2024 Wild Card Recap & Division Series Preview: Oct. 1 - Oct. 3
Recap of the Wild Card Round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs
We are now into the Division Series round of the postseason & the first round of the 2024 MLB Playoffs has concluded. With this, the number of teams left has decreased from 12 teams to 8 teams. In this special edition of MLB Weekly Recaps on The Leadoff Sports Report, a recap of the 4 different series, a roster moves recap, & a look into the Division Series will be discussed.
Series Recaps
(6) Detroit Tigers @ (3) Houston Astros
Going into this series, the Houston Astros were heavy favorites. Houston has made the past 8 postseason’s and their roster consisted of players who almost all had postseason experience, headlined by Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvaraez, & Kyle Tucker. On the other hand, the Tigers are one of the youngest teams in the league. Their oldest player on the postseason roster, was 31 year old, Andy Ibanez. However, most of the players for Detroit were around 25 years old & had no playoff experience.
Game 1: The first game of this series also kicked off the playoffs. The Tigers sent A.L. Triple Crown Winner & Cy Young favorite, Tarik Skubal to the mound vs veteran Framber Valdez. Detroit opened scoring in the top of the 2nd inning on an RBI single by Jake Rodgers. That hit was followed up by an RBI single by 24 year old, Trey Sweeney. Then, the Tigers scored their 3rd run of the game on another RBI single, this time by Matt Vierling. From here on until the 7th inning, Tarik Skubal was dominant, going 6.0 IP, with 6 strikeouts, 1 walk, & only 4 hits allowed. In the bottom of the 9th, Houston ended the shut-out with an RBI single by Yainer Diaz. However, it didn’t matter & Detroit took Game 1. Final Score: DET 3 - 1 HOU
Game 2: For Houston, Game 2 was to win or go home. Both teams had limited offense & good pitching + defense for the first 5 innings of the game. Then, Detroit’s Parker Meadows launched a solo homerun to right field which gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Then, Houston tied things up in the 7th on a fielder’s choice. Jose Altuve followed things up with a sac-fly that scored 2022 World Series MVP, Jeremy Pena from third that gave Houston a 2-1 lead. Then, in the top of the 8th inning, the Tigers tied the game after a wild pitch by Ryan Pressly allowed Kerry Carpenter to score from third. That was then followed up by a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded that cleared the bases, giving Detroit a 5-2 lead. Detroit’s bullpen then shut-down the Astros, eliminating Houston & allowing the Detroit Tigers to advance to the ALDS where they will face the Cleveland Guardians. Final Score: DET 5 - 2 HOU
(5) Kansas City Royals @ (4) Baltimore Orioles
This series was going to be a close one, even though the Orioles were favored to win. Both teams, are very young teams, Baltimore’s roster is topped with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, & Jackson Holliday while the Royals roster features Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasaquantino, & Cole Ragans.
Game 1: Game 1 of this American League Wild Card matchup was definitely a pitching duel. Cole Ragans vs Corbin Burnes was a great game. Ragans, making his postseason debut went 6.0 innings scoreless with 8 strikeouts, no walks, & only 4 hits allowed. Burnes on the other hand, went 8.0 innings, striking out 3, & walking one. The factor in this game however, was the earned run allowed by Burnes. This run came on an RBI single to left field by who else but Bobby Witt Jr. in the 6th inning that scored Maikel Garcia. Final Score: KC 1 - 0 BAL
Game 2: After a tight Game 1, Kansas City started the scoring early when Vinnie Pasaquantino hit an RBI single in the top of the first, giving KC a 1-0 lead. Then, Cedric Mullins launched a ball into the right-center field stands of Camden Yards, tying the game at 1-1. Later in the game, Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI single that was the game winning hit for Kansas City, for the second night in a row. Final Score: KC 2 - 1 BAL
(6) New York Mets @ (3) Milwaukee Brewers
This was a wild series. The NL Central Champions were going against the Mets, who hardly got into the playoffs but did well vs the Braves in a playoff atmosphere in Atlanta. Both teams also had struggled in the playoffs in the past few years. The question was, who was going to succeed this year?
