The month of October has arrived, and with it comes the MLB postseason. Twelve teams will compete for the opportunity to etch themselves in history as World Series champions.
This postseason brings together a collection of young, hungry underdogs while also having star-studded powerhouses. The journey through the postseason is sure to be a fun ride, as games begin Tuesday afternoon.
Here is an overview of each playoff team and predictions for how they will match up throughout the postseason.
AL Wildcard Round
(6) Detroit Tigers vs (3) Houston Astros – Prediction: DET 2-1
The Detroit Tigers were one of the most surprising teams of the 2024 season by making the playoffs for the first time in 10 years. The team is led by AL Cy Young favorite and triple crown winner Tarik Skubal, one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball – he led the American League in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228).
The Houston Astros, on the other hand, will be led by their own stars in infielder Jose Altuve (.295/20/65) and outfielder Yordan Alverez (.308/35/86), and this will be the teams eighth consecutive postseason appearance.
The Tigers are flying high after their strong performances in the months of August and September, and I believe they will ride that momentum into a series win against the Astros.
(5) Kansas City Royals vs (4) Baltimore Orioles – Prediction: BAL 2-1
Similar to the Tigers, the Kansas City Royals were also a very surprising team this year, as their young core made great strides throughout the season. The team is led by AL MVP candidate infielder Bobby Witt Jr. who’s batting .332 with 32 home runs and 109 RBI, and an elite pitching rotation headlined by Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans.
The Orioles have an MVP candidate of their own in infielder Gunnar Henderson, who’s slashing .281/37/92, and he leads one of the best batting lineups in baseball with catcher Adley Rutschman and outfielder Anthony Santander.
Both teams are very close in talent, but the Orioles are slightly more experienced and have a more rounded lineup. I’m taking them to move on.
NL Wildcard Round
(6) New York Mets vs (3) Milwaukee Brewers – Prediction: MIL 2-0
The New York Mets season was a long and bumpy ride until the team caught fire towards the end of the season and clinched a playoff berth. The Mets are led by infielder Francisco Lindor (.273/33/91), and a solid pitching staff headlined by David Peterson.
The Milwaukee Brewers were the first team to clinch a postseason berth this season, following breakout performances from rookie outfielder Jackson Chourio (.275/21/79), catcher William Contreas and infielder Willy Adames.
The Brewers are an overall more rounded team than the Mets with a better batting and pitching lineup. The Mets’ story was fun this season, but it ends here.
(5) Atlanta Braves vs (4) San Diego Padres – Prediction: SD 2-1
The Atlanta Braves battled a ton of adversaries throughout the season to get to this point. The team suffered numerous injuries, including with their star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.
The Braves wield an elite starting pitching rotation with stars such as NL Cy Young favorite and National League triple crown winner Chris Sale (18 wins, 2.38 ERA and 225 K), Charlie Morton and Max Fried. Conversely, the San Diego Padres wield an elite batting lineup characterized by star play from infielder Manny Machado (.275/29/105), outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and infielder Luis Arraez, who led the NL this season in batting average.
This series could go either way, but the Padres lineup is just too deep and talented for the Braves despite their dominant pitchers. Padres move on.
American League Division Series
(6) Detroit Tigers vs (2) Cleveland Guardians – Prediction: CLE 3-1
Similar to the Braves, the Cleveland Guardians battled numerous setbacks and injuries to make the playoffs. Their starting pitching rotation was battered with injuries, including losing ace Shane Bieber for the season due to a torn UCL injury.
Despite the injuries, the Guardians went on to make the postseason in part due to their dominant bullpen, with key players such as Emmanuel Clase, who has emerged as one of the game’s best closers with an ERA of 1.67 and 302 strikeouts, Hunter Gaddis and Tim Herrin.
The Tigers matchup pretty well with the Guardians with a strong rotation and bullpen of their own, but the Guardians are slightly more experienced with better and more consistent batters. The Tigers’ magic runs out.
