American League Wild Card Series

3. Houston Astros vs. 6. Detroit Tigers

It’s been a very inconsistent season for the Astros, but alas they are here in October once again. 2B Jose Altuve and DH Yordan Alvarez were the most consistent bats throughout the season and even though Alvarez was a bit banged up towards the end, he’ll be ready for the Wild Card. Getting OF Kyle Tucker back just in time for the Postseason helps them as well. C Yainer Diaz had a career season and should be a stalwart behind home plate for the franchise going forward. The rotation has had a lot of injuries, but acquiring Yusei Kikuchi at the deadline was a gigantic boost. He went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA with Houston. Ronel Blanco and Framber Valdez had ERAs under 3.00 and Hunter Brown led the team in strikeouts with 179. Closer Josh Hader had an inflated ERA at 3.80, but still saved 34 games and struck out 105 batters. The experience factor is here for Houston, but the momentum might not be on their side.

They seemingly came out of nowhere except to their division rivals, mainly the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers want to make some noise and with their manager A.J. Hinch going against his former team in Houston, that adds an extra incentive. The eventual AL Cy Young winner in Tarik Skubal, who won the triple crown for pitching during the regular season, was a large part of why they are playing in October. Reese Olson was another solid starter for them, but their bullpen with Jason Foley saving 28 saves and Tyler Holton having a 2.19 ERA in 66 games was the story for this pitching staff. OF Riley Greene began to mold into a franchise cornerstone for the Tigers down the stretch. OF Parker Meadows has held down the center field position. 2B Colt Keith had a solid rookie season. If OF Kerry Carpenter and 1B Spencer Torkelson bounce back from injuries, this Tigers lineup will get a significant boost.

Astros in 3 games (best of 3)

4. Baltimore Orioles vs. 5. Kansas City Royals

It looked as though the Orioles would have the AL East crown in hand by the end of the season. However, they fell into a funk and had to make some adjustments on the fly. They took the top spot of the Wild Card with relative ease and now they must show they learned from last years Wild Card sweep. SS Gunnar Henderson and OF Anthony Santander were the big bats throughout the season and must continue that in the Postseason. C Adley Rutschman had a bit of a down year at the plate, but his prowess is needed to get the offense in a good place. 3B Emmanuel Rivera had a fantastic month for the Orioles and could see more opportunities as a result. The rotation had one consistent starter and that was Corbin Burnes. Injuries were mounting as the season wore on, but acquiring Zach Eflin was a good move to provide some stability. The bullpen began to take a fall and that resulted in letting Craig Kimbrel go. Yennier Cano and Seranthony Dominguez got the most save opportunities after Kimbrel, but they must be able to shut the door late in games with a lead.

The Royals have had an amazing turnaround this year from what they were last year as a team that lost over 100 games. Their pitching staff was completely redone and with Seth Lugo having a career year for them that proved to be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. Michael Wacha had a resurgent season with the Royals and his Postseason experience will be invaluable. Cole Ragans is quickly becoming a future ace with his career year. The Royals bullpen is a bit shaky and could be their undoing in a tight game. If Aaron Judge didn’t have the season he had, SS Bobby Witt Jr. would be the AL MVP this season. He has quickly become everything they had hoped he would be and then some. If he’s on his game, the Royals are a tough team to stop. C Salvador Perez wasn’t catching every single game for them like in years past, but he was healthy and his performance at the plate showed that. The same went for 1B Vinnie Pasquantino who drove in 97 runs and was consistently making contact striking out only 71 times in 496 plate appearances. C Freddy Fermin who was catching most of the time was masterful with this pitching staff and did well at the plate with a .271 average in 111 games. A lot needs to go right, but the potential is there to make a run having Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez playing the way they are.

Royals in 3 games (best of 3)

National League Wild Card Series

3. Milwaukee Brewers vs. 6. New York Mets

It wasn’t expected by most observers that Milwaukee would be in the Postseason let alone run away with their division. Their lineup had a balance that hasn’t been seen in quite some time. C William Contreras and SS Willy Adames were the big boppers and Adames driving in 112 runs was a revelation. Rookies Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz played up to their potential with Chourio a contender for the NL Rookie of the Year award. 2B Brice Turang was a menace on the base paths leading the team with 50 stolen bases. Closer Devin Williams returned at the perfect time converting 14 of 15 save opportunities. Trevor Megill was holding down the fort while Williams was out saving 21 games. Having two capable closers doesn’t hurt in October. The rotation has been up and down most of the year, but Freddy Peralta held down the top spot with a 3.68 ERA and 200 strikeouts. The Brewers bullpen will be relied on heavily and the lineup will need to carry them this time around.

It was shaping up to be a disaster at the start of the season for the Mets rotation. They managed to piece it together and with the likes of Sean Manaea and Luis Severino playing large roles in getting them into October. The bullpen was kind of on shaky ground going through September, but closer Edwin Diaz is healthy and looking to make a statement that he’s never been better. Speaking of healthy, SS Francisco Lindor returned at the right time and played an integral part in them clinching a playoff spot. 2B Jose Iglesias has been an unsung hero for them since his arrival in the middle of the season. OF Brandon Nimmo and 1B Pete Alonso were consistent run producers for them and 3B Mark Vientos has taken over the hot corner. The Mets played the Brewers near the end of the season, but it didn’t go well for them. This will be an interesting series to watch.

Brewers in 2 games (best of 3)

4. San Diego Padres vs. 5. Atlanta Braves

OF Marcell Ozuna has been carrying the Braves lineup all year long with a truck load of injuries that came their way. 1B Matt Olson has been there as well playing in every game like Ozuna has. OF Michael Harris has started to heat up heading into the Postseason and the return of 2B Ozzie Albies has provided a nice boost at the top of the lineup. OF Jorge Soler could be that spark again for them like he was in 2021 when the won the World Series with him being the MVP. Atlanta’s rotation saw its rash of injuries, but Chris Sale and Reynaldo Lopez were the best of the best. Sale was the triple crown winner for pitching in the National League, however he suffered a back injury just before the season ended and won’t be available for the Wild Card Series. Lopez will be available as will Spencer Schwellenbach who had a solid rookie season. Max Fried had a good year as well and will be relied on to get them a win this series. Closer Raisel Iglesias saved 34 games with a 1.95 ERA and will need to keep that pace in October.

Acquiring another closer in Tanner Scott was a wise move for the Padres. Robert Suarez saved 36 games for San Diego, but being able to get the right matchup with Scott gives them options late in games. Michael King and Dylan Cease were the best starting pitchers for them all season and being that this was their first season in San Diego it bodes well for this rotation going forward. The Padres strength was in their lineup with outfielders Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill both having 20-20 (doubles & home runs) seasons. OF Fernando Tatis Jr. has returned from injury and his presence makes the lineup even better. 3B Manny Machado makes another Postseason appearance and he provides protection for the top of the order. 1B Luis Arraez won a third consecutive batting title and his knack for making contact makes the rest of this lineup click. They pushed the Dodgers for the division title late, but being the top of the Wild Card is a nice consolation prize.

Padres in 2 games (best of 3)