The 2024 MLB playoffs are down to only 4 groups after an thrilling division sequence spherical noticed the New York Mets eradicate the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat their division rivals, the San Diego Padres, in an exciting win-or-go-home Recreation 5.
Now that the matchups are set — Mets-Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians–New York Yankees — it is time for some (extra) predictions! We requested our MLB consultants to weigh in on who will advance to the World Sequence, which gamers will earn MVP honors within the league championship sequence and the themes we’ll all be speaking about within the week to come back. We’ll even have our consultants clarify why their preliminary Fall Basic predictions are nonetheless in play — or went very fallacious.
LCS previews: Mets-Dodgers | Guardians-Yankees | Bracket
Soar to: NLCS | ALCS | Predictions we received proper | … and fallacious |
Nationwide League Championship Sequence
Los Angeles Dodgers (8 votes)
In what number of video games: Seven video games (2 votes), six video games (4), 5 video games (2)
MVP if Dodgers win: Shohei Ohtani (5), Mookie Betts (2), Teoscar Hernandez (1)
Who picked the Dodgers: Tristan Cockcroft, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Eric Karabell, Tim Kurkjian, Buster Olney, David Schoenfield, Xavier Scruggs
New York Mets (6 votes)
In what number of video games: Seven video games (4 votes), six video games (2)
MVP if Mets win: Francisco Lindor (2), Sean Manaea (1), Starling Marte (1), Brandon Nimmo (1), Mark Vientos (1)
Who picked the Mets: Jorge Castillo, Paul Hembekides, Tim Keown, Kiley McDaniel, Jesse Rogers, Jeff Passan
The one factor we’ll all be speaking about:
The Mets’ unbelievable experience to the World Sequence has included beating a division rival (Braves) to clinch their playoff berth, dismissing David Stearns’ former employer (Brewers) within the NL Wild Card Sequence, and eliminating one other division rival and NL pennant favourite (Phillies) within the NLDS. They’re going to add defeating the group Steve Cohen has overtly stated he has hoped to copy since shopping for the Mets earlier than bidding to overthrow their massive brother within the Bronx. — Castillo
As a lot early consideration as there will likely be on the Ohtani vs. Lindor showdown, in the end the main target goes to finish up on Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. Whether or not he makes good choices or not is just about irrelevant. Both the Dodgers come up brief once more, or they do not. This in fact isn’t honest, and beating the Padres helped, however Roberts is not out of the woods but. — Doolittle
Walker Buehler is again. It has been a battle in his return from a second Tommy John surgical procedure, however Buehler really regarded fairly good in Recreation 3 of the NLDS. He skilled one terrible, six-run second inning during which he was principally let down by his protection however nonetheless managed to get by the fifth, releasing up a bullpen recreation the next night time. Buehler loves this stage. And he strains up for Video games 2 and 6 at Dodger Stadium. He’ll ship. — Gonzalez
With the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, and listening to the postgame interviews of the Dodgers, how might anybody have ever questioned if they’d win? The gritty, gutty, respectful Dodgers work towards all disadvantages stacked earlier than them and win in 5. — Olney
With Freddie Freeman hobbled — presumably for the remainder of the postseason — the onus on Ohtani to supply atop the Dodgers’ lineup is larger than ever. After a robust Recreation 1 of the division sequence, Ohtani struggled. He will likely be squarely in the course of each dialog concerning the Dodgers, with the first query being: Can Ohtani carry the Dodgers to the World Sequence in his first season with the workforce? — Passan
Simply how unbelievable the trio of Manaea, Luis Severino and Jose Quintana proceed to pitch. They’re going to give the Dodgers suits – and we cannot precisely perceive how they’re doing it. — Rogers
Ohtani. We’ll be speaking concerning the 5 dwelling runs Ohtani hits within the sequence — together with the go-ahead blast in Recreation 7. — Schoenfield
American League Championship Sequence
New York Yankees (12 votes)
In what number of video games: Seven video games (5 votes), six video games (6), 5 video games (1)
MVP if Yankees win: Aaron Choose (7), Juan Soto (3), Gerrit Cole (1), Gleyber Torres (1)
Who picked the Yankees: Jorge Castillo, Tristan Cockcroft, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez, Paul Hembekides, Eric Karabell, Tim Keown, Tim Kurkjian, Kiley McDaniel, Jeff Passan, Jesse Rogers, Xavier Scruggs
Cleveland Guardians (1 vote)
In what number of video games: Seven video games (1)
MVP if Guardians win: Jose Ramirez
Who picked the Guardians: David Schoenfield
The one factor we’ll all be speaking about:
The primary Subway Sequence in practically a quarter-century will arrive with a juicy subplot: ALCS MVP Juan Soto going towards the workforce most everybody believes would be the Yankees’ competitors for his providers this winter. — Castillo
It doesn’t matter what occurs, the highlight will likely be on Aaron Choose. If he goes off, then it is how he overcame his postseason struggles. If he does not, it will be how these struggles have endured. I want this did not must be mentioned each single time the digital camera finds Choose in the course of the recreation, however solely he could make it cease. — Doolittle
This is one factor we will not be speaking about: Aaron Choose’s stoop. Very similar to he shook off a tough April to place collectively an MVP common season, Choose will emerge from a sluggish ALDS — during which he went 2-for-13 with one extra-base hit — to hold the Yankees into the World Sequence. — Gonzalez
How a lot can Stephen Vogt get out of his bullpen? The Guardians’ best power this season has been the impermeability of the late innings on account of an incredible group of relievers, and Vogt leaned on them closely. Cade Smith ranked fifth within the AL in innings pitched amongst relievers. Hunter Gaddis was sixth and Emmanuel Clase eighth. Vogt’s capacity to experience his aid arms will proceed to be the query concerning the Guardians till their season concludes. — Passan
How a lot cash Juan Soto goes to make. He’ll be key towards the Guardians righties in his finest playoff sequence thus far. That embrace a bunch of walks however, hey, getting on is getting on. — Rogers
How the vaunted Cleveland bullpen shut down Aaron Choose and Juan Soto to hold the Guardians to the World Sequence. — Schoenfield
World Sequence predictions we’re proper about — thus far
David Schoenfield: Hey, I had the Dodgers-Guardians firstly of the playoffs — when everybody else was leaping on the Padres bandwagon. Contemplating the Dodgers superior with out Ohtani doing a lot, it feels prefer it’s time for him to have a monster sequence to hold the Dodgers to the World Sequence — because the bullpen will do for Cleveland.
Kiley McDaniel: I had the Dodgers within the World Sequence, however the one downside is … I had them dropping to the Orioles. I assumed the AL was broad open and leaned towards youth, a deep lineup and an ace, whereas the NL mainly would play out chalk. I am higher at predicting prospects than the playoffs, particularly when the sequence are three- and five-gamers so far.
World Sequence predictions gone fallacious
Jorge Castillo: Astros over Phillies. I believed the Astros’ expertise and beginning rotation would carry them by the wide-open American League. Seems, neither issues a lot in a three-game sequence towards a red-hot workforce. As for the Phillies, who might’ve predicted their bats would disappear? Selecting towards the Mets is silly at this level.
Tristan Cockcroft: Padres over Yankees. Whether or not it had occurred within the division or championship sequence — heads up, MLB, you need to actually restore reseeding to the playoff bracket — Padres-Dodgers was a matchup I thought to be a top-notch league championship, and the Padres received shut — inside two runs within the deciding recreation. These Mets have impressed me in October, and it’d certain be enjoyable to forecast one other Subway Sequence, however too many of those feel-good playoff tales are inclined to run out of gasoline a bit upfront of the end line.
Alden Gonzalez: I had the Astros and the Padres dealing with off within the World Sequence, and neither superior to their respective championship sequence. Whereas arising brief, each groups emphasised an essential level about October baseball: Even the most effective offenses can go chilly in case you have detailed recreation plans and throw an assortment of high-leverage arms at them.
Eric Karabell: Clearly it was foolish to foretell a 2022 World Sequence rematch, so let’s go along with 1977, 1978 and 1981 as an alternative. Get pleasure from, traditionalists!
Tim Keown: Seems the Padres fell a few rounds in need of beating the Yankees within the World Sequence, as I predicted, however who does not love a Subway Sequence? It does not appear possible the Dodgers — regardless of their bullpen mastery within the NLDS — can cobble collectively sufficient pitching to win a seven-game sequence.
Jeff Passan: The much less stated about my World Sequence prediction the higher. I am going to depart it at this: I didn’t anticipate 4 relievers with a collective ERA of two.20 in the course of the common season — Carlos Estevez, Matt Strahm, Jeff Hoffman and Orion Kerkering — posting a 12.10 ERA within the postseason.
Jesse Rogers: My World Sequence choose — the Phillies — went out shortly, which suggests the workforce that beat it needs to be taken critically. And it helps that the $300 million Mets can play the underdog card once more just because they’re dealing with the Dodgers. I am going to additionally lean into this pattern: The workforce that has crushed Milwaukee within the playoffs at all times wins the pennant. That is the Mets.