The 2024 MLB postseason rolls on with the start of the best-of-five Division Series on Saturday. Three of the wild-card round series ended in 2-0 sweeps, with the Tigers, Royals and Padres having two days off to set their lineups and rotations for the next round, while the Mets needed three games to eliminate the Brewers.
Saturday's Game 1s are being played in Cleveland and New York (AL), and Philadelphia and Los Angeles (NL). Both National League Division Series will play Game 2 on Sunday, and both American League Division Series will continue with Game 2 on Monday.
Which teams will take an early lead en route to the league Championship Series? Follow along with live updates, highlights and more below.
The Phillies and Mets played two games on Saturday. The first was a Zack Wheeler gem. The Phillies starter mowed down the Mets lineup for seven straight innings, striking out nine and allowing only one hit. After a Kyle Schwarber leadoff homer, it was looking like that was all the Phillies would need, thanks to their ace and their stacked bullpen. Then that bullpen took over in the eighth inning and got ground into a fine paste. Jeff Hoffman (2.17 regular-season ERA), Matt Strahm (1.87 ERA) and Orion Kerkering (2.29 ERA) allowed seven straight Mets to reach base and/or drive in a run. By the end of the frame, the Mets were up 5-1, and Citizen Banks Park had gone from raucous to silent.
The Guardians took Game 1 in commanding fashion with a 7-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Cleveland started the game strong, with a five-run first inning highlighted by Lane Thomas' three-run homer. Thomas sent Reese Olson's first relief pitch over the left-field wall. Olson calmed things down over the next several innings, but the Guardians got to reliever Sean Guenther in the bottom of the sixth, when David Fry's two-run double extended their lead to 7-0. Guardians starter Tanner Bibee went 4 2/3 innings and allowed zero runs on four hits while striking out six batters.
Game 1 Recaps
Here's a look at the four Game 1s and how you can watch:
Guardians 7, Tigers 0 — CLE leads series 1-0
Mets 6, Phillies 2 — NYM leads series 1-0
Royals at Yankees: 6:38 p.m. ET — TBS
Padres vs. Dodgers: 8:38 p.m. ET — FS1
The Yankees and Royals have a long and storied history, dating back to the 1970s when the two teams were among the best in the American League. The two teams met four times in the ALCS between 1976 and 1980, with the Yankees winning the first three series before the Royals swept them in 1980. The rivalry was intense, with both teams playing with a level of passion and intensity that was rarely seen in baseball. The two teams have not met in the postseason since 1980, but the rivalry is being reignited this year with the Royals making a surprise run to the ALDS.
The Royals are led by Bobby Witt Jr., who has emerged as one of the best players in baseball this season. Witt is a dynamic player who can hit for power and average, and he is also a Gold Glove-caliber defender at shortstop. He is the face of the Royals' resurgence, and he is looking to lead Kansas City to a historic upset over the Yankees.
Witt has been a key player in the Royals' success this season, and he has continued his strong play in the postseason. He drove in the only run in the Royals' Game 2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles in the wild-card round, and he has now recorded two game-winning RBIs in his two career playoff games. The last person to plate the go-ahead run in his first two career playoff games was Jimmie Foxx — an inner-circle Hall of Famer who did it almost 100 years ago.
The Royals' turnaround this year is one of the most impressive in baseball history. They lost 106 games last season, but they have turned things around this year and are now looking to make a deep run into the postseason. They are hoping to create their own legacy, much like their neighbors at the Truman Sports Complex, the Kansas City Chiefs, who have been one of the most successful teams in the NFL in recent years.
The Return of a Rivalry
The Yankees and Royals' rivalry was defined by the legendary George Brett, the Royals' Hall of Fame third baseman, and the Yankees' fiery manager, Billy Martin. The two teams had a history of intense battles, including a brawl between Brett and Graig Nettles in 1977, and the Royals' victory in the 1980 ALCS.
Brett was the face of the Royals during their run of success in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was always a thorn in the side of the Yankees. He was known for his aggressive style of play, and he was never afraid to stand up for his teammates. Brett's passion for the game and his willingness to do whatever it took to win made him a fan favorite in Kansas City, and he remains one of the most beloved players in Royals history. The rivalry has been dormant for many years, but it is now being reignited with the Royals making a run to the postseason. The Royals are hoping to build on the legacy of George Brett and make their own mark on the rivalry.
The Royals are hoping to upset the Yankees in the ALDS, and they are hoping to create their own legacy. They are hoping to become the latest Kansas City team to come out of nowhere, introduce themselves to the world, and do exactly what George Brett seemed to do every time the Yankees and Royals got together — fight.
A Legacy Renewed
The Royals are hoping to make a deep run into the playoffs, and they are hoping to create their own legacy. They are hoping to become the latest Kansas City team to come out of nowhere, introduce themselves to the world, and do exactly what George Brett seemed to do every time the Yankees and Royals got together — fight.
The rivalry between the Royals and Yankees is one of the most storied in baseball history. The two teams have met in the postseason four times in five years, and they have always brought out the best in each other. It's been a while since the two teams have faced off in the postseason, but this year's ALDS series has the potential to be one of the most exciting in recent years. The Royals are looking to make a statement, and they are hoping to continue their run of success. Can they upset the Yankees and create their own legacy?
