19, 2022, NLCS Game 2

The Padres fell behind, 4-0, in the top of the second but ultimately took the lead with a five-run, fifth-inning explosion and beat the Phillies, 8-5. The series then moved to Philadelphia, where San Diego dropped three straight to end its season. (Box score)

Rockies -- Oct. 2, 2018, NL Wild Card Game

A joyous 2-1 upset of the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 13 innings set expectations for future success that, so far, have not been met. (Box score)