The 2024 MLB postseason is heating up with the Wild Card Series in the books. Eight groups stay after the Orioles, Braves, Brewers and Astros had been eradicated throughout the first spherical.
The ALDS and NLDS each begin Saturday with Phillies vs. Mets and Dodgers vs. Padres in the National League, and Yankees vs. Royals and Guardians vs. Tigers in the American League. Each workforce comes with its personal strengths and, for some greater than others, its personal weaknesses.
As such, your CBS Sports MLB consultants are right here to foretell how every of the best-of-five sequence will go. We'll depart the enjoying to the athletes. We simply get to do the judging.
Guardians vs. Tigers
Anderson: The Tigers are a enjoyable story, and they really outscored the Guardians of their head-to-head conferences. The potential impression of two Tarik Skubal begins should not be misplaced on anybody, both. I'm nonetheless going with the Guardians. I believe they've the higher lineup and I believe they've the higher general pitching employees (regardless of Skubal being the finest particular person starter). They're in all probability near a wash in protection, too. Anything can occur in a brief sequence, however consider home-field benefit and it is Cleveland for me. Pick: Guardians in 4
Axisa: I believe this will probably be a low-scoring sequence given the two offenses (each are solely so-so) and deep bullpens (each glorious), and, in the finish, the Tigers will come out on high as a result of Tarik Skubal will be capable to begin Game 5 on regular relaxation given all the off-days (three!) in the ALDS this 12 months. I see the Guardians and Tigers as fairly evenly matched. Yeah, Cleveland received six extra video games throughout the common season, however the workforce the Tigers have now is not the workforce that they had most of the season. The finest pitcher in the league winds up being the distinction. Pick: Tigers in 5
Feldman: The Tigers have the finest pitcher in the American League (fairly presumably in all of baseball) and are on the run of a lifetime. I do know we're alleged to fake the scorching hand is not actual however typically you simply get in a groove. Detroit is in a groove. Pick: Tigers in 5
Perry: Thanks to the two off-days constructed into the ALDS schedules, the Tigers can get two full-rest begins from ace and AL Cy Young favourite Tarik Skubal. He's the finest participant on this sequence, and it says right here that can make the distinction on this conflict of AL Central rivals. Pick: Tigers in 5
Pianovich: The most fun Midwestern best-of-five sequence you may fathom exterior a hand of euchre. Tarik Skubal is an ace. But José Ramírez is the proper bower. The finest offensive participant on this matchup may have sufficient moments that swing this sequence to Cleveland. Pick: Guardians in 5
Snyder: The Guardians have in all probability gotten a bit underrated right here as everybody seems to be to (rightfully) fawn over the Tigers for their current run, however the Guardians are a greater workforce and the additional relaxation plus the additional time off on this sequence means Stephen Vogt can lean awfully onerous on his stellar bullpen. It's higher and deeper than an excellent Tigers bunch. I'm going with 4 video games as a result of if the Tigers get it to Game 5, Tarik Skubal would get two begins this sequence and that will get dicey for Cleveland. Pick: Guardians in 4
Yankees vs. Royals
Anderson: Don't sleep on the Royals. Their pitching employees (Cole Ragans apart) could not have knockout stuff, however they throw the kitchen sink at you and it really works. They're additionally an excellent fielding membership and they've, in Bobby Witt Jr., the possible American League MVP Award runner-up. At the identical time, the Yankees have the expertise edge general, in my estimation, and I believe they will discover a technique to eke out this sequence en path to the ALCS. Pick: Yankees in 5
Axisa: So many nights this season, the distinction for the Yankees was that they had Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, and the different workforce didn't. I count on the identical right here. Bobby Witt Jr. is unimaginable, I believe he is the recreation's finest all-around participant, however he is just one man. Kansas City has had an actual robust time scoring runs recently — they've scored two runs or fewer in 10 of their final 13 video games! — and you may solely go up to now with this little offense. Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo will give the Royals a preventing likelihood, I do not suppose this sequence will probably be one-sided, however in the finish, the Yankees have Judge and Soto, and the Royals don't. The Yankees are my decide. Pick: Yankees in 4
Feldman: Bobby Witt Jr. is one in every of the finest gamers in MLB and in most conditions, I believe he is ok on his personal to present the Royals the benefit. Except the Yankees have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. I'd even be inclined to present Kansas City the edge in pitching, but it surely's not sufficient. Pick: Yankees in 4
Perry: I count on a low-scoring sequence because of the energy of the Royals' pitching and the weak point of the non-Bobby Witt Jr. parts of the Royals' lineup. For the Yankees, the Aaron Judge-Juan Soto uber-combo will come by way of at simply the proper moments. Pick: Yankees in 5
Pianovich: Bobby Witt Jr. is great, however the remainder of the Royals offense didn't precisely encourage confidence of their two-game sweep of the Orioles. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are about as a confidence-inspiring as a duo will be. Pick: Yankees in 3
Snyder: I consider the NBA individuals name this a gentleman's sweep. The Yankees are the much better workforce; in truth, the Royals had a shedding file once they did not play the White Sox this 12 months and solely managed three runs of their two wins over the Orioles in the Wild Card Series. The Royals have Bobby Witt Jr., however the Yankees have Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. The Royals have rotation, however at this level, so do the Yankees. Pick: Yankees in 4
