The 2024 Major League Baseball season has been filled with epic highs and lows for New York baseball fans, and luckily enough each fanbase got to see their favorite squad suit up for the postseason. For the first time since 2006, each team has advanced to the Division Series and given their faithful reasons to believe they might just go all the way. With their respective Division Series wrapping up this week, let’s lay down my vision for the next few weeks of playoff baseball for both New York teams. As of printing, each Division Series has played no more than three games, so we’re going to dive into the possibilities if each team makes it to the Championship Series.
The Mets Get Past Philly
If the Mets stretch their luck to defeat Philadelphia in the NLDS, you’ve got to agree that they have the legs to go all the way. From starting with a 0-5 record and excuses of a “pivot year” filling the media channels on Opening Day, the turn of momentum for this team has proven deadly for their foes in the NL East.
Taking two from Philly when away was a win. The “Red October” crowd would argue that their stacked roster is the greatest in the area, but the strategy and grit of these Mets allowed for some blue bleed into the mix. In every other universe, the Phillies crush the Mets without batting an eye, but the comeback-addicted bats from Queens are seemingly fueled by pressure and waited until Zach Wheeler was knocked out to start the offensive campaign.
Pete Alonso will either make or break the momentum going forward. His recent homer against Milwaukee that sent the Mets over the edge to the next round was what Mets fans have been picturing for him for years. When he does good, the Mets soar.
On the same end of the spectrum in terms of influence is Francisco Lindor, the MVP for at least the Mets this year. He’s another player who the fanbase has foreseen great moments for, and his second-half performance makes his 341 million-dollar contract seem like a steal if he keeps the energy going as this clubhouse’s leader. Not only has he been producing both with his glove and bat, but he’s been lifting up the younger guys in the clubhouse who have improved throughout this season.
From being buried in Triple-A by former manager Buck Showalter to batting a decent .266 with some insane clutch moments, Mark Vientos has broken out as the star of the ‘Baby Mets’. He’s learned to feed off the energy of intense situations and produce, and he’ll play a vital role in the Met’s playoff run going forward.
With that being said, if the Mets manage to win this NLDS, it has to be home. If the series goes back to CBP, consider it wraps. In the case of Philadelphia being eliminated, the Mets stand a fair chance going forward. After conquering their demons in Atlanta and sending the Phillies home with a useless 92-win season, the final boss wouldn’t be the Padres or the Dodgers, but the AL opponent that awaits them.
If up against the Dodgers, the injuries of LA would help the Mets tremendously, especially considering that the Mets don’t have an ace up their sleeve to tackle the top-heavy batting order. Freddie Freeman is playing through an ankle sprain that would normally need up to six weeks to recover from, Joe Kelly isn’t expected to play again unless it’s in the World Series and a good chunk of the pitching staff will be unavailable regardless. In a match of vibes vs vibes, the “OMG” crowd clears.
Against the Padres, the Mets would fight a tougher battle–especially on the mound. This is where the spirit of the Mets comes into play and the extremely tough energy of the Padres will give them a run for their money, but the Mets will still come out on top.
While the Mets remain without a star-starting pitcher, their rotation can get the job done in intense situations. Luis Severino recouped himself to become an integral part of the 2024 story so far, and Sean Manaea has become a clubhouse favorite for a not-too-shabby 3.47 era–all things considered. Kodai Senga can only get better as he faces more live batters and Edwin Diaz is slowly but surely getting his groove back to filling the bases but magically coming out on top.
To sum it up if the Mets make it to the World Series, it’d be in true roller-coaster fashion.
The Yankees Defeat Kansas City
On paper, the Yankees should have an easy path to the ALCS–and the World Series– at the very least. A lineup consisting of Juan Soto, Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Santon is lethal when they’re hot, but those bats have been cold as of recently. Talks of Judge ghosting in the postseason arose after he went 0-4 on Saturday, but five days rest can do that to anyone. It’s only a matter of time until the AL MVP favorite snaps out of the ice and reminds us why he is called the greatest hitter of our time– if he actually gets thrown strikes.
If up against Cleveland, the Yanks should be a little scared. Their pitching is a spectacle for fans of action on the mound, giving up the second-least hits in the regular season. Chipping away at opposing pitchers is what the Guardians do in their sleep, and it works as long as their defense holds off runs from scoring.
If the Tigers manage to come out on top over Cleveland, the Yanks should also be scared. The Cinderella story from Detroit is not something that should be underestimated. While the Yankees take losses with heads held high and the attitude of “taking it back” the next start, the Tigers have shown grit that proves it isn’t over until the end of nine innings. This difference in attitude could prove to be detrimental for the Yankees because the playoffs are no longer as common as they once were for the 27-time-champ franchise.
Interestingly enough, as of Tuesday morning, only the Guardians-Tigers series has had a shutout, with each team experiencing one a piece. If you can’t score a run in nine innings, you don’t belong in the playoffs. As long as the Yankees don’t crumble for no reason, they can make either team bend to their will.
Another layer to the projected Yankee success is the quieter guys waking up for the postseason hype. Alex Verdugo is .327 in the postseason in his career and has been batting consistently when the hotter commodities otherwise haven’t; if the Yankees go far, he has the capacity to be a driving force. Luke Weaver, the new closer for the Yanks, doesn’t fold to pressure as Clay Holmes has been; he’s kept all four save chances he faced in September with 25 strikeouts in 12 innings. The swap between those two pitchers alone was a magnificent move, and I see it paying off in the long run as Weaver faces more save opportunities when closing.
The Yankees should, in a perfect world, have a decent shot at the World Series; the Mets can deal with that as it comes. For now, the Metropolitans need to keep their heads down and take each series one game at a time, but they have the legs to go all the way and win it if they advance this round. A Subway Series World Series would be otherworldly, and with the Mets sweeping them in the regular season, the Yankees would have some unfinished business to settle.