October is finally here, and it is playoff time in the MLB. The races in the NL and AL wild card came down to the final week, with the battle in the NL coming down to the Monday after the season. Games start on Tuesday, and baseball will be played all day. It is a treat for fans all around the world. Let's meet the contestants. 

American League

New York Yankees

Record: 94-68

First-round matchup: Bye

The Yankees are back in the postseason after a hiatus last season. It was all led by the effort of MVP candidate Aaron Judge. Judge was a terror this season and significantly impacted the Yankees lineup. While they are in the playoffs, this team has some flaws. 

They are very top heavy. With Judge and Juan Soto leading the hitting group, the pitching staff has struggled this season outside of Gerrit Cole. The bullpen is a mess for New York, and I don't know how that will play out in October baseball. New York rode a hot start to the season for most of the year, as they have played just around .500 ball in the last 80 games at a 42-38 record. It must be because of Judge and the hitting core if they want to go far in the postseason. I have my doubts, but on paper, the Yankees can play with anyone if they get hot at the right time.

Cleveland Guardians

Record: 92-69

First-round matchup: Bye

A surprise to many that the Cleveland Guardians were able to get over the departure of future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona. Stephen Vogt came in year one and has maintained the culture that Francona has had for years. They have had a great season, and it was all led by José Ramírez. The all-star third baseman has been one of the league's most consistent hitters, with 39 home runs this season. 

The pitching for Cleveland is profound, as usual. They have been dealing with some injuries, but the guys have stepped up, and they pose as one of the better pitching staffs in the league. Like the Yankees, Cleveland hit a bit of a wall toward the second half of the season, posting a 40-40 record in the last 80 games. With the bullpen performing at a high level and Stephen Kwan coming back from injury in time for the postseason, Cleveland is capable of a run. I just question if they have enough bats to do it. 

Houston Astros

Record: 88-73

First-round matchup: Tigers

You can never doubt Jose Altuve and the Houston Astros. After getting off to a horrible start, including a 7-19 record in April, the Astros have gotten back to form to take control of the AL West. The resilience of this team might be their most impressive trait. They have dealt with several injuries this season, including a broken shin from Kyle Tucker, resulting in him missing three months. 

Pitching was a big issue, but Houston addressed that at the trade deadline, acquiring Yusei Kikuchi, who has been outstanding since joining the team. This team knows how to win in October, they just have to make it. And now that they have done this, they are getting healthy and have the guys that can beat anyone. 

Baltimore Orioles

Record: 91-71

First round matchup: Royals

The Orioles had a disappointing performance against the eventual champion Texas Rangers last year. Now, Baltimore is back and ready to take the next step. Expectations were high coming into the season for the Orioles, emphasizing youth throughout the lineup. The hitting has been the bread and butter for the Orioles, with Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson both having all-star type seasons. 

What is going to stop this team from going far is the bullpen. They lack a closer on this team as the Craig Kimbrel experience did not work out. The hitters can play with anybody, but the bullpen and starting pitching are a bit shaky. That worries me because Baltimore is heading into October. 

Detroit Tigers

Record: 86-76

Round one opponent: Astros

The Detroit Tigers are the hottest team in baseball entering October. On Aug. 10, the Tigers were 55-63 and out of a playoff spot, even trading star ace Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers. From that point, the Tigers went on a 31-14 swing to make the playoffs. 

This team is led by ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, who has been outstanding this season for Detroit. Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene lead a hitting core that has been outstanding the past few months. The Tigers have a manager in AJ Hinch who knows what he is doing when it comes to October, and they are definitely capable of stringing together a few wins. Any team can go on a run. 

Kansas City Royals

Record: 86-76

Round one opponent: Orioles

The Kansas City Royals are back in the playoffs for the first time since they won it all back in 2015. The Royals are stumbling into the postseason, not playing their best baseball after losing seven consecutive games twice in the past five weeks. The story for the Royals this season has been the pitching staff. They rank as some of the best in the league, and that alone will give them a shot to go far in October. 

Offensively, they are led by MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. and veteran Salvador Perez. Witt Jr. has had an unbelievable season for Kansas City and already ranks as one of the best players in the league at just 24 years old. For the Royals to go far, they must rely heavily on their supporting cast. New additions Yuli Gurriel and Tommy Pham will have to be big pieces if the Royals want to make a run. 

National League

Los Angeles Dodgers

Record: 98-64

Round one opponent: Bye

No more excuses for Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has mostly a relatively healthy team and is the best player in baseball, Shohei Ohtani. 

The pitching staff has dealt with injuries all season but is finally getting healthy at the right time. Jack Flaherty was brought over at the trade deadline, giving LA an option, but all eyes are on Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He had to pitch to the ace level, which they thought he was when they signed him to a 13-year contract. Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts are healthy, and their lineup ranks as one of the best in the league. It depends on how Roberts manages the starting pitching and the bullpen.

Philadelphia Phillies

Record: 95-67

Round one opponent: Bye

This is the best year for the Philadelphia Phillies to reach the World Series and win it. They have the experience of losing in the 2022 World Series and losing last year in the NLCS. Most of the offensive production from both those teams is back, and the same goes for the pitching staff. They just have to go out there and execute. 

The Phillies will rely heavily on the long ball in October like they have all year. The pitching staff has been great thus far for the Phillies, and they will need them if they want to go all the way. The question the Phillies will face throughout October is if this team can play complete baseball. They rank in the bottom half of defense, and if the bats struggle, this team will have difficulty winning. Do or die for the Phillies.

Milwaukee Brewers

Record: 93-69

Round one opponent: New York Mets

Pitching must carry the Milwaukee Brewers if they want to make a big run in October. With a good bullpen, Milwaukee does not need to be great on the hitting side; they just can't have the bats go quiet like in years past. William Contreras is the best-hitting catcher in baseball, Willy Adames ranks as one of the better shortstops in the league, and 20-year-old Jackson Chourio is a franchise player who had a solid second half of the season and is looking to continue that into the playoffs. 

I wonder if the pitching can be enough for a team like this and if they can get the timely hits they need to move on. I just feel like they can run into a team juggernaut early on and struggle.

San Diego Padres

Record: 93-69

Round one opponent: Atlanta Braves

The 2024 San Diego Padres story has been a story of the stars. This roster is constructed with talent all over the place, and they have performed this season. This season, a lot was on the line for general manager A.J. Preller to put out a better baseball product than in years past. 

The bats are the name of the game for the Padres. Jackson Merrill has been outstanding as a rookie this season, Fernando Tatis Jr. is back and playing like one of the best players in the league, and Manny Machado is still one of the best in the game at third base. Throw in Luis Arraez and his strikeout streak, too, and this offense can be lethal. All the pieces are there to make a deep run in the playoffs for San Diego to reach the team's first World Series since 1998. 

New York Mets

Record: 89-73

Round one opponent: Brewers

The Grimace Mets have split against the Atlanta Braves and clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2022. This was an unreal season for Carlos Mendoza and the New York Mets. Many teams didn't expect this team to do anything and thought this would be a transition year after a disappointing 2023 season. 

Francisco Lindor is playing at an MVP level and headlines an offense that has picked up the slack from a lackluster pitching staff in 2024. The Mets have all the tools of a team that can make a playoff run. The hitting core can play with anybody and the team has a very top-heavy bullpen. Can Grimace take the Mets far in October?

Atlanta Braves

Record: 89-73

Round one opponent: Padres

The Atlanta Braves sneak into a wild card spot after winning game two of the doubleheader on Monday to clinch a playoff berth. For all of the injuries Atlanta has had this season, it is a miracle they are even in the playoffs. From Robert Acuna Jr. going down with an ACL injury early in the season to Austin Riley being out for the season and Ozzie Albies missing months with an injury, the Braves have limped their way into a playoff spot. 

The pitching staff has been excellent this season; without the ace of the crew, Spencer Strider. Chris Sale is returning to his Cy Young form and has been outstanding this season for Atlanta. This team will go how far their bats will take them. Injuries will hold this lineup back, but Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna are still hitting at a very high level. Atlanta has guys that can play with anybody, which is a dangerous team for October baseball. 

Official World Series prediction: Phillies over Astros

It just seems like everything is lining up for the Philadelphia Phillies to go on a run and bring a World Series back to Philadelphia for the first time since 2008. The Phillies have been the most complete team of the 2024 season. The lineup is highlighted by Bryce Harper, who put up another outstanding season, hitting 30 home runs. This team is going to live and die by the long ball. The pitching staff and bullpen have been impressive this season, and there isn't a weakness on this team. 

As for Houston, they are poised to go on a playoff run. They know how to win in October. It is as simple as that. They are finally getting healthy and have one of the more complete rosters in the MLB. I give the slight edge to Philly here, provided that they have been the most consistent team in the league this season and they have been playing some perfect baseball lately. 

---