The MLB playoffs this year have already been a thrill, and with eight teams left, I’ve got some strong feelings about who I want to see win—and who I definitely don’t. There are two teams I really don’t want winning it all, two that I’m rooting hard for, and one I’d be okay with seeing win again. My top picks? The San Diego Padres, New York Mets, and Cleveland. Those are the teams I’m pulling for in this year’s playoffs.
What’s interesting about this year’s Divisional Series is that only one of the matchups isn’t between divisional rivals, and that’s the Kansas City Royals versus the New York Yankees. While it’s kind of nice to see the Yankees back in the playoffs after being basement dwellers in 2023, I’m not exactly cheering for them to win another championship. Honestly, they’ve won more than enough in my lifetime! So, they don’t need another one in my book.
Now, let’s dive into the Tigers-Guardians playoff series. It’s an intriguing matchup, especially considering the surprising paths both teams took to get here. Neither of these teams were in playoff contention back in July, yet both fought their way into the postseason and sent the Minnesota Twins home early.
Starting with the Detroit Tigers, they haven’t been serious contenders in recent years and are currently in the midst of a rebuild. However, you can see the potential beginning to take shape. Young players like Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene, and Spencer Torkelson have given Tigers fans plenty of reasons to be excited. Greene has emerged as a standout with his dynamic defense and solid hitting, while Torkelson is starting to find his rhythm, showcasing the power that made him the top pick in the 2020 draft. It’s clear that the Tigers are laying the groundwork for the future, and every playoff series presents a valuable opportunity for these young players to gain crucial experience.
On the other side, the Guardians are known for their strong pitching, which has served as the backbone of their success this season. Although Shane Bieber is sidelined for the playoffs, Triston McKenzie has stepped up as a key performer, and Cleveland’s bullpen has proven to be solid as well. José Ramírez remains the heartbeat of their lineup, and in Game One tonight, they demonstrated that they might finally have enough consistent bats surrounding him to make a playoff run.
What makes this series particularly interesting is how it highlights the differing trajectories of these two teams. The Guardians are striving to maintain their competitiveness in the playoffs, while the Tigers are focused on developing their young stars and defining their identity for the future.
We cannot underestimate the Tigers in this series against their division rivals. With everything to gain and nothing to lose, they could pull off a surprise. Meanwhile, the Guardians are in a battle for every win as they fight to keep their postseason hopes alive. That’s the thrill of playoff matchups between division rivals—it’s not just about the standings but also about the intense rivalry and the exciting possibilities that lie ahead for both teams as they strive for glory.
Shifting gears to the Dodgers-Padres series, a matchup that’s got plenty of people talking. One big storyline is Shohei Ohtani. In typical fashion, he wasted no time making an impact, hitting his first postseason homer with the Dodgers right off the bat. Ohtani’s presence alone makes this series exciting—he’s the kind of player who can change the course of a game both on the mound and at the plate, and everyone’s watching to see what he’ll do next.
Now, the Dodgers being in the playoffs is nothing new. Since 2004, they’ve made the postseason 15 times. They’re a powerhouse, plain and simple. They won a World Series in 2020, and every year, it feels like they’re right back in the mix. But as dominant as they’ve been, it’s started to feel a little routine. You could say that for some, the Dodgers are becoming old news, and it’s time for a fresh face to shake things up.
Enter the San Diego Padres. Here’s a team that hasn’t won it all or been to the world series since 1998, and their fans are hungry—really hungry—for a championship. Over the past few years, they’ve invested in star players like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Xander Bogaerts, and built a team that’s ready to take down the Dodgers. Padres fans are tired of watching their team play second fiddle in the division and are itching for a deep postseason run.
This series is about more than just talent on the field—it’s about two teams in very different places. The Dodgers have been here before, again and again. They’re the established force in the National League. But the Padres are the up-and-coming team, full of energy and ready to prove they can finally go all the way.
If the Padres can pull off a win in this series, it would be huge—not just for their chances at a title but as a statement that they’re ready to take the crown from their long-time rivals. So, while Ohtani might grab the headlines, this showdown is shaping up to be one of the most exciting series we’ll see this postseason.
The Phillies-Mets series is shaping up to be another exciting matchup, especially considering the different trajectories these two teams have taken throughout the season.
Let’s start with the Mets. It’s no secret that they weren’t looking like contenders around the All-Star break. Despite a roster full of talent, things just weren’t clicking for them. The Mets made some bold moves in the offseason, hoping to build a squad capable of challenging for a championship, but inconsistency plagued them. By the midseason point, they were hovering around .500, and fans were questioning whether they had what it took to make a serious postseason run.
But baseball is unpredictable, and the Mets managed to turn things around in the second half. Pitching, which had been a weak spot early on, started to solidify, and their offense began firing on all cylinders. The resurgence of key players like Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor helped push them back into the playoff conversation, and now they’re here, ready to face the Phillies in a series that feels like it could go either way.
On the other side, you’ve got the Phillies—a team that’s been steadily building momentum all year. They’ve got a few former Chicago Cubs players that have made a significant impact on their roster, including Kyle Schwarber and Craig Kimbrel. Schwarber, in particular, has been a key piece for Philadelphia. His power at the plate and ability to come through in clutch moments have been huge for the Phillies, and it’s no surprise that fans in Philadelphia are thrilled to have him on their side. Kimbrel, as a seasoned closer, has brought a steady hand to the back of the bullpen, giving the Phillies a reliable option to shut down games.
After making it all the way to the World Series last year, the Phillies are hungry to get back and finish the job. They know what it takes to win in the postseason, and they’ve got the roster to do it. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and the rest of their lineup provide plenty of firepower, while their pitching staff, led by Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler, has the potential to shut down even the best offenses.
This series has all the makings of a classic, with two teams that took very different paths to get here. The Phillies come in with experience and firepower, while the Mets have the momentum of a second-half surge. It’s anyone’s game, and that’s what makes playoff baseball so thrilling.
Here’s the thing folks: However we turn things this year the NL Championship series is guaranteed to be east versus west and the AL Championship is likely going to be the Yankees versus Guardians. While it will be very interesting to watch it’ll also be quite a boring show if the Yankees get back to the fall classic.
With that… game two will be played in Los Angeles and Philadelphia on Sunday.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them.