The Wild Card sequence has come and gone and so far as the Nationwide League goes, we’ve been left with a pair of spicy divisional matchups which can be very prone to ship with regards to depth and drama. The San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers are getting fairly used to seeing one another within the postseason, whereas the Philadelphia Phillies are seeing a very completely different divisional rival within the NLDS for a change within the type of the New York Mets. Both method, every crew and fanbase might be simply as determined to keep away from giving their rivals postseason bragging rights as they’re hungry to easily get to the NLCS. It’s going to be enjoyable, so let’s discuss it.
San Diego Padres (93-69) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64)
In what’s changing into an even-year custom for these two groups (an even-year custom that their mutual rivals in Northern California would in all probability chuckle at whereas holding on to their three World Sequence trophies), the Dodgers and the Padres are as soon as once more assembly one another within the NLDS. Los Angeles made brief work of San Diego again in 2020, the Padres bought their revenge with a 3-1 sequence win over the Dodgers in 2022, and now it’s time to see who will come out on high on this intense trilogy.
So far as the season sequence between these two squads goes, the Padres could have gained the season sequence 8-5 however the Dodgers picked up the sequence win in September when the divisional title was on the road. The 2 Southern California rivals performed a three-game sequence from September 24 by means of September 26 and which began with the Padres down simply three video games within the standings after having been so far as 10 video games behind all the way in which again on June 18. The primary recreation went San Diego’s method after Jake Cronenworth powered the Padres to pay filth with a house run and a double that helped them win 4-2.
Nevertheless, the following two video games had been nonetheless must-win as they had been nonetheless down two video games with simply 5 video games left to play. The Dodgers took care of enterprise over the following two video games, as none apart from Shohei Ohtani got here by means of within the sixth inning of the center recreation with a go-ahead RBI single that broke the 3-3 impasse and introduced them to the eventual last rating of 4-3. That win introduced the Dodgers to being only one win away from choosing up their eleventh NL West title in 12 seasons.
Whereas the Padres didn’t roll over and truly managed the sport on September 26 with a 2-0 lead after six innings, the seventh inning was when the Dodgers broke out for 5 runs. Max Muncy crushed a homer to tie it up at two, Shohei Ohtani was as soon as once more accountable for the go-ahead RBI single after which Mookie Betts adopted it up with an enormous two-RBI single to present the Dodgers. Andy Pages closed the e-book on the 2024 NL West race with a two-run homer within the eighth inning to make it 7-2 and put Los Angeles fully out of attain. The Dodgers clinched the sequence that evening in entrance of their residence followers and primarily sentenced the Padres to the Wild Card sequence.
With that being stated, the Wild Card spherical proved to be no downside for the Padres, as they drew an Atlanta Braves crew that had discovered a technique to limp into the postseason. With AJ Smith-Shawver being thrown into responsibility as a substitute of an ailing NL Cy Younger Award candidate Chris Sale, it solely took the Padres seven pitches in Recreation 1 to take the lead after Luis Arraez hit a single after which Fernando Tatis Jr. launched one into the raucous seats in Petco Park’s left subject to make it 2-0. Michael King put the Braves in a stranglehold for seven innings after which Jason Adam and Robert Suarez each picked up in aid the place King left off by ending off the 4-0 shutout victory.
Whereas the Braves did present some life on the plate in Recreation 2, it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to get in the way in which of this Padres membership. Whereas Max Fried was capable of escape a first-inning jam, he would don’t have any such luck within the second inning because the Padres added two extra infield singles following a single from Luis Arraez and a game-tying homer from Kyle Higashioka. This time, Manny Machado made certain Fried wouldn’t have the ability to escape as he hit a double to left to make it 3-1 after which Jackson Merrill hit a triple to make it 5-1. This was the loss situation for the Braves who had an terrible document in 2024 in video games the place their opponents scored no less than 4 runs and the Padres accomplished the sweep to arrange their conflict with their rivals.
Whereas the Dodgers will definitely be favored to win this sequence and advance to the NLCS, it actually wouldn’t be surprising if the Padres pulled out the sequence victory on this one. Whereas each groups can mash as arduous as any crew that’s left within the event, the Padres have the clear edge with regards to pitching. All through the second half of the common season, San Diego’s pitching employees has had a collective ERA- of 85 with a FIP- of 87 and an xFIP- of 91. Comparatively talking, Los Angeles’ injury-plagued pitching has solely mustered up an ERA- of 103, a FIP- of 103 with an xFIP- of 100. That would find yourself being the distinction however on the identical time, you don’t need to short-sell on how amped Mr. 50-50 Shohei Ohtani might be to be lastly enjoying his first MLB Postseason video games. If it’s potential for one man to have a big final result on a baseball sequence, then Ohtani very effectively may find yourself being that man.
That is going to be a decent sequence the place the primary two video games is perhaps probably the most essential ones. If San Diego will get no less than a break up then I like them to shut it out at residence. If the Dodgers maintain serve at residence then I definitely like their probabilities to win no less than one in San Diego or take it within the decisive Recreation 5. The Padres are definitely clicking however I’m not going to select towards Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and the remainder of the Dodgers at this explicit time.
New York Mets (90-73) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (95-67)
In the meantime on the opposite aspect of the NLDS, now we have one other spicy matchup between two rivals who positively don’t like one another. So far as the Phillies are involved, going through off with a divisional rival within the NLDS is outdated hat. They booted the Braves out of the postseason two seasons in a row as a Wild Card crew and now they’ll be getting into in as a divisional winner for a change.
On the opposite aspect, the Mets have definitely accomplished issues the arduous method. New York’s second-half surge (which can or could not have been fueled by a sure purple quick meals restaurant mascot) culminated with a wild, hurricane-delayed doubleheader that befell on the ultimate day of the season — one which noticed them punch their ticket to Milwaukee with a dramatic win over the Braves. That Wild Card sequence ended up being a dramatic one as effectively, because it got here right down to the Mets being three outs away from elimination with Devin Williams on the mound.
As soon as once more, the Mets had been capable of proceed their surprising postseason run after Pete Alonso lastly got here to life and hit a large three-run homer to silence the group in Milwaukee and finally push the Mets to the NLDS for the primary time since 2015. The Mets have a pop star with a .382 BABIP for the season on this lineup. They only adopted a Playoff Pumpkin. The spirit of Grimace is continually floating round their presence. It is a enjoyable crew!
They’ll now have the prospect to knock off a Phillies crew that has been trying ahead to October since final October. Philadelphia exploded out of the gates at a livid tempo and whereas they didn’t go wire-to-wire within the NL East, they had been clearly the very best crew for the overwhelming majority of the season. Whereas Philly’s offense is often what electrifies Residents Financial institution Park round this time every year, it’s been Philadelphia’s pitching employees that has been the collective star of the present. With each the Braves and the Brewers now gone, the Phillies at the moment are getting into this postseason with the NL’s greatest pitching employees in line with ERA- (93), FIP- (additionally 93) and xFIP- (90).
Philadelphia can have their high arms arrange very properly for this sequence, as they’ll have Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez going so as. If this sequence finally ends up going 5 video games, they’ll have Zack Wheeler going for a second recreation. The Phillies can have the pitching benefit in each recreation this sequence and this ought to be powerful sledding for New York’s offense.
With that being stated, the Mets can no less than draw upon the truth that as a way to even get this far, they very lately took three-out-of-four towards the Phillies. This included a 2-1 win the place Tylor Megill and New York’s bullpen collectively out-dueled Wheeler. Nevertheless, the Mets and their highly effective offense gained’t get pleasure from going through a clearly-past it Taijuan Walker on this sequence — Francisco Lindor and the Mets might be going through Philadelphia’s hardest pitchers at full energy.
Whereas it wouldn’t be surprising if Lindor, Alonso, Iglesias, and Brandon Nimmo all managed to make one thing occur, I nonetheless suppose that it’s an extended shot that New York’s pitching employees will have the ability to maintain Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and the remainder of Philly’s nasty lineup quiet for this sequence. The Phillies are the favorites and I feel that we would need to get able to see them enjoying within the NLCS for a 3rd consecutive season.
