By Beckett Wiswell
As the leaves fall and our calendars flip to October, America’s pastime enters playoff mode. Where heroes are born, and history is written. This year is full of question marks, including the absence of last year’s winner the Texas Rangers. So, let’s take a look at the matchups and see how the next couple months will go.
AL Wild Card: Tigers @ Astros
After a slow start the Detroit Tigers were able to sneak their way into the playoffs behind a 39 and 26 second half record. In fact, no American league team has been playing better baseball since the All-Star Break. However, the Astros are the closest just a game behind. The Tigers hot stretch has been led by a CY Young campaign from Tarik Skubal and an excellent bullpen. On the other side, the Astros have started to look more and more like the team that has dominated the AL in recent years. A much more formidable lineup that should create plenty of trouble for the Tigers other starters. However, baseball is a game of streaks and in October it so often comes down to who’s hot at the right time. The Tigers will get an excellent performance from Skubal in game one and from there the Astros bullpen will make enough mistakes to get the Tigers a second game. Tigers win in 3.
AL Wild Card: Royals @ Orioles
I’m not sure anyone could’ve seen three AL Central playoff teams coming, although I suppose thirteen games against the White Sox helps anyone’s chances. The Royals have Bobby Witt to thank for putting themselves in this position, but behind him and an aging Salvador Perez there isn’t much to fear in the Kansas City Lineup. The Orioles on the other hand are coming off a very disappointing showing in 2023. Getting swept by the Rangers in the ALDS and failing to earn a playoff win with the young squad. However, they face a much easier matchup this year and the inability to score runs will cost the Royals in the end. Orioles win in 3, 2 if the bats get hot.
NL Wild Card: Mets @ Brewers
The Mets snuck into the last wildcard spot after a wild win against the Braves in the first game of their double header to end the season. Lindor hit a game winning home run to continue what has been a phenomenal season. As a reward the get the NL Central winning Brewers who dominated their division. The Brewers have historically struggled come October despite dominating their division for years. However, this is a good matchup for them, and their ever-consistent pitching will get it done. Brewers win in 3.
NL Wild Card: Braves @ Padres
The Braves won the second game of the double header to take the final spot away from the Diamondbacks. It took a strong end to season to sneak their way in but as a result they get to face one of the hottest teams in baseball. The Padres are led by a stacked top of the order along with an incredible one two punch of Dylan Cease and Michael King. The Braves are happy to be here after losing Ronald Acuna for the whole season, but their postseason will end rather quickly at the hand of an elite lineup. Padres win in 2.
AL Division Series: Tigers @ Guardians
What a matchup this would be, two AL Central teams who’ve outperformed everyone’s expectations to be here. This was a season to remember for the Guardians thanks to the best bullpen in baseball. It certainly feels like if you’re losing after six innings you’ve already lost against them. Emmanuel Clase has undoubtably been the best pitcher in baseball giving up just five earned runs all season. The Guardians also have a more formidable lineup than the Tigers, led by a near 40/40 season from Jose Ramirez. However, the Guardians lineup lacks depth after Kwan, Ramirez, and Naylor. Runs are always hard to score in October, combine this with two tough matchups against Skubal and I think the lack of firepower comes back to bite them. Tigers win in 5 very low scoring games.
AL Division Series: Orioles @ Yankees
How about another division matchup in the Division Series? After an incredibly disappointing 2023 campaign the Yankees are back on top of the American League thanks to the blockbuster trade for Juan Soto. The Yankees have benefited from maybe the best season by two teammates since Gehrig and Ruth, but the rest of the team has had some struggles. Inconsistent starting pitching and the inability to find a sure fire closer has plagued them all season. However, the Orioles face a similar issue after they released legendary closer Craig Kimbrel. Neither team has looked overly solid to finish the season, but the Yankees are getting healthy at the right time. It’s hard to bet against the team with likely the three best players in the series, including last year’s CY Young Gerrit Cole. Assuming Aaron Judge can fix his postseason struggles, the Yankees should advance despite some wild games. Yankees win in 4.
NL Division Series: Brewers @ Phillies
This would be potentially the most overmatched we see a team this postseason. No offense to the Brewers but the Phillies have maybe the best all-around roster in the league. With four elite starters who all seem to rise to the occasion come October, they’ll dominate and make it back to the NLCS for the second straight year. Phillies win in 4.
NL Division Series: Padres @ Dodgers
What a phenomenal matchup this would be. Division rivals looking to bounce back after disappointing 2023 seasons. The Dodgers are of course led by Shohei Ohtani’s bat along with Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. You’ll be hard pressed to find any three-man lineup that dangerous. But the regression of many of the Dodger’s young pieces leaves them with an underwhelming lineup behind them. The Dodger’s made big moves to try and improve their starting pitching by signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto and trading for Jack Flaherty. Despite this, they have struggles against the Padres going 5-8 on the season. The Dodgers are consistently the most talented team on paper and yet have failed to meet expectations since winning the World Series in a shortened season. I expect it will be no different this year, the Padres ability to get on base and create runs with small ball will prevail. Padres win in 5.
AL Championship Series: Tigers @ Yankees
The American League comes down to the league’s best second half team vs the league’s best first half team. A battle between the CY Young and MVP. Aaron Judge is coming off maybe the greatest season by a right-handed batter ever with WRC+ that ranks only below Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Ted Williams. However, the postseason hasn’t been kind to Aaron Judge in the past. In fact, he’s only hitting .211 for his career, but it only takes one year to change the narrative. And he’s never had a hitter like Juan Soto hitting in front of him. The Yankees postseason lineup is filled with question marks, but the production from their top three hitters cannot be matched. Yankees win in 6.
NL Championship Series: Padres @ Phillies
There may not be two lineups that mirror each other quite like these two. The Phillies are led by stars in the outfield and plenty of known playoff performers. Last year we saw just how dangerous their lineup could be. Bryce Harper has 11 homeruns between his two Phillies postseasons. But he is not alone in his dominance in big spots. Trea Turner was just as impressive last year hitting .347 and slugging over .600. Pair this with the best rotation in baseball and the Padres are in trouble. Phillies win in 6.
World Series: Yankees @ Phillies
The last time these two met in the playoffs was also the Yankees last trip to the fall classic. It was an incredible series full of hall of famers on both sides and this time is no different. This time the Phillies are the more experienced team, and it will show early. The Phillies rotation was unbelievable in last year’s postseason, and we can expect to see the same this year. Where I think this series is decided is consistency. The Yankees have struggled with not only getting consistent offense, but consistent pitching as well. The Yankees swept the season series including a thrilling twelve inning victory. But I don’t see the same happy ending this time around. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto will put up a fight, but I don’t see them overcoming the issues plaguing their bullpen. Phillies win the World Series in 6.
Photo by: Gina Ferazzi