(4) Baltimore Orioles vs (1) New York Yankees – Prediction: NY 3-2
After a disappointing 2023 season, the New York Yankees built a “championship or bust roster” with star acquisitions like outfielders Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. The new-look Yankees are dominant throughout with star pitchers and batters, but the biggest element to their success is AL MVP favorite outfielder Aaron Judge who’s batting .322, with 58 home runs and 144 RBI.
The Orioles will have star batting power of their own with their strong lineup, but the difference in this matchup will be pitching.
The Yankees starting rotation is way more deep and talented, and outside of pitcher Corbin Burnes who has a 2.92 ERA with 181 strikeouts, the Orioles don’t have the pitchers to make up that difference. The Orioles go home.
National League Division Series
(3) Milwaukee Brewers vs (2) Philadelphia Phillies – Prediction: PHI 3-1
Similar to the Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies have a star-studded roster of their own with a loaded batting lineup and pitching rotation. The team’s lineup is headlined by outfielder Bryce Harper who’s batting .285 with 30 home runs and 87 RBI, infielder Trae Turner and infielder Alec Bohm, with pitchers like Zach Wheeler (2.57 ERA and 224 SO) and Aaron Nola (3.57 ERA and 197 SO) leading the rotation.
While the Brewers were a better rounded team than the Mets, the same can not be said for the Phillies. The Phillies possess some of the best talent in the league, and the Brewers are simply not on their level. The Phillies take this series with ease.
(4) San Diego Padres vs (1) Los Angeles Dodgers – Prediction: LA 3-2
Perhaps even more than the Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers went all in this season in the hopes of bringing home a championship. The Dodgers brought in DH Shohei Ohtani this offseason, and he has been a tremendous pickup as he currently stands as the NL MVP favorite with a batting average of .310, 54 home runs and 130 RBI. The team also has stars such as infielder Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and pitcher Jack Flaherty.
The Padres might be the only team in the NL who can keep up with the Dodgers offense, as the Padres lead the league in batting average.
However, the Dodgers rotation and bullpen are slightly better than the Padres, and because of that, I give the Dodgers the edge in this down-to-the-wire series.
American League Championship Series
(2) Cleveland Guardians vs (1) New York Yankees – Prediction: NY 4-2
If these two meet up in the postseason, it’ll be the fourth time since 2017. A somewhat intense rivalry has formed between these two teams since then, and it will be no different here.
The Guardians bullpen will keep the team within striking distance throughout most games this series, but the Yankees star power will be too much to overcome. Outside of infielder Jose Ramirez (.279/39/118) and outfielder Steven Kwan (.292/14/44), the Guardians lack the talent to truly test the Yankees pitchers.
Additionally, Cleveland’s injured rotation won’t be strong enough to fend off the Yankees’ elite batting lineup. The Yankees move on towards the big stage.
National League Championship Series
(2) Philadelphia Phillies vs (1) Los Angeles Dodgers – Prediction: PHI 4-3
These two teams matchup perfectly against each in regards to talent across the board. The Dodgers will find their edge on the offensive side, with contact hitters and sluggers across the lineup creating havoc.
On the other hand, the Phillies have the pitching talent to quiet the Dodgers batters.
I believe this series will go to the last game, but I will take the Phillies to edge past the Dodgers. In terms of pitching strength and depth, the Phillies can manage around the Dodgers’ batters just enough to squeak by. The Phillies advance.
World Series
(1) New York Yankees vs (2) Philadelphia Phillies – Prediction: PHI 4-3
This matchup will be a heavyweight bout for the ages.
The Yankees are trying to claim their first title in 15 years, while the Phillies are trying to claim their first in 16 years. Both teams feature numerous players that will be expected to come out and take over.
For the Yankees, Judge and Soto come to mind while Harper and Wheeler come up for the Phillies.
Similarly to the Dodgers, the Phillies’ pitchers will be in the spotlight attempting to slow down the Yankees’ sluggers, and in my opinion, the Phillies will accomplish this great feat.
In the previous postseason matchups, the Yankees didn’t play against strong and consistent starting pitching, and the Phillies will be their first true test on that front.
To cap off the 2024 MLB postseason, the Phillies etch their name in history as world series champions. Bryce Harper takes home not only the first championship of his Hall of Fame career, but also the World Series MVP award as well.
John Engoglia is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