Game 1: The Brewers opened scoring in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by William Contreras & a HBP with the bases loaded, giving the Brew Crew a 2-0 lead. The Mets responded in the top of the 2nd with a 2 RBI triple by former Brewer, Jesse Winker & a sac-fly by Starling Marte. Then, the Brewers regained the lead in the 4th with an RBI single by Jackson Chourio & an RBI groundout from William Contreras, giving Milwaukee a 1-run lead. In the 5th, the Mets got their lead back with hits by Jose Iglesias, Mark Vientos, & J.D. Martinez. Final Score: NYM 8 - 4 MIL
Game 2: In a game that could end in the Mets sweeping the Brewers, eliminating them from the playoffs, the Mets came out ready to play. In the top of the first, NY got the first run of the game after Brandon Nimmo hit an RBI single to right field. Suddenly, it was a tie game when 20-year old rookie Jackson Chourio hit a leadoff homerun. The Mets came back yet again in the 2nd with 2 runs off of a hit by Francisco Alvarez & a sac-fly by Francisco Lindor. In the 5th inning, the Brewers got back a run on a sacrifice fly from Blake Perkins. Then, in the bottom of the 8th, Milwaukee got back in the game with a bomb to right-center field by Jackson Chourio, his 2nd homer of the night. That homer was followed up by a hit & then a pinch-hit 2-run shot to center field by Garrett Mitchell. Final Score: NYM 3 - 5 MIL
Game 3: The only 3-game series of the Wild Card round, featured the Mets & Brewers trying to advance to play the Phillies. Both teams had a great pitching performance, leading to a scoreless game entering the 7th inning. However, Jake Bauers got the Brewers the lead in the 7th with a solo shot. The next batter, Sal Frelick hit another solo shot to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. With Devin Williams on the mound & 2 runners on, Pete Alonso hit a 3-run homerun that gave the Mets a 3-2 lead with two outs. After this, the Mets got another run with a single by Starling Marte that scored Jesse Winker, ending the Brewers season & allowing them to advance to the NLDS where they would face their rival Philadelphia Phillies. Final Score: NYM 4 - 2 MIL
(5) Atlanta Braves @ (4) San Diego Padres
This series was supposed to be at least relatively close, as it was the #5 seed, the Atlanta Braves against the #4 seed, the San Diego Padres. The question was how close would it actually be & who would come out on top?
Game 1: San Diego started this game with a boom when Fernando Tatis Jr. hit an absolute bomb to the second deck of the left field stands of Petco Park that gave S.D. a 2-0 lead early. In the bottom of the 2nd, Kyle Higashioka hit a sac-fly that scored Jake Cronenworth, giving San Diego a 3-0 lead. After this, the Padres rode Michael King’s incredible 7 inning, 12 strikeout performance where he walked none & allowed 5 hits into the 8th inning. This was where the Padres put the game away on a solo shot by Higashioka, giving the Padres a 4-0 lead. Final Score: ATL 0 - 4 SD
Game 2: This was a game that could determine the outcome of the Atlanta Braves’ season. Win & play game 3 on Thursday or lose and go home. The Padres had ace Joe Musgrove on the mound against veteran Max Fried. In the 1st inning, the Braves got their first run of the playoffs on a sac fly by Marcell Ozuna. Unfortunately fro San Diego, starter Joe Musgrove left the game in the 4th with an injury that will be discussed later. However, Kyle Higasioka hit his 2nd homerun in as many games, a solo homerun that tied the game up at 1 run in the second. This homer was followed up by a series of hits that included a 2-run double from Manny Machado & a 2-run triple from rookie Jackson Merrill. In the 5th inning, the Braves got a run back on a solo homerun from Jorge Soler before getting 2 more back in the 8th on a 2-run homerun from Michael Harris II. However, this late-game rally was not enough & the Padres advanced to the NLDS, eliminating Atlanta. Final Score: ATL 4 - 5 SD
Notable Roster Moves
New York Yankees (vs KC)
Injury Report:
OUT | 1B Anthony Rizzo (2 fractured fingers)
OUT | INF DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement)
OUT | LHP Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain)
IN | RHP Jake Cousins (Activated from IL)
Other Notable Roster Moves:
RHP Marcus Stroman left off of ALDS roster
OF Duke Ellis added to ALDS roster
Cleveland Guardians (vs DET)
RHP Alex Cobb activated from IL
RHP Nick Sandlin, RHP Pedro Avila, RHP Ben Lively, & INF Angel Martinez left off of ALDS Roster
INF Tyler Freeman added to ALDS roster
Kansas City Royals (@ NYY)
OUT | LHP Will Smith (back spasms)
OUT | RHP Hunter Stratton (right forearm flexor strain)
Detroit Tigers (@ CLE)
RHP Keider Montero added to Tigers ALDS roster
RHP Casey Mize left off of Detroit’s ALDS roster
New York Mets (@ PHI)
RHP Kodai Senga activated from IL added to NLDS roster
RHP Paul Blakcburn transferred to 60-day IL
UTL Jeff McNeil rejoining the team (right wrist fracture)
Philiadelphia Phillies (vs NYM)
RHP Taijuan Walker & OF Cal Stevenson left off of NLDS roster
LHP Kolby Allard & INF Weston Wilson replace Walker & Stevenson
RHP Spencer Turnbull not on NLDS roster, remains on IL
Los Angeles Dodgers (vs SD)
RHP Edgardo Henriquez & RHP Michael Grove on NLDS roster
OF Kevin Kermairer left off of NLDS roster
RHP Joe Kelly left off of NLDS roster (right shoulder discomfort)
OUT | Clayton Kershaw is out for the rest of the year with a bone spur in a left toe
RHP Brusdar Graterol may return this postseason (right shoulder inflammation)
San Diego Padres (@ LAD)
OUT | RHP Joe Musgrove out for the rest of the year, will need Tommy John surgery
SS Nick Ahmed left off of NLDS roster
LHP Matin Perez & RHP Alek Jacob added to NLDS roster
Orioles (Eliminated)
OF Colton Cowser broke his hand on a strike out during the ALWC, plans to be ready for Spring Training in February 2025.