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By Will Glover | October 5, 2024
The 2024 MLB Postseason is finally here! As the MLB postseason heats up, the remaining teams have one thing in common: each still holds onto the dream of raising a World Series trophy. From underdog stories to powerhouse franchises, every club has a path to victory, fueled by strengths that could propel them through the October grind. In this article, we'll dive into postseason predictions and explore why each team still standing has a legitimate shot at capturing baseball's ultimate prize. Whether it's deep pitching staffs, timely hitting, or sheer momentum, these squads are gearing up to make their final push toward championship glory. With that being said - let's dive in!
Kansas City Royals
+850 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Tommy Gilligan - Imagn Images
After silencing the Orioles' bats in the ALWC, it's hard to not like this Royals squad... only thing is, is that they are SUPER inconsistent. I'm not saying I dislike the Royals; however, they have been playing slightly below .500 since July, are super young, AND, of course, inconsistent. It doesn't help that their pitching staff is going to have to see Aaron Judge and Juan Soto for at least 3 games either. If I were a betting man (I am), my bets wouldn't be on Kansas City... the future is bright in KC though. Bobby Witt Jr. season is near!
New York Mets
+950 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Jason Szenes - New York Post
After a dramatic Game 3 comeback in Milwaukee (thank you Pete Alonso), the Mets are looking to shock the world and conquer their division rivals over in the City of Brotherly Love. Led by NL MVP candidate (he won't win), Francisco Lindor, the Mets are another example of high highs and low lows. Like Kansas City, these Mets have been incredibly inconsistent all season and at one point late in the year were fighting for a Wild Card spot with the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals... yikes. Fortunately for the Mets, they have played in games like this before... but so have the Phillies. I'm not saying the Mets can't beat the Phillies, but I just can't see a team like New York go into enemy territory and face off against a much more talented and deeper roster in the Phillies.
Detroit Tigers
+950 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan - MLB Photos via Getty Images
THEY LET THE TIGERS GET HOT!
I love watching this Detroit team play baseball. AJ Hinch is masterful with his gameplans, lineups, and game management and he has a team that is willing to buy into the "team-first mentality" that Hinch needs for this squad to be successful in October. May I remind you that the Tigers were actually sellers at the trade deadline, sending Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for a few of the Dodgers' top prospects. I'm not too confident they can take down their division rival just yet though... I think they're a year away from being something special. The Tigers have the pieces to make some noise here and now however, so we'll see what they can do against Cleveland in the ALDS.
San Diego Padres
+650 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Matt Thomas - San Diego Padres/Getty Images
They also let the Padres get hot. From here on out, these next teams all have serious World Series chances, San Diego is no different. Since the All-Star Break, the Padres have posted an ML-best 43-20 record. A team that isn't led by one true star - rather a plethora of elite Major Leaguers. The Padres are top 5 in pitching, defense, and offense this season and honestly, I should probably have them higher on this list. The only issue is that they are tasked with taking down Goliath over in Los Angeles. If the Padres can get past Ohtani and LA, then I wouldn't be surprised if they are best positioned to win their first-ever World Series Ring.
Cleveland "Guardians"
+850 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by John Kuntz - cleveland.com
The Guardians are an odd group. Besides Jose Ramirez, they are rather average at all positions (slightly above). I guess that works because it led them to one of the best records in the Majors this season and the Guardians are poised to strike in October. What separates the Guardians from the rest of the MLB is their dominant bullpen, led by Emmanuel Clase at the backend of that pen. When it came to bullpen dominance this year, Cleveland was far and beyond the best pen in baseball. If the Guardians want to win games in October, that bullpen will have to be ok with throwing 3 to 4 innings a night while allowing less than 2 runs per game... I believe it is very possible.
Philadelphia Phillies
+450 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Jose Luis Magana - AP Photo
Arguably the most experienced team in the postseason after the Astros were surprisingly taken down by a youthful Tigers squad, the Phillies know what it takes to win and they know how to get it done. The Phillies are an interesting team - they started the season out 1-4 and proceeded to go on an insane run up until the final game before the All-Star Break, which they lost to Oakland 3-18. After that loss, they have been middle-of-the-road and have been unable to find their stride. Never count out this team though... their pitching is great, and their offense is even better... PLUS, Kyle Schwarber can cut the lead for most postseason home runs in ML history (as I typed this sentence he just moved into 4th all-time, passing Derek Jeter at 21 homers... unreal). If there is a team that can get hot at any time, it's the Phillies. Oh... I forgot to mention that they still have Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and Trea Turner... give me the Phillies to match up against anyone in the league.
