If someone had mentioned that the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals would be two of the eight teams to reach the Major League Baseball quarterfinals, they would have been frowned upon at the very least. It’s been 10 years since either team even sniffed the playoffs but here they are with a chance to grab the rings. Even the New York Mets are a surprise contender this year. But there is also a plea for MLB to consider re-seeding after the first round. There is no reason why the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres should be meeting so early. If the league had re-seeded, the top-seeded Dodgers would be facing the Mets.
As always, baseball is unpredictable so what will happen now that we’re heading into the home stretch? Here are a few ideas.
Los Angeles Dodgers Vs. San Diego Padres
This is a blood match. These teams have hated each other for the last five years since the Padres tried to go one-on-one in the spending category. It didn’t work out too well for the Padres until last year when the San Diego team ousted the Dodgers in this same round of the playoffs two years ago, when the Dodgers won 111 regular season games.
This year, of course, the Dodgers picked up their $70-million man, Shohei Ohtani, who has been everything advertised and more. Freddie Freeman had his usual solid year, and although injured for six weeks, Mookie Betts is rounding into form.
The bad news for the Dodgers is the implosion of their pitching staff. Tyler Glasnow was the ace most of the season but went down with a season-ending injury in August. The other highly sought after Japanese free agent was Yoshinobu Yamamoto and when he started with the Dodgers he was lights-out. But an injury in June sidelined him until late September. His few starts after coming off the IL were good but short. And now the Dodgers’ ace is Jack Flaherty, who they obtained via a trade with Detroit in July, was scheduled to start Game 1. He went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts with Los Angeles, but his last three starts have been shaky. So Dave Roberts switched him with Yamamoto.
For the Padres, their deadline acquisition this year is starting Game 1. Dylan Cease was rescued from the Chicago White Sox, who lost a major league record 121 games this year. Cease was their one bright spot and now he’s one of many for the Padres. And the top of the Padres’ payroll has been performing as expected with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado giving them their money’s worth. But the probable rookie of the year, Jackson Merrill and the improbably Jurickson Profar have given the club the extra boost.
This series will be won in the first two games. If Cease pitches like he can and silences the Dodgers bats, Game 1 could go to the Padres. Game 2 will feature pitcher Yu Darvish, who also recently returned from a long stint on the IL. If either team can sweep those games, this series is over.
BEST BET: Padres in 4 (+375 at BetMGM)
Sign up at BetMGM and receive the Best Sportsbook offers Today!
Philadelphia Phillies Vs. New York Mets
Are these the Miracle Mets? They squeak into the playoffs the day after the season ends and then stage a remarkable comeback in the 9th inning of Game 3 versus the Milwaukee Brewers to only get the honor of facing their hated rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies. Does it end here? Let’s take a look.
The Phillies won the eastern division of the National League for the first time since 2011. They lost in the NL Championship series last year to the Arizona Diamondbacks and are aching for another World Series appearance after losing to the Houston Astros two years ago.
The Phils probably have the best rotation of all the teams remaining. With Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, the team has an incredible 1-2 punch and in a five-game series, that means a lot. And with an explosive offence let by Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, it’s always a plus when players like Alex Bohm and J.T. Realmuto add to the power.
The Mets, meanwhile, are scraping by with their pitching. Former Yankee Luis Severino is probably their ace, with Sean Manaea and David Peterson following up. But after the Brewers series, that rotation is turned upside down. The starter in Game 1 is a surprise. Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga will take the hill for the first time since July 26 when he suffered a strained calf, and that was only his second 2024 appearance due to a shoulder capsule strain. But in 2023 he finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting and boasts a 2.99 ERA in 30 career starts. Undoubtedly he will be on a pitch count and will probably serve as an opener followed by pitchers like Tylor Megill and David Peterson.
The Mets hitters are led by Pete Alonso who clubbed that 9th inning homer to get into the division series. Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Jose Iglesias are the other not-so-powerful hitters.
If the Mets can steal one of the first two games in Philadelphia, they might have a chance. After all, they were left for dead before Alonso’s 9th inning heroics so who knows.
BEST BET: Philadelphia in 5. (+300 at Caesars Sportsbook)
New users can Get Your First Bet Back at Caesars Sportsbook. If your first cash bet loses, you’ll get it back as a Bonus Bet – up to $1,000.
New York Yankees Vs. Kansas City Royals
Shades of the 1970s and ‘80s. The classic series reached its climax in ’80 when the Royals, who had lost several times to the New York Yankees in the playoffs, finally dominated them to sweep the New Yorkers in three games, allowing only six runs total. They haven’t met in the playoffs since.
And if the Wild Card series in Baltimore is any hint, the Yankees might have trouble. Royals’ pitching shut down the mighty Orioles offense, allowing only one run in the two-game sweep. Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the winning run in both games, but otherwise the Royals offense looked anemic, with just enough to win.
Against the Yankees, it might rise up. Outside of 2023 Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, the staff falls off quickly. Marcus Strohman has only been pedestrian for the Yanks, and the solid Nestor Cortez is still on the injured list.
It’s the offense that drives the Yankees however. With Aaron Judge, who led all baseball in home runs (58), RBI (144), OPS (1.159), WAR (10.8), the Yankees have a dynamo. And when you add Juan Soto— .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 7.9 WAR—the dynamic duo drives the team. Additionally, Giancarlo Stanton has had a rejuvenated year and mid-season acquisition Jazz Chisholm brought energy to the third-base position.
For the Royals, pitching ace Cole Ragans, emerging talent Brady Singer and trusty veterans Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha provide a formidable rotation. Wacha is starting Game 1 because Judge has had a hard time hitting him. Ragans will come in for Game 2.
After Witt, the Royals offense sputters at times. Veteran catcher Sal Perez can always be counted on, but names like Yuli Gurriel, Paul DeJong and Hunter Renfroe don’t scare any opposing pitchers.
BEST BET: Yankees in 5. (+250 at BetMGM)
Sign up at BetMGM and receive the Best Sportsbook offers Today!
Detroit Tigers Vs. Cleveland Guardians
The Detroit Tigers are probably the Cinderellas of 2024. On August 11, they were 10 games out of the Wild Card spot and went on to have the best record in the sport until the final day. Defeating the Houston Astros by sweeping them in their own park must have been so sweet for Detroit manager AJ Hinch, the former Astros manager run out of town after the trash can scandal of 2017.
The Cleveland Indians, whoops, I mean Guardians, quietly went about their business this year, winning the AL Central by almost 7 games.
Leading Detroit is likely Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal who won 18 games and led the league in strikeouts with 228 with an ERA of 2.39. The kid was unstoppable this year and made the difference on this team. He’s slated to start Game 2 at Cleveland.
These two teams have played more than 2,300 games but haven’t played since Detroit went on its second-half tear. So the games should be interesting.
Game 1 starter Tyler Holton isn’t Skubal, but has a decent record—7-2, 2.19 ERA. He’ll face off against Tanner Bibee (12-8, 3.47 ERA). While the Guardians don’t have anyone to measure up to Skubal—Cleveland’s ace Shane Beiber went down early in the season—they have a superior bullpen led by lights-out closer Emmanuel Clase, who had a 0.61 ERA in 74 1/3 innings.
The name of the game in Cleveland is to score just enough runs to win and let the bullpen close the door on the opponents. Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, and Josh Naylor are the keys to the offense but if they don’t hit, the rest of the offense is anemic.
Detroit is very similar to Cleveland as they don’t have any superstars to lead the way. It’s a team effort and Hinch knows how to handle his bench. It seems that the Tigers have a different hero every game. But can they sustain it against the American League Central champion?
BEST BET: Tigers in 5. (+325 at Caesars Sportsbook)
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
