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ALWCS 1: Astros over Twins
ALWCS 2: Royals over Orioles
NLWCS 1: Braves over Brewers
NLWCS 2: Diamondbacks over Padres
Wild Card Series Notes
– Yankees, Guardians, Dodgers and Phillies have first-round byes
– The Twins are looking to win their first playoff series since defeating the Oakland A’s in the 2002 ALDS. Since then, they’ve lost 10 consecutive postseason series. We have that streak falling to 11 at the hands of the Astros, one of the most experienced postseason teams ever.
– Back in the postseason for the first time since winning the 2015 World Series, the Royals ride the excellent pitching quartet of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Brady Singer and Michael Wacha to an upset of the Orioles, whose pitching is leaking oil currently.
– Will the Braves have enough healthy hitters to compete in a seven-game postseason series? Perhaps not. But some combination of Chris Sale, Max Fried and Reynaldo López will be dangerous enough to help them upset the Brewers in the NLWCS.
– It’s possible that this ends up being the best series of the postseason. It’s a shame it would only be four games. Both teams have played excellent ball since the All-Star break, but Chase Field is such a quirky stadium that it’s hard to go into and win two out of three. Edge, Diamondbacks.
ALDS 1: Yankees over Royals
ALDS 2: Astros over Guardians
NLDS 1: Dodgers over Braves
NLDS 2: Diamondbacks over Phillies
Divison Series Notes
– The Yankees are looking to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 2019, a lifetime in terms of that franchise. Kansas City probably has better starting pitching, but not enough to get by Judge and Soto.
– This would mark the eighth consecutive season that the Astros reached the ALCS. For as much as there is to like about Cleveland’s bullpen and lineup, they don’t have the starting pitching to make a deep run.
– If any team has the number of the Phillies, it appears to be the Diamondbacks, particularly at Chase Field. The Phillies lost two of three games in Phoenix during the NLCS last year. The Snakes took three of four from the Phillies at Chase Field in August, outscoring them 30-14.
– While it’s fair to be hesitant about the starting pitching of the Dodgers and Dave Roberts’ squad in October in general, there’s enough working against the Braves that they might not have enough to upset Los Angeles in 2024.
Talkin’ Yanks @TalkinYanks
Aaron Judge is absolutely unreal. Are you kidding me??? pic.twitter.com/QDdhkbBTPN
ALCS: Yankees over Astros
This, of course, would be a loaded ALCS matchup given the hatred between the two fan bases, and in some cases, even the players on the teams.
Seven years after the Astros won this matchup—under what we’ve since learned were questionable circumstances—Judge and Soto will power the Yankees to an AL pennant.
Truthfully, though, it’s reasonable to have questions about the starting pitching depth of both teams. But the best pitching team in the AL, the Mariners, is likely to miss the playoffs. Of the teams in the postseason, the Royals might have the best starting pitching, but enough lineup questions that they might be a year away.
NLCS: Diamondbacks over Dodgers
The Diamondbacks upset the Dodgers in the NLDS a year ago. Granted, the Dodgers didn’t have Shohei Ohtani or Teoscar Hernández yet, but Arizona is quite a bit better too. Among those now in the picture for the Diamondbacks are Joc Pederson, A.J. Puk, Josh Bell and Adrian Del Castillo. Jake McCarthy has also had a breakout second half.
If at least one of Eduardo Rodríguez or Jordan Montgomery can get going, Torey Lovullo will have quite the rotation when you also factor in Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt.
Could the Diamondbacks really win two consecutive NL pennants? Yes.
Talkin’ Baseball @TalkinBaseball_
JAKE MCCARTHY WINS IT pic.twitter.com/45Rqu7rtJI
World Series: Diamondbacks over Yankees
In 2002, the Giants reached the World Series led by the incredible one-two punch of Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. The Yankees have a similar duo in Judge and Soto, which will be enough to get them back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009.
However, the Giants lost the 2002 World Series in seven games, and that’s what we’re projecting will happen to the Yankees. And just like in 2001, it will be at the hands of the Diamondbacks.
Arizona doesn’t have a Randy Johnson-Curt Schilling duo atop their rotation this time, but if their pitching staff is healthy, they can go game-for-game with anyone. There’s less certainty in New York, where you’re still not entirely sure how good Cole is right now and there are real questions about any of the candidates—Luis Gil, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodón and Marcus Stroman—to pitch after him in the series. For as great as Judge and Soto are, Aaron Boone’s squad might be too top-heavy to come away with World Series No. 28 this year.
The Diamondbacks don’t necessarily have a superstar, given that Corbin Carroll has had a disappointing second season. However, Carroll has performed much better since the All-Star Break, and there’s a lot of really good around him in the lineup, particularly if Christian Walker returns from a left oblique strain in the postseason.
In a year where there probably won’t be a 100-win team, it’s particularly difficult to predict a World Series winner. The Diamondbacks are a team playing very well right now and have the right mix of pieces to win in October.