New York Yankees
+370 Odds via DraftKings
Photo by Adam Hunger - AP Photo
I don't know what to think of the Yankees. They have 2 of the 5 best players in baseball batting 2nd and 3rd at any given time; however, the players surrounding Judge and Soto have been mediocre at best... and you can't be "mediocre at best" in October. They have a solid starting pitching rotation and a great bullpen, but it seems that they just aren't that deep. I hope the Yankees can prove me wrong and deliver a legendary postseason performance because there is nothing I want more than an Aaron Judge World Series ring... well... maybe a Mike Trout World Series ring but that will never happen.
Los Angeles Dodgers
+350 Odds via DraftKings
Photo from truebluela.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers. MLB's Goliath. MLB's best lineup. MLB's best player. They have it all, don't they? Well... everything except deep pitching... which is crucial in October. I am still giving the Dodgers the best chance to win the whole thing this season - how could I not? They have the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani, they have Mookie Betts back, and they have Freddie Freeman healthy again... is there anything more they need? Not only do they have their original stars back and healthy in the lineup, the Dodgers also saw fit to snag a couple of former St. Louis Cardinals', who have plenty of valuable postseason experience. Tommy Edman and Jack Flaherty give the Dodgers that extra edge they need to win that extra game against the Padres and whoever else they play. I think this is finally the year that the Dodgers can escape the "Mickey Mouse ring" allegations and claim what is theirs.
Postseason Predictions
Now that I gave you my reasons for each team, I will give you my predictions with little to no explanation... (I am running out of time to post this and there are games already over/happening).
National League
NLDS
Padres vs Dodgers
Dodgers in 5
Ohtani is just too much for the Padres... the Dodgers' supporting cast steps up and helps overcome this red-hot San Diego team.
Mets vs Phillies
Phillies in 4
Cmon... it's the lolMets we are talking about here. The Mets are gonna Met again and that's all I need to explain here.
NLCS
Phillies vs Dodgers
Dodgers in 7
This is going to be a long October for Los Angeles and for the rest of the teams to be honest. We finally have a league that has so much parity, that I truly don't know who will win it all.
American League
ALDS
Royals vs Yankees
Yankees in 5
I believe this Royals team is very good... I am just not sure they can overcome one of the best one-two combos in MLB history. Baseball is a team sport, however, and if there is a team that can upset anyone, it's this Royals team. Gimme the Yankees anyway.
Tigers vs Guardians
Guardians in 5
As I am typing this, the Guardians have already won Game 1, 7-0. While I do see the Guardians winning the series, I don't think it will be in Game 1 fashion. The Tigers still have a Skubal W in their pocket and I am sure they can try to find a way to win 2 more games against their division rival. Will Skubal's victory be enough for the Tigers to move on? Probably not. Cleveland takes this one.
ALCS
Guardians vs Yankees
Yankees in 6
This will be a fun postseason. There is no clear favorite in any series in my opinion, and since there is no clear favorite, that means that we will have long, exciting postseason series against teams we actually want to watch play each other (Sorry Texas and Arizona)... oh also the Astros aren't in the ALCS for once... congrats, New York. With that being said, I'm not sure if the Guardians can score enough runs for their bullpen to win them games against New York. If the Guardians can manage to take the lead early in their games, this is a completely different story, but for now... give me Judge and the Yanks to take this and move on to their first World Series since 2009.
World Series
Yankees vs Dodgers
Dodgers in 7
FINALLY, WE GET THE MATCHUP WE HAVE WANTED TO SEE (I hope)! Not only is this a matchup of the two largest sports markets in the country, but this is also a matchup of the 2024 MVPs of each league. The two MVPs won't be the ones that make or break the series for each team though... like the NBA Finals, this will be a matter of: "Which second fiddle can't perform the best"? Luckily for the Dodgers - they have multiple second fiddles in their back pockets. They also have more postseason/World Series experience and they have a better manager too (ironically). Give me Shohei to hoist a World Series trophy not just for the city of Los Angeles but for the entire country of Japan!
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