After a thrilling 2024 MLB season, followed by two intense playoff rounds, the League Championship Series is set. In the National League, the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers face an unexpected challenger, the New York Mets. Over in the American League, the New York Yankees aim for their first World Series appearance since 2009, squaring off against the AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians. Several fascinating potential World Series matchups loom, including superstar Francisco Lindor facing his former team or a Subway Series rematch nearly 24 years in the making. However, the most captivating scenario would be a record 12th showdown between the Dodgers and Yankees, featuring presumed MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in a star-studded clash. Below is a background on the four remaining teams, with predictions for each league championship series.
National League Championship Series
Mets (6) vs Dodgers (1)
The Mets: Things couldn’t have started much worse for the New York Mets this season. After losing their first five games, they hit a season-low 11 games below .500 on June 3rd. So, how are they still alive two weeks into October? The answer lies in a strange combination of Grimace and surprise contributions from nearly everyone on the roster. On June 12th, the 1970s McDonald’s character threw the ceremonial first pitch. Since then, the Mets went 66-38—the best record in MLB over that stretch. What was widely expected to be a transition year for the club was transformed by the newly appointed president of baseball operations, David Stearns, who assembled a roster of hungry veterans eager to prove themselves. Starting pitchers like Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, and David Peterson posted sub-four earned run averages and timely playoff performances. At the plate, 34-year-old utilityman Jose Iglesias has been a revelation for the Mets, batting .337 in the 85 games following his early call-up from the minor leagues. The other integral piece for New York has been 3rd baseman Mark Vientos, who, like Iglesias, was called up early and never looked back as he slugged 27 home runs and set a franchise record for hits in a division series (9).
Path to the NLCS: After Hurricane Helene forced a doubleheader on the Monday following what was supposed to be the final day of the regular season, the Mets finally clinched their playoff spot, thanks to the late-game heroics of Francisco Lindor. New York then traveled the next day to face the Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-three Wild Card series. After cruising to victory in Game 1, the Mets’ bullpen faltered in Game 2, and then again in Game 3, leaving them in a 2-0 hole heading into the 9th inning. With runners on the corners and facing Devin Williams—widely regarded as one of MLB’s top closers—struggling superstar Pete Alonso delivered a dramatic three-run, opposite-field home run to send the Mets to their first Division Series since 2015. After a day of rest, New York took on Philadelphia for the first time in the postseason in franchise history. The Mets were able to steal Game 1 with a furious rally following a seven-inning gem from Zach Wheeler. In Game 4, they officially sealed the deal at Citi Field with Francisco Lindor crushing his second career postseason grand slam, tying him for the most in Major League history.
X-Factor(s): In a world without Shohei Ohtani, this was Francisco Lindor’s year to win MVP. Fortunately, Mr. Smile can trade the MVP trophy for a chance to win a World