After a chaotic Wildcard round that saw three road teams go in and advance to the division series, it’s time to preview the next round of the 2024 MLB postseason. As the field shortens to eight, these gritty wildcard teams will now have to take on the four best teams in the league to advance to the championship series round.
2. Philadelphia Phillies vs. 5. New York Mets
The first NLDS matchup offers us a rivalry on the side of the National League East. The Phillies have been a powerhouse all year, and took the NL East division comfortably.
The Mets on the other hand got their season together, and down to their final two games managed to clinch. Since they made the most of their opportunity, riding Pete Alonso’s go ahead home run to Philadelphia and the NLDS.
Impact Performers:
Philadelphia Phillies: Bryce Harper 1B, Alec Bohm 3B, Zack Wheeler SP & Ranger Suarez SP
The biggest name in this lineup is the obvious impact performer. Bryce Harper against the Mets has been great in 2024, hitting for a .298 batting average and a 1.027 OPS with four home runs. Alec Bohm, like Harper, has been great against the Mets in his 2024 All Star campaign.
Bohm’s hit for a .289 batting average with 10 RBI and 11 hits in 11 games against the Mets this season.
If the Philadelphia rotation can shut down the Mets batting order, one would think their lineup could provide the run support they need to win games. It starts with their ace Zack Wheeler. Against the Mets this season Wheeler only made one start, but it was a solid one going seven innings pitched while only allowing a pair of runs.
From the left side, Ranger Suarez has put together a few solid starts against the Mets this season. He’s recorded a 2.30 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched versus their NL East rival, with 13 strikeouts.
New York Mets: Pete Alonso 1B, Jose Iglesias 2B & Jose Quintana SP
After his heroics in the Wildcard round against Milwaukee, Pete Alonso is undoubtedly the Mets biggest impact bat in the lineup. Against Philadelphia this season, Alonso has hit .277 with three home runs, 25 total bases, and a .956 OPS in 47 at bats.
Pete Alonso’s heroics got the Mets here in this postseason, but Jose Iglesias was arguably the entire reason the Mets got to the postseason in the first place. The energy and influence he’s brought as well as his production has been everything the Mets needed and more. Against the Phillies, he hit .417 with 15 hits in 36 at bats for 21 total bases.
While Francisco Lindor is obviously a huge piece to this batting order, the impact these two have had against Philadelphia make them bigger impact performers coming into this series.
No Mets starting pitcher has done better against the Phillies than Jose Quintana. In three starts and 16 innings pitched, Quintana has recorded a 2.81 ERA while only walking two. If he can put together good starts along with Luis Severino, David Peterson, and Sean Manaea, then the Mets can make this a very tough series for Philadelphia.
Prediction: Phillies in 5
The Mets should and most likely will give the Phillies a tough time in this series. However on paper this Phillies team is just too good to get bounced in the first round. With Wheeler and the lineup of hitters they’ve assembled, they have everything they need.
The Phillies are built for October, and the fanbase at Citizens Bank Park might be too much for the Mets to overcome.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers vs. 4. San Diego Padres
The most interesting series in this entire postseason bracket, the top seeded Dodgers host arguably the most well rounded team right now in the San Diego Padres. While the star-filled lineup of the Dodgers has everything it needs to take this series, they’ll have to get through the Padres rotation.
The Padres rotation and bullpen can give this Dodgers lineup some trouble, and with an incredible offense of their own, should be able to come into Dodger Stadium and shock many. The matchup of Shohei Ohtani versus Fernando Tatis Jr. should be must watch television for the late NLDS game.
Impact Performers:
Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani DH, Mookie Betts UT & Evan Phillips RP
Coming off of his historic 50/50 season, Shohei Ohtani finally gets a crack at a postseason run. Against the Padres this season he was great, hitting for a .326 batting average with 15 hits and seven RBI. Ohtani’s totalled a .922 OPS in those 46 at bats.
Mookie Betts against the Padres this season has been just as productive as Ohtani’s been. In 11 games played against San Diego, Betts has hit for a .333 batting average, and an .885 OPS with 24 total bases.
The Dodger rotation has taken shots this season and much of their rotation is injured coming into the postseason. They still have Flaherty and Yamamoto but Phillips out of the bullpen needs to be an impact arm. Against the Padres this season, Phillips has a pair of saves and has recorded a 1.93 ERA.
San Diego Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. RF, Jackson Merrill CF & Yu Darvish SP
One of the biggest impact performers in the postseason period is Fernando Tatis Jr. In 11 games played against the Dodgers, Tatis has hit for a .350 batting average and a 1.072 OPS with three home runs. He’s been huge at shifting momentum in favor of San Diego already this postseason.
Another one of the brightest spots in this San Diego lineup comes from rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill. In 46 at bats against the Dodgers this season, Merrill has hit for a .348 average with 16 hits. His speed around the basepaths will be a known presence in this series as well.
Against Los Angeles, Yu Darvish has been an incredible starter. In three starts, Darvish has gone 15.2 innings pitched, recording a 1.72 ERA and only allowing three earned runs.
Prediction: Padres in 3
The Padres have the chance to get a sweep here based on the pitching matchups. No Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and Ohtani makes it very favorable for San Diego. If their starters can hold up and the offense gets off to good starts, this could be a very good series for the Padres.