The 2024 MLB Playoffs are right around the corner. As of Monday afternoon, nearly every first-round matchup is solidified — save for the National League wildcard spots. The Mets clinched a spot after beating the Braves in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Atlanta needs to win Game 2 to punch its ticket to the Fall Classic. If the Braves win, they’ll head to San Diego right after the game (with Game 1 of that series scheduled for tomorrow evening). This would then send the Mets to Milwaukee for a tilt versus the Brewers.
If the Mets sweep the doubleheader, it will be New York making the cross-country trip to San Diego. Atlanta would be eliminated, and it would pave the way for the Arizona Diamondbacks to nab the final playoff spot en route to a series with the Brew Crew.
When analyzing the landscape of the playoffs, the usual suspects figure to be big threats to win it all. We’re talking specifically about the Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, and Astros. Even the Padres are drawing a ton of hype based on a very successful second-half run. However, outside of those five, are there any sleepers worth looking into as possible World Series Champions?
In a word, yes. More specifically, both Central divisions have teams capable of making deep runs into the postseason. Let’s start with the National League. Milwaukee quietly is one of the best-run organizations in all of baseball. The scouting department is terrific, as is the franchise’s ability to develop players quickly. Even with Craig Counsell leaving for the Cubs, this team hasn’t missed a beat.
Milwaukee finished this year with the fourth-most wins in all of baseball — trailing only the Dodgers, Phillies, and Yankees. The Brewers also have the third-best run differential in the league. Jackson Chourio is one of baseball’s most promising young players. Willy Adames slugs just about as well as any shortstop in the game today. William Contreras is arguably the best catcher in the Big Leagues. You then factor in an elite bullpen, and this team is more than capable of making a deep run.
In the American League, three Central teams made the playoffs. Detroit rode an exceptionally hot end of the season to slide into postseason play. The Royals avoided a massive collapse down the stretch to cling onto a spot. From there, there’s the division-winning Guardians — a squad going about their business without much in the way of fanfare.
Detroit boasts arguably the best-starting pitcher in the American League (Tarik Skubal). While the starting lineup doesn’t have a ton of pop, the pitching staff — namely the bullpen — is very good. Manager AJ Hinch has been there before in postseason play and has a terrific pulse on his current time. You can say the same thing for the Royals, although the Tigers certainly don’t have anyone as gifted as Bobby Witt Jr., or as accomplished as catcher Salvador Perez.
Cleveland is the most complete team of the bunch. Jose Ramirez quietly had a monster year — clubbing 39 HRs and accruing 118 RBIs with a .279 batting average (he also stole 41 bases for good measure). Josh Naylor hit 31 HRs this year, and Steven Kwan is a legitimate table-setter atop the lineup. The pitching is also very solid. The bullpen is led by the nearly unhittable Emmanuel Clase. Relievers Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, and Tim Herrin all have ERAs under 2.00. With such a prolific bullpen, the Guardians can shorten games and win by manufacturing runs.
There’s always that one team coming out of nowhere to shock people. Last year, it was Texas winning the World Series. This year, could it be one of these teams?
