After an exciting week of games featuring come from behind victories and pitcher duels, the final eight teams of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season have arrived.
This weekend begins the League Division Series (LDS), a best-of-5 series in between the teams that had byes in the Wild Card series and the Wild Card winners. This year features two intra-division matchups, a trend that has occurred the last five postseasons. Here is the preview for each series and our predictions.
#5 Royals at #1 Yankees – American League Division Series 1
The first ALDS matchup features two teams with a lot of postseason past. The last time the Kansas City Royals played in New York in the postseason, they celebrated a World Series title in Queens after defeating the Mets in five games. After sweeping the Orioles in the Wild Card Series, the team looks to continue to play spoiler against the Yankees. Bobby Witt Jr. came through for the Royals against Baltimore, hitting the game-winning hits in each game.
The Yankees are led by slugger and AL Most Valuable Player front runner Aaron Judge. Judge hit a league leading 58 home runs, driving in a league leading 148 runs. He is joined by former World Series champion and phenom Juan Soto, who has dominated the league in his first season in New York. Soto hit 41 home runs of his own and drove in over 100 runs throughout the course of the season. The Yankees have been a dominant regular season team but that has not translated over to the postseason as they haven’t won the World Series since 2009.
Game 1: Saturday 10/5, 6:38 p.m., TBS
Jaden: Yankees in 5
Santino: Yankees in 4
#6 Tigers at #2 Guardians – American League Division Series 2
The gritty Detroit Tigers continue their Cinderella run and have quickly become America’s team. They were able to end the dynasty of the Houston Astros, the most hated team in baseball, by sweeping them in the Wild Card round. Now comes their toughest test as they have to take on the Guardians. On offense and on the pitching side, it was a team effort throughout. Infielder Andy Ibanez had the clutch hit in Game 2, hitting a bases clearing triple in the eighth off of Houston closer Josh Hader. Relief pitcher Will Vest had a big series for Detroit, pitching 2 2/3 innings in the series and nailing down the save in Game 2.
After a year absence from Postseason, Cleveland is back as the AL Central Division Champions. This season was powered by Jose Ramirez, who was one home run short of hitting 40 home runs, stealing 40 bases, and hitting 40 doubles (40/40/40), a rare accomplish in the MLB. Ramirez once again has played at an MVP caliber level and is a key part of this Guardians lineup. Ramirez and the offense are backed up by a dominant bullpen led by closer Emmanuel Clase. Clase has been absolutely filthy this season, posting a 0.61 earned run average (ERA) over 74 games. Clase also record 47 saves, which led the American League. Cleveland is seeking their first World Series title since 1948.
Game 1: Saturday 10/5, 1:08 p.m., TBS
Jaden: Tigers in 4
Santino: Tigers in 5
#4 Padres at #1 Dodgers – National League Division Series 1
The first NLDS matchup features two teams who have a lot of recent postseason history. In the 2020 postseason, the Dodgers defeated the Padres in 3, advancing to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) in a run that resulted in a World Series trophy. They matched up again in 2022, with the Padres coming out on top in 4 games and advancing to the NLCS, where they lost to the Phillies. Now it is Round 3 in between the two teams and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
For San Diego, they come off of a sweep of the Braves in the Wild Card Series. Michael King dazzled in Game 1 on the mound, striking out 12 batters in the outing. The bats also came alive with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Kyle Higashioka both homered in the series to help the Padres complete the sweep. Now they get set to play the Dodgers, a team who has dominated them in the past. But this year was different with San Diego winning the season series.
For the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani will be making his postseason debut. Ohtani, the greatest player of in baseball history, created the 50/50 club this season, hitting 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases. He signed with the Dodgers in the offseason to team up with former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in chase for a championship ring. Outside of this superstar core, the team comes in hobbled. Pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow will both miss the entirety of the postseason with injuries, lessening the strength of their pitching staff. The Dodgers are looking for their first title in a complete season since 1988.
Game 1: Saturday 10/5, 8:38 p.m., FS1
Jaden: Padres in 4
Santino: Dodgers in 5
#6 Mets at #2 Phillies – National League Division Series 2
Two big time rivals face off in the second NLDS matchup. The Mets, led by Francisco Lindor, come into Philadelphia after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in 3 games in the Wild Card Series. Pete Alonso, a free agent this upcoming off-season, hit the go ahead home run in the 9th inning with the Mets down to their final breath. The only problem is that the Mets don’t have anymore pitching available and they will have to go with Tylor Megill in Game 1 of the NLDS.
The Phillies kick off Red October at home against the Mets. The Phillies won the NL East for the first time in 13 years this season, en route to a first round bye. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both hit 30+ home runs this season, powering the Phillies offense. Zack Wheeler is scheduled to pitch Game 1 for the Phillies on Saturday. Wheeler has made an incredible case to win the NL Cy Young award this season, having the second lowest ERA this season in the NL.
Game 1: Saturday 10/5, 4:08 p.m., FOX
Jaden: Phillies in 4
Santino: Phillies in 5