As the MLB playoffs come to a sparkling start, fans are expecting nothing less than electric energy over the next couple of weeks of action. The dynamics of the opening round matchups only propel excitement, as the wildcard rounds host several fierce pairings fighting to move on.
Taking a look at the American League wildcard rounds, we saw our October start off with the Baltimore Orioles vs. the Kansas City Royals, alongside the Detroit Tigers vs. the Houston Astros. With the Orioles’ red hot start in the spring, they were able to pull a 4-2 regular season record versus the Royals this year. Gunnar Henderson (leading with 37 HRs), Anthony Santander, Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle and Cedric Mullins are among the big names on the Orioles, with each having a season batting average over .230. As for their first-round rivals, Bobby Witt Jr. has been the Royals’ standout player, emerging as a potential MVP candidate. His extraordinary season is showcased in his diversity on the field, batting .332 with 32 home runs, 109 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. The Orioles’ inexperience came into play in this series, causing them to be swept after scoring only one run throughout the two-game series. The Royals will go on to play the New York Yankees in the ALDS, as the team works to hang their 28th championship banner at E 161st St. The Bronx Bombers are anchored by several key players, namely Aaron Judge (has both the most HRs and RBIs in MLB), Juan Soto (career-high 41 HRs in 2024), Giancarlo Stanton (experienced power-hitter) and Gerrit Cole (their reliable ace on the mound). With the Royals putting up a 2-5 record versus the Yankees this season, it’s hard not to pick the guys in pinstripes to move on to the ALCS.
The rollercoaster that is October baseball continued with the Tigers vs. the Astros. This matchup was a particularly interesting dynamic, as the Tigers and Astros function very differently as teams. Detroit has the youngest average age in the entire league (26), with their oldest player being only 31. On the other hand, the Astros had several seasoned veterans, namely Yordan Álvarez, Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker, all of whom have been consistent power hitters for the Houston team. These players are still regarded as top stars, despite all being involved in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal (let’s hope there’s no garbage cans at the stadium this year). Although the Astros ended with a regular season record of 4-2 versus the Tigers this season, they were promptly swept in the opening round; looks like these orange old-timers could not take the blue budding batters. This means our next round sees an intense divisional rivalry in the Cleveland Guardians vs. the Tigers, with their regular season head-to-head record being almost evenly split at 6-7. Some key Cleveland players to look out for include José Ramírez (MVP candidate), Josh Naylor (a seasoned playoff veteran), Andrés Giménez (a standout infielder) and Shane Bieber (the ace of the pitching staff).
Moving on to the National League, we had wildcard matchups of the New York Mets vs. the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves vs. the San Diego Padres. With the Mets barely squeaking into the playoffs with their win over the Braves last Monday, it was absolutely crucial that their key players step up to the plate (no pun intended). Mets fans looked at Francisco Lindor (short-stop and clutch hitter) and Pete Alonso (team HR and RBI leader) for power-hitting, while relying on Luis Severino (starting pitcher) and Edwin Díaz (star closer) for pitching stability. This Queens Quartet proved to be the better core against the Brewers, a quiet, yet evidently threatening team. This season, the Brewers were led by standout players, namely Willy Adames on offense and Devin Williams (dependent closer) on defense. Despite not having many household names, the Brewers held their own, finishing with a record of 5-1 versus the Mets this season. However, the New York powerhouse was able to pull a big win against the Brewers in their first faceoff, and ultimately win the series in three games. The Mets now go on to play the Philadelphia Phillies, their long-standing divisional rivals in the NLDS. Looking into the next round, we have huge names in Philadelphia including Bryce Harper (cornerstone of offense), Trea Turner (reliable hitter), Kyle Schwarber (power-hitting outfielder) and Zack Wheeler dominating the mound.
The other wildcard in the National League was equally as exciting, with the Braves taking on the Padres. With reliable pitching and powerhouse batters, the Braves continue to feature a talented roster led by some of the best players in the MLB. Do not underestimate the other side of this fierce matchup, however, as the Padres’ star-studded cast have proven to have consistent success. Some of the Padres’ most notable players include Manny Machado (a cornerstone at 3rd base), Fernando Tatís Jr. (who returned strong in 2024 after a turbulent 2023), Xander Bogaerts (a solid ex-Red Sox shortstop), Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove (both anchors in the pitching rotation). The health of these key players is undoubtedly essential for the Padres to continue. Despite their high-profile trade with the Yankees during the off-season in which they lost Soto, the Padres still have a strong core of talent that makes them competitive in the postseason. This became apparent in their two-game sweep of the Braves, allowing them to have the chance to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the next round. As one of the MLB’s most well-known teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers have proven to be a force to be reckoned with. With superstars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Clayton Kershaw, Luis Urías and Shohei Ohtani (who, believe it or not, has never been to the playoffs), they are bound to put up a tough fight against the emerging victor.
As October continues on, baseball fans everywhere are experiencing the highs and lows of America’s favorite pastime, while asking themselves what will happen next. Is it destined to be a Bronx vs. Queens matchup as both teams play their way to a Subway Series World Series? Which National League East rival will prevail among the Mets and Phillies? Baseball fans everywhere excitedly wait to have our questions answered, and to see what team will hoist the 120th World Series in their ballpark come the championship round.
