Sports
How Every MLB Playoff Team Can Win 2024 World Series
Sep 21, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton (27) is congratulated by right fielder Juan Soto (22) after hitting a three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics in the third inning at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images So you’re telling me there’s a chance?
Yes, Detroit, I am.
And San Diego, Kansas City, Minnesota… even you, too, Seattle.
Just ask the Giants, the Royals, the Cubs, the Red Sox, the Nationals and the Rangers, all champions in the past decade.
The Yankees and Dodgers will go in as the favorites. That just means they have a chance. But so does every other team that gets in.
Here’s one big reason for optimism for teams that have clinched postseason berths or with a realistic shot at playing next week…
AMERICAN LEAGUE
New York Yankees: They have Aaron Judge; you don’t.
The record for home runs in a single postseason is 10 by Randy Arozarena of the Rays in 2020. Judge hit nine in one 10-game flurry this season. The postseason could run at least 22 games. You do the math.
Cleveland Guardians: They can bunt.
Remember small ball? It could come in handy as the weather gets colder in October. Nobody plays smallball better than the Guardians, who remarkably have a .677 batting average on bunts this season. Six-seventy-seven.
Houston Astros: They’ve been there, done that.
source: Getty Images The Astros have nine more postseason wins (62) than any other team during Jose Altuve’s 14-year career, 14 more (59) during Alex Bregman’s nine-year career, and 21 more (44) during Yordan Alvarez’s six-year career. It’s contagious.
Baltimore Orioles: They’re fun.
Let’s be honest: Wouldn’t you love to see Jackson Holliday’s first postseason hit? Gunnar Henderson’s first postseason triple? Adley Rutschman’s first postseason home run? This could be the next Altuve-Bregman-Alvarez. Stay tuned.
Kansas City Royals: They keep the ball in the ballpark.
The Royals have allowed the fewest home runs in the majors this season. Where they’ve been stingiest is in extra innings, where they haven’t allowed one all year. Remarkably, there was just one extra-inning game in last year’s postseason, and it was won with a homer.
Detroit Tigers: They have the ace.
Aug 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images You want to advance in the postseason? Win Game 1. Tarik Skubal is double-trouble for any opponent in a series opener. First off, he’s easily the best starter still standing in the American League. And secondly, he’s as likely as any pitcher to navigate seven innings and save the bullpen for another day, setting up future success.
Minnesota Twins: They’re healthy.
Royce Lewis has played just 76 games this season, Carlos Correa 82, and Byron Buxton 98. But their injury-riddled seasons have taken a turn for the sprightly of late. In the past week, Lewis played all seven games, while Correa and Buxton started six each. The key is Buxton; the Twins are 54-44 when he’s been able to climb the dugout steps this season.
Seattle Mariners: They know how to close out foes.
Nothing sabotages a series like a blown lead in the ninth. That’s less of a worry for the Mariners than most teams. They’ve allowed just 34 runs in the ninth inning all season. Opponents won’t want to see Andres Munoz, a vastly underrated closer who has allowed just 18 hits in 47 ninth-inning appearances this year.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Dodgers: They’ve got Shohei Ohtani… and more.
Sep 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) steals third base against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Remember when the Dodgers’ lineup was considered top-heavy? OK, it still is. With 118 RBIs out of the leadoff spot and a week to add to it, they are about to break the all-time record of 122 set by the 2019 Astros. But let’s give a little credit to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, who have scored the third- (73) and second-most (78) runs, respectively, in baseball this season.
Philadelphia Phillies: They handle good teams.
Not surprising given their recent run of success in the postseason, the Phillies have one of baseball’s best records this season against teams currently at .500 or better (50-40). If you’re going to be the best, you have to beat the best.
Milwaukee Brewers: They can run.
When your lineup is full of guys named Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz and Sal Frelick, there’s just one thing to do: Run. The Brewers have stolen way more bases than anyone else headed to the postseason, which helps explain how a team that’s hit the 15th-most home runs has scored the fifth-most runs. The Brewers are 70-34 when they’ve stolen at least one base this season.
San Diego Padres: They force the action.
Sep 14, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres infielder Luis Arraez (4) hits a double against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Luis Arraez struck out last week. It was big news. Here’s even bigger news: He has a bunch of teammates who are hard to strike out as well. No team whiffed less this season, and it’s not even close. How do you beat heavyweight pitching? By putting the ball in play.
New York Mets: They win on the road.
If a wild-card team is going to shock the heavyweights, it’s going to have to steal the home-field advantage. The Mets’ 41-34 road record, which includes a two-game sweep at Yankee Stadium and series wins at Los Angeles, Atlanta and Arizona, demonstrates they look good in gray.
Arizona Diamondbacks: They play defense.
The Diamondbacks committed no errors in their two-game sweep of the Brewers in the 2023 Wild Card Series, just one in their three-game elimination of the Dodgers in the National League Division Series, and just four in their 4-3 triumph over the Phillies in the NL Championship Series. This regular season, when they’ve committed seven fewer errors than any other team, they’re flashing the leather again.
Atlanta Braves: They play the game 21st-century style.
