Sep 22, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Sean Burke (59) pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images Back in spring training, if someone had told you that three of the final four teams in the American League playoffs would all come from the same division, which division would you have guessed?
The AL East probably would have been the most popular choice. The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles were primed for great seasons; one team among the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays could have found a way to sneak into October.
Or maybe your mind would have traveled to the other side of the country and considered the AL West. After all, the Texas Rangers were the reigning World Series champions, the Houston Astros were strong, and the Seattle Mariners boasted a terrific starting rotation.
Would anyone have guessed the AL Central?
Sure, the Cleveland Guardians, that was feasible.
But the Kansas City Royals? The Detroit Tigers?
Leave it to the wild cards to create a wild postseason in the AL. The Royals and their emerging superstar, Bobby Witt Jr., will try to play spoiler against the heavily favored New York Yankees. In the other ALDS matchup, the Detroit Tigers will face a familiar foe in the division champion Guardians.
Which teams will advance to the ALCS? As the past month has proved, anything can happen.
Series No. 1: Kansas City Royals vs. New York Yankees
Aug 4, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Aaron Judge (99) singles during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports It’s safe to say that many casual baseball fans will be cheering for Kansas City, a heavy underdog whom few expected to make noise this season. It was just last year that the Royals went 56-106 and finished dead last in the division. Because of their unlikely success, the Royals have something working in their favor: zero pressure to win this series. Nobody thought they would be here. They can play loose and free.
That said, the Yankees are favored for a reason. They posted a 94-68 record and held off the Orioles for the division title, and they scored the third-most runs (815) of any team in baseball. By comparison, the Royals finished No. 13 in the big leagues with 735 runs.
A huge reason for the Yankees’ success on offense is Aaron Judge. The 9-foot-4, 576-pound (approximately) slugger hit .322 this season with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs and a mammoth .701 slugging percentage (these are real numbers this time, not approximate!). Teammate Juan Soto looked like an underachiever in comparison, even though he hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs.
Yes, the Royals have a little magic on their side. And Vinnie Pasquantino. But this is where their story ends, and there is no shame in falling short against the big hitters from the Big Apple.
Prediction: Yankees in 4
Series No. 2: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians
Sep 4, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan (38) at bat against the Kansas City Royals in the eight inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Do you remember those old parody videos that were meant to sarcastically promote Cleveland tourism? They always ended with the punchline, “We’re not Detroit!”
Those videos are still funny, by the way. Definitely worth going down a YouTube rabbit hole to find.
Anyway, the punchline does not land the same way that it might have in the past. That’s especially true when it comes to baseball, where the Tigers are a year ahead of schedule and might have more positive momentum than any team remaining in the playoffs.
On Sept. 6, the Tigers were 71-71, and the postseason seemed like more of a goal for 2025. But Detroit won 15 of the next 18 games to punch a ticket to the playoffs, and then A.J. “Clinch” took his team down to Houston and promptly knocked out the Astros on their home field in the wild-card round.
The Guardians are good, and it’s fair to point out that they won the AL Central by 6 1/2 games over Detroit and Kansas City. Jose Ramirez is a terrific hitter coming off a 39-homer campaign, Josh Naylor added 31 bombs, and Tanner Bibee and Ben Lively turned in solid seasons on the mound.
However, the Tigers’ recent surge is too strong to overlook.
Sorry, Cleveland, but you’re not Detroit.
Prediction: Tigers in 5