Dodgers vs. Padres
Anderson: I perceive why different groups, the Padres included, have turn into a extra trendy choice to win the NL pennant. The Dodgers' pitching employees is beat up, and there's an plain sense of fatigue having seen this workforce compete for pennants each fall for a decade. This workforce remains to be actually harmful and able to stacking hits and runs in a rush. They gave 300 or extra plate appearances to 9 batters this season … eight of them had an OPS+ of 100 or higher. That's foolish, foolish stuff. Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamto could be accepted as high finish of a rotation for most groups — they only really feel much less formidable right here as a result of the focus is on who's lacking. And so on. No knock on the Padres, they're fairly good (and very enjoyable) as properly, however I've to go together with L.A. Pick: Dodgers in 5
Axisa: The Joe Musgrove harm actually hurts however I nonetheless like the Padres a tad extra right here. I believe their pitching employees even with out Musgrove is healthier high to backside — Dylan Cease and Mike King are the two finest beginning pitchers on this sequence in my view, and they each put on brown and yellow — and their offense is healthier than I really feel prefer it will get credit score for. They have energy, pace, contact, depth, you title it. I've this sequence going the distance. These two groups are inclined to play very enjoyable video games once they meet, and I hope we get 5 thrillers in the ALDS. Pick: Padres in 5
Feldman: This is the hardest decide for me, and I believe it may simply be the most enjoyable sequence of the spherical, possibly the whole postseason. The Padres' rotation is great, even with out Joe Musgrove, and man that offense can hit once they're on. But the Dodgers are simply so so good. Can you actually wager towards Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, not to mention Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty? I can not. Pick: Dodgers in 5
Perry: I actually like the manner the Padres' roster units up after the deadline and after some key gamers received wholesome. I believe it is very properly assembled for a deeper run and an upset of their rivals in blue. That's the case even with the uncertainty surrounding Joe Musgrove. As for the Dodgers, that lineup is able to burying anybody, however they only have too many accidents in the rotation proper now. Pick: Padres in 5
Pianovich: The Dodgers are at present on a six-game postseason shedding streak (a streak began with three straight losses to the Padres on this spherical two years in the past). The offense appeared like a shell of itself towards the D-backs final 12 months in the NLDS. They cannot exit like that once more after including Shohei Ohtani, proper? This ought to be a dynamite sequence, and I can see the Dodgers discovering a technique to out-slug the Padres 3 times. Pick: Dodgers in 5
Snyder: Here's the finest sequence this spherical and it may be insane. We'll see loads of lead modifications, together with late. Even with the Joe Musgrove elbow challenge, I like how the Padres arrange higher right here with their rotation and bullpen. You might even argue the Padres have a greater lineup, top-to-bottom, regardless of the Dodgers having Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts. There's simply a lot expertise right here, we deserve 5 action-packed video games. Hopefully that is what occurs. Pick: Padres in 5
Phillies vs. Mets
Anderson: I do know the Phillies scuffled at instances in the second half. I believe they're the higher workforce right here all the identical. Zack Wheeler is the finest pitcher remaining on the NL of the bracket, and the Phillies have a bonus by with the ability to relaxation and arrange their pitching employees precisely as they need heading into the sequence. That's sufficient for me to select Philly. Pick: Phillies in 5
Axisa: For me, the Phillies are the finest workforce in the NL, and they've had all week to line up their rotation and let their bumps and bruises heal. I'm merely choosing who I think about the finest workforce right here, and that is the Phillies, even when their opponent hadn't simply performed a grueling three-game Wild Card Series. Pick: Phillies in 4
Feldman: We've seen the Phillies play out of their minds in October earlier than and I've no cause to doubt that they are poised to do it once more. They've sat again for every week, rested up and received their rotation so as (sure, the bye week is a optimistic. Don't let anybody inform you any completely different). Everything is developing Philly. Except the Mets are the workforce of future. They're driving excessive on humor, whimsy and pleasure and my goodness if it is not working. Pick: Mets in 5
Perry: Speaking of rosters assembled for a deep October run, the Phillies boast simply that. As all the time, that first-round bye confers a aggressive benefit all else being equal. The lineup is balanced with a number of threats, the rotation has a formidable entrance finish, and the bullpen is deep. Anything can occur in the playoff, after all, however the Phillies are the finest workforce on this sequence. Pick: Phillies in 4
Pianovich: An upstart wild-card workforce from the NL East that appeared horrible for the first two months of the season however is now driving excessive on October vibes towards the NL East champion? We've seen this film two years in a row, and we all know the way it ends: the Phillies win. Pick: Phillies in 4
Snyder: The main concern I've with the Phillies is Ranger Suarez after he pitched to a 6.49 ERA in his final six begins, however he is the No. 4 at this level. If Suarez will get proper, the Phillies have 4 All-Star-caliber starters in entrance of a loaded bullpen and supported by a top-to-bottom harmful lineup. This group has loads of expertise with deep playoff runs and is additional hungry after falling brief twice. Pick: Phillies in 4
