2024 AL Wild Card preview

October has finally arrived, and for baseball, that means it’s time for the MLB Postseason. While this year’s AL Wild Card will see a couple of returning teams to the playoffs, there are also a few new squads that have joined the dance.

Astros vs. Tigers

The Astros will be returning to the MLB playoffs for an eighth consecutive season after winning the AL West division once again. However, this year’s team has a different feel to it.

For one, future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander was not included on Houston’s roster this year in a move that not many saw coming. While Verlander has struggled this year with a 5.48 ERA, leaving him off the roster completely was unexpected.

The Tigers however roared into the year’s postseason red hot. After winning sets against the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit has come out of nowhere to throttle themselves into contention.

Detroit’s ace, Tarik Skubal, wound up winning the Triple Crown in the American League leading in ERA, wins, and strikeouts.

During the regular season, the Astros defeated the Tigers four times out of six. However, the teams have not matched up since June. With that being said, both clubs are in a much different spot than they were the last time they met.

Orioles vs. Royals

After winning the American League East division last year, the Baltimore Orioles find themselves in the Wild Card round this time around. The Orioles have gone the full season without star closer Felix Bautista. Without him, the team’s bullpen ERA has jumped from 3.55 last year, to 4.22 this season.

Last season the Orioles failed to win a game in the playoffs, being swept by the eventual World Series Champion Texas Rangers.

However, this year’s team has seen improved starting pitching, through the acquisitions of Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin. Behind them, they’ll be looking to win their first postseason game since 2014.

As for Kansas City, they haven’t played October baseball since 2015, when they won the World Series. Behind a good veteran pitching staff, and MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals have reemerged.

While they did cool off towards the end of the year, Kansas City is built to win games in the playoffs. The team posted a 3.76 ERA, a stronger number than Baltimore’s 3.94.

This year the Orioles took four out of six against the Royals taking the season series. The Royals were able to muster more than five runs only twice.

All in all, both of these matchups will see one team looking for postseason redemption, and their opponent looking to make noise for the first time in a long time.

The winner of the Orioles/Royals series will face the New York Yankees. On the other hand, the winner of the Tigers/Astros series will face the Cleveland Guardians.

Alex Harkins is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him, email arh6278@psu.edu.