We kick off the MLB Postseason today with four games on the Tuesday schedule. The schedule includes the Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros, the Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals in the American League, the New York Mets vs. Milwaukee Brewers, and the Atlanta Braves vs. San Diego Padres in the National League.
The Houston Astros have had another impressive season and are back in the postseason! What ended well certainly didn't start that way, as they are the first team in the expansion era to start a 162-game season with a 7-19 record and make the playoffs.
The Houston Astros won their seventh AL West title in eight seasons.
On the other hand, the Detroit Tigers have had a dramatic turnaround. They were 55-63 on August 10 and had a slim to no chance of landing a postseason spot, but they went 31-13 to close out the year and make the postseason.
Their determination and resilience are nothing short of inspiring, making them a fascinating, Cinderella-type team to watch in the postseason.
One of the most thrilling aspects of this matchup is the pitching duel. The Astros will have Framber Valdez on the mound in game 1. Valdez has been a solid starter, with a 15-7 record, a 2.91 ERA and 169 strikeouts.
For the Tigers, Tarik Skubal will get the nod on the mound. Skubal has had an outstanding season, leading AL pitchers with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts.
The Astros have a wealth of postseason experience, having played in 97 games since 2017-24 more than any other team. This experience can be a game-changer in high-pressure situations.
The Tigers are entering the playoffs for the first time since 2014, making them the underdogs and injecting a fresh, unpredictable element to the series.
The Baltimore Orioles traded for right-hander Corbin Burnes back in February, and most people agree it was for this moment right here. Burnes, a former Cy Young Award winner, has been a critical player for the Orioles, helping them secure their second straight postseason berth.
He went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA, making him a reliable ace as they head into the playoffs.
The Kansas City Royals will make their first playoff appearance since their 2015 World Series. Left-hander Cole Ragans will make his postseason debut after an impressive season. Ragans continued to heat up throughout the season and closed strong.
Ragans pitched very well in September. He allowed just 3 earned runs over 25 innings on the mound. The Royals went 2-2 in those games, but he pitched very well.
Bobby Witt Jr. is the Royals' top offensive weapon. Witt secured his first AL batting title with a .332 average and became the first-ever shortstop with multiple 30-30 seasons.
The Mets made the cut as the No.6 seed after a triumphant win on a make-up doubleheader at Atlanta. The Mets knocked out the Arizona Diamondbacks from this year's playoff possibility with their victory.
The Mets' exceptional performance in Monday's last match saw them win 8-7, thanks to Francisco Lindor's two-run homer in the ninth inning.
The Brewers, on the other hand, have been performing incredibly well this season. With 10 games left on their plate, they secured the NL Central title. Their record against the Mets is impressive, with the Brewers winning five of the six games they played this season.
The Brewers will have Freddy Peralta on the mound in game 1, who has had quite an impressive run. Peralta finished the season with a 3.68 ERA and 200 strikeouts.
The Mets have Luis Severino, a right-hander who finished the season with a 3.91 ERA.
Despite the Mets' strong performance in the recent past, the Brewers are considered tough opponents, especially at home.
The stage is set for a thrilling face-off in Game 1 of the best-of-three NL wild-card series between the fourth-seeded San Diego Padres and the fifth-seeded Atlanta Braves. This battle will take place on Tuesday evening at Petco Park, known for its thrilling atmosphere.
The Padres will send Michael King to the mound for game 1. King was acquired from the New York Yankees last December to boost the Padres pitching depth.
King started after San Diego lost key players, such as Blake Snell and Seth Lugo, to free agency. King's performance during the regular season was noteworthy, with the right-hander going 13-9 in 31 appearances and making it to the top five in the NL in both ERA and strikeouts.
On the other side, the Braves head into the playoffs with a bit of uncertainty clouding their pitching plans. Their entry into the postseason came at the eleventh hour, following a nail-biting doubleheader split with the New York Mets.
As steadfast performers, they have secured a playoff berth for the seventh consecutive season despite numerous injuries plaguing their team.
Unfortunately for Atlanta, ace left-hander Chris Sale, known for his stellar records, won't pitch in the series due to back spasms. The Braves are also considering options like promoting players from Triple-A Gwinnett to play Game 1.
Atlanta's first baseman Matt Olson remains undeterred by the setbacks. Braves' resilience is admirable, especially following the loss of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. Besides, the Braves are hopeful with three-time All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies back from his injury.
The Braves-Padres showdown this season stands slightly in favor of the Padres, with a 4-3 outcome. However, in baseball, as in life, nothing is certain until the final pitch. As fans fill Petco Park with anticipation and the tension on the diamond climbs, it's anyone's guess who will emerge as the victor. Stay tuned for a riveting encounter!
Before we get into our free play, we want to remind everyone that our Premium Plays start off today for the MLB season! We ended the month of September with over 20 units in the positive! Let's do it again here in Spooky October! You can get all of our MLB Postseason games in October, plus all of our NFL and college Football, and in two weeks, Andrew will be returning for us in Horse Racing!
You get it all for $149.99 for 30 days! Sign up today to get on board with Spooky Express Premium Plays-CLICK HERE!
Now, on to our Free Play for you guys. We're going with the Houston Astros and Framber Valdez. Iknow, Valdez caved in last year in the postseason and went 0-3 but have we forgotten about how he did in 2022, where he was 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA over 4 starts?
I like the Tigers, they earned our respect for making it to the postseason but that in it of itself is their "World Series". The Astros history and postseason experience will be a key factor. Give us Houston -142 as our daily Free Play!!!
