Division Series Set: Powerhouses, Underdogs, and Rivalrie...

The Major League Baseball postseason has narrowed to its final eight contenders, setting the stage for four electrifying best-of-five Division Series. Following a dramatic Wild Card round that saw surprising sweeps and the end of a dynasty's streak, the league’s top seeds—the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers—are rested and ready to face their challengers. In the American League, the 94-win Yankees will host the Kansas City Royals, who are riding a wave of momentum after reaching their first postseason since their 2015 World Series title. The other AL series features a gritty matchup between two Central division foes, as the Cleveland Guardians take on the upstart Detroit Tigers. The Tigers, who made an incredible late-season surge to end a decade-long playoff drought, have already proven their mettle by dispatching the Houston Astros, thereby ending Houston's run of eight consecutive postseason appearances.

In the National League, the drama is amplified by intense rivalries. The 98-win Los Angeles Dodgers, baseball's top team, will clash with the division-rival San Diego Padres. This series renews a contentious postseason history that includes a stunning Padres upset in 2022. Meanwhile, the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies will face the New York Mets in the first-ever postseason meeting between the two bitter rivals. The Mets battled their way through the Wild Card round, setting up a high-stakes confrontation with a Phillies team that secured a first-round bye. With a trip to the League Championship Series on the line, these matchups feature a compelling mix of baseball’s biggest stars, storied franchises seeking to end championship droughts, and underdog teams looking to write a new chapter in October lore. The action for all four series is set to begin Saturday.

Background: The Wild Card Gauntlet
The Division Series field was forged in a thrilling Wild Card round. In the AL, the Kansas City Royals swept the Baltimore Orioles, and the Detroit Tigers swept the Houston Astros, a result that stunned many and opened up the American League bracket. In the NL, the San Diego Padres swept the Atlanta Braves, marking the third straight year the Braves have been eliminated in their first round of the postseason. The New York Mets survived a tough three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers to advance, winning the decisive final game. These results underscore the unpredictable nature of the current playoff format, which saw three of four higher-seeded teams eliminated in the 2023 Wild Card round.
Historical Context: Rivalries Renewed
Several matchups carry significant historical weight. The Yankees and Royals will renew a classic playoff rivalry from the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the teams met in the ALCS four times in five seasons. In the National League, the Dodgers and Padres meet for the third time in the postseason since 2020. While the Dodgers swept the 2020 series, the Padres won in 2022 in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history, adding a layer of intensity to their 2024 clash. The Mets and Phillies will make history, facing each other in the playoffs for the very first time.
The Underdogs: Tigers and Royals
The American League features two compelling underdog stories. The Detroit Tigers ended the longest active playoff drought in MLB, reaching the postseason for the first time since 2014 after a remarkable 31-13 run to close the season. They are led by ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, who won the AL pitching Triple Crown. The Kansas City Royals are also making their first playoff appearance since winning the 2015 World Series, having become just the third team in MLB history to make the postseason after losing 100 games the previous year.
The Powerhouses: Yankees and Dodgers
As the top seeds, the Yankees (94-68) and Dodgers (98-64) earned a first-round bye and home-field advantage. The Yankees are in the ALCS for the fourth time in eight years but are seeking their first World Series appearance since 2009. Their path is notably clearer with the elimination of the Astros, who had knocked them out in their three most recent ALCS appearances. The Dodgers, meanwhile, enter the playoffs as the favorites to win it all, boasting a lineup with MVP candidates Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.
A Study in Contrasts: The Guardians' Path
The AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians present a unique case. The team rode a historically dominant bullpen to a division title, overcoming a frustrating offense and lackluster starting pitching. This unusual team construction has led to a historical comparison with the 1990 Cincinnati Reds, another team that leaned on a shutdown bullpen trio en route to a World Series title. However, analysts note the 1990 Reds had a much stronger starting rotation and a more balanced offense, making Cleveland's path a fascinating test of whether an elite bullpen can carry a team through October. The franchise is battling the longest active championship drought in baseball, having not won a World Series since 1948.
Key Players to Watch
The Division Series will showcase a galaxy of stars. The Yankees' offense relies heavily on Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, who were often the difference-makers during the regular season. For the Dodgers, the performance of their "big three"—Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman—will be critical. In the Tigers-Guardians series, the focus will be on the bullpens, particularly Cleveland's closer Emmanuel Clase, who had a dominant regular season but has struggled in past postseasons. The Padres' hopes may rest on their deep bullpen, anchored by closer Robert Suarez, and a potent lineup featuring Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.
Implications of the Bye
After 2023 saw three of the four teams with first-round byes get eliminated in the Division Series, questions arose about whether the long layoff was a disadvantage. However, the 2024 results have provided a counter-narrative, with three of the four bye teams from the previous year winning their series. This year, the Yankees, Dodgers, Guardians, and Phillies will test the theory again. The rest allows teams to align their pitching rotations and recover from the regular season grind, an advantage that top seeds believe is crucial for a deep playoff run.
Potential Future Developments
The winners of these series will advance to the best-of-seven League Championship Series. A Yankees victory would pit them against either the division-rival Guardians or the underdog Tigers for the American League pennant. A Dodgers win would set up an NLCS clash against either the rival Phillies or the Mets. For baseball executives, a potential Dodgers-Yankees World Series, a matchup that hasn't occurred since 1981, would be a ratings dream, pitting two of the sport's most iconic brands and biggest markets against each other.