MLB Divisional Round predictions
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The wild card round is now over for the Major Baseball League (MLB), and fans were treated to unforgettable finishes and improbable upsets. It is now time for the divisional round of playoff season, and we have four intriguing matchups on the horizon for fans. In the American League (AL), the stalwart Yankees will face an upstart and young Kansas City Royals team. The other series in the AL is between a gritty Detroit Tigers team and the reigning AL Central division winner, Cleveland Guardians. The National League (NL) features two rivalry matchups, with the New York Mets heading to Philadelphia to play the Phillies and a West Coast showdown between the San Diego Padres and the LA Dodgers. All four of these matchups will be tremendous, and in this article, we will preview each matchup to try and predict the winner of each series.
National League Division Series (NLDS): San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers:
This series features two very talented and well-balanced teams that don’t particularly like each other. These two teams last played each other only two years ago in the 2022 NLDS, with the Padres coming out on top with a 3-1 series victory. The Dodgers are hopeful that this year will be different, and it just might be, due to the potential impact of superstar Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani—the likely NL most valuable player (MVP) this season—is looking to make his mark in the postseason for the first time in his career. Ohtani isn’t without help as the star-studded Dodgers lineup features two more future hall-of-famers in first basemen Freddie Freeman and outfielder Mookie Betts. The Padres are coming off a dominant wild card round sweep of the Atlanta Braves. San Diego is driven by their dominant offense that features young stud outfielders Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. Their lineup is rounded out by savvy veteran infielders Manny Machado and Jurckison Profar. This series should be an instant classic, as both teams are incredibly even and capable of making a run in October.
Prediction: Padres in 5 games.
NLDS: New York Mets vs Philadelphia Phillies:
Similarly to the Dodgers and Padres series, these teams are notable rivals, and their fan bases share that disdain. The Mets have been on a magical ride this season and are coming off an improbable victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. New York will look to ride that momentum into this divisional series. Their lineup is led by shortstop Franciso Lindor, who has been the Mets' heart and soul this season. The Mets also feature a tremendous core of young players, including third baseman Mark Vientos, catcher Franciso Alvarez, and pitcher Kodai Senga. The Phillies are heading into the postseason with the league's best record and the number one overall seed. They came close to capturing baseball's ultimate prize in 2022 when they lost in the World Series, so they enter this season with plenty to prove. Star first baseman Bryce Harper and the rest of the team will look to lead the Phillies back to the World Series.
Prediction: Mets in 5 games.
American League Divisional Series (ALDS): Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians:
Two AL Central foes are coming to a clash in this divisional matchup. The Tigers are arguably the best story in baseball this season. They recently caused an upset in the wild-card round, ending the Astros' incredible run of seven straight ALCS appearances. Detroit is an interesting team composed mostly of young, inexperienced players. The Tigers, however, have shown they can’t be underestimated. Their pitching staff is the team's main strength and is led by likely AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The team's pitching must be excellent against a strong Guardians squad. The Guardians are coming off an excellent regular season. They are headlined by a versatile and deep lineup with one of the most dangerous hitters in the game, third baseman Jose Ramirez. The Guardians also have Emmanuel Clase, the best closer in the league this season. It will be interesting to see whether the Tigers continue their “Cinderella-story” run or if the Guardians will triumph over their division rivals.
Prediction: Guardians in 4 games.
ALDS: New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals:
This AL matchup reignites an old AL rivalry as the number one-seeded Yankees take on the young and talented Royals. The Yanks are led by superstar outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Judge is one of the game's best hitters and is undoubtedly the American League MVP this season. Soto has had an MVP-caliber season and has formed the game's best duo with Judge this season. Soto and Judge must be spectacular if the Yankees want to capture their franchise's 28 World Series. The Yankees pitching staff is also solid, with former CY Young winner Gerrit Cole and veteran lefthander Carlos Rodon amongst their ranks. The Royals have been one of the biggest surprise teams in baseball, and a lot of their success can be credited to budding superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals also have a strong pitching staff that will look to quiet the Yankees’ bats. This series should be an exciting matinee to showcase some of the game’s best talent.
Prediction: Yankees in four games.
No matter what happens in these series, it will no doubt be captivating to watch. October baseball never seems to disappoint, and this trend seems to continue this year. These matchups are incredibly competitive, and almost every team left has a great chance of winning. The unpredictable aspect of the MLB playoffs makes it one of the best postseasons in the sports world.