The Braves lead the majors in pitching strikeouts and rank fourth in batting home runs. No matter which aspect of the game dominates the postseason, the Braves have it covered.
Sports
Evander's hat trick, late PK winner give Cincinnati win over Chicago
May 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC defender Jonathan Dean (24) and FC Cincinnati forward Bryan Ramirez (29) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images Evander converted a penalty kick seven minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a hat trick and lift FC Cincinnati to a 3-2 road win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Evander collected a brace in the first half and then added his third goal for the late winner. A yellow card was issued to Chicago’s Dje D’Avilla for a foul in the box on Pavel Bucha, leading to the deciding penalty kick.
The winning goal came six minutes after Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers missed his own chance to complete a hat trick with a penalty-kick strike. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano (eight saves) made a huge save to deny Cuypers and preserve the 2-2 score.
FC Cincinnati (4-4-3, 15 points) won despite playing with only 10 men for most of the second half. Defender Kyle Smith was issued a straight red card in the 56th minute for an accidental kick to the face of the Fire’s Robin Lod.
Cincinnati is unbeaten in its last five (2-0-3) matches, including a 3-3 draw with the Fire two weeks prior.
The victory was Cincinnati’s first win in six road matches this season (1-3-2). FC Cincinnati are 5-0-1 in their last six trips to Chicago.
The Fire (5-3-2, 17 points) have held leads in all three of their losses this season. Saturday’s defeat ended a five-match (4-0-1) unbeaten streak for the home side.
After going scoreless in his first six regular-season matches, Evander now has five goals in his last four matches.
Cuypers has 10 goals in seven league matches this season, scoring at least once in every appearance. Cuypers’ three straight matches with multiple goals ties the second-longest brace streak in MLS history.
The forward started early Saturday, as Cuypers converted a shot that deflected off Smith and into the net in the 16th minute.
Shaky defending also aided in Evander’s equalizer in the 24th minute. During a scramble in front of the Fire’s net, Chicago center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a poor touch on a clearance attempt that put the ball right at Evander’s feet for the finish.
Cuypers completed the brace four minutes later, but Evander provided another quick response in the 31st minute.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Canes keep rolling, blank Flyers to open semifinal series
May 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) is congratulated by left wing Taylor Hall (71) and right wing Jackson Blake (53) after his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Logan Stankoven scored twice and goaltender Frederik Andersen collected his second shutout of this year’s playoffs as the host Carolina Hurricanes opened their playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-0 victory on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.
Jackson Blake scored once and added an assist for the Hurricanes, who followed a first-round sweep of the Ottawa Senators with a decisive victory to kick off the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series.
Andersen made 18 saves for his seventh career playoff shutout.
Mike Reilly collected a pair of assists.
Dan Vladar stopped 20 shots for the Flyers, who will attempt to regroup when the series resumes Monday in Raleigh.
The Hurricanes, who finished atop the Eastern Conference standings in the regular season, are yet to trail in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs and continued that trend thanks to their hottest player.
Stankoven tallied for the fifth consecutive game to open the scoring only 91 seconds into the clash. Reilly fired a point shot that Stankoven deflected into the net. Stankoven, 23, is the youngest player in history to score goals in five consecutive games to open the playoffs.
Stankoven has scored first in four of Carolina’s five playoff outings.
Blake doubled the lead six minutes later with a highlight-reel worthy tally. He zipped around the defenders before tucking home the puck for his second tally of the playoffs.
The Flyers had managed only one shot on goal at the point.
Stankoven gave the Hurricanes a three-goal edge late in the second period. After a turnover, Seth Jarvis fed a pass to Stankoven in the slot and he immediately buried the chance with 3:44 remaining in the middle frame.
From there, the Hurricanes cruised to victory, amidst a string of message-sending infractions by the Flyers and retaliatory actions from Carolina’s skaters.
After a handful of players were sent to the dressing room with misconducts just past the midway point of the final frame, things quieted.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mariners place INF Will Wilson (thumb) on 10-day injured list
Apr 25, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Will Wilson (7) reacts after hitting a two home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images The Seattle Mariners placed infielder Will Wilson on the 10-day injured list on Saturday because of a fractured left thumb.
The move was retroactive to Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Mariners recalled catcher Jhonny Pereda from Triple-A Tacoma.
Wilson, 27, played in two games and hit .200 (1-for-5) with a home run in his first at-bat for the Mariners in an 11-9 win on April 25 against the host St. Louis Cardinals. He may have been injured on Wednesday when he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in his second game this season, a 5-3 road victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The Los Angeles Angels selected Wilson in the first round (15th overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft out of North Carolina State.
Wilson, a second and third baseman, made his major league debut in 2025 with the Cleveland Guardians and batted .192 (15-for-78) with two RBIs and four doubles in 34 games. He signed as a free agent with Seattle in January.
Pereda, 30, has a career batting average of .241 with eight RBIs in 48 games with the Miami Marlins (2024), Athletics (2025) and Minnesota Twins (2025).
In other moves on Saturday, Seattle optioned left-hander Josh Simpson, 28, to Tacoma and selected right-hander Nick Davila, 27, from Double-A Arkansas.
–Field Level Media
Evander's hat trick, late PK winner give Cincinnati win over Chicago
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