When predicting the matchups, we should remember that history doesn’t always repeat itself, though it usually rhymes. Since the addition of the best of three wild card rounds, a six-seed has made it to the World Series. 

After an excellent Wild Card round to kick off October, MLB finds itself with eight teams remaining. Some surprises have popped up such as both six seeds making it past division winners like the New York Mets and the Detroit Tigers. We have ourselves some excellent matchups. 

The matchups that we have are the (6) Tigers and (2) Cleveland Guardians, (2) Philadelphia Phillies and (6) Mets, (4) Royals and (1) New York Yankees, and (4) San Diego Padres vs (1) Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers

American League Cy Young Award favorite, Tarik Skubal, is on a tear right now. Six scoreless innings and six strikeouts against the Houston Astros in game one of the Wild Card series. Not to mention his 2.39 ERA in the regular season. 

Cleveland is a factory of pitching and one of the most esteemed arms is closer Emmanuel Clase. He boasts a minuscule 0.61 ERA, 66 SO, and 47 saves all in just 74.1 innings. While the team ERA for the Guardians is 3.61 making them third in MLB. 

There is no doubt that this series will be gritty, low-scoring, passionate baseball, and it will come down to individual moments of brilliance. In the best-of-five format, I feel the underdog has the advantage of playing the potential winning game of the series at home if they can take one away game. That’s precisely what I think the Tigers will do. A combination of elite pitching and a hot team is pretty much all you need and the Tigers have been the hottest team in baseball since the trade deadline at 34-19.

Tigers win 3-1.

New York Yankees vs Kansas City Royals 

This series will come down to how effective New York’s bats be against the pitching of Kansas City. The Yankees have the most home runs in baseball this season in large part to outfielder Aaron Judge who had another impossibly historic season with 58 home runs himself. Fellow outfielder Juan Soto followed suit with 41 and designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton posted 27.

Kansas City has a plethora of starting pitching options that can go deep into games with the likes of Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, and Brady Singer who all had sub-4.00 ERAs this season. 

This starting pitching strength will allow Kansas City to beat the Yankees 3-2. The Yankees will take the first two games at home but after Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon, there is not a lot happening. Bobby Witt Jr. and the rest of this offense will make their mark this postseason.

Royals 3-2. 

Philadelphia Phillies vs New York Mets

A classic rivalry between two teams (and fanbases) that despise each other. If you just looked at their second halves the Mets would seem like the favorite to win this series. However, even with the recent success of the Mets, the Phillies are a better team on paper.

The star power of the Phillies will either win or lose the series. At spots Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Trea Turner have all had their struggles this season, they’re going to need to be on their A-game for Philly to have a shot. The pitching for Philadelphia will need to show up too; Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola will show up, it’s a matter of will everyone else.

The Mets are lacking in the star-power department with the exception of Francisco Lindor. Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos should make life hard for Philadelphia as well as pitchers Luis Severino and Sean Manaea. With all that taken into account, Philadelphia should still come out on top in a very hard-fought series.

Phillies 3-2. 

San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers

On paper the most entertaining matchup this is the most star-studded matchup out of the four series. Fernando Tatis, Manny Machado, and rookie sensation Jackson Merrill will look to beat the Dodgers for the second time in three years.

It seems pitching will be a nonfactor in this series as the Dodgers are without star pitcher Tyler Glasnow and the Padres are now without their ace Joe Musgrove. This is going to be a slugfest between the NL West powerhouses as the series will come down to who hit the best. 

In the regular season, Los Angeles went 5-8 against the Padres and I do think that is going to continue on. San Diego has also had the Dodgers number in postseasons of the past with a better team that included former Padre Juan Soto. The Padres will move on.

Padres 3-2. 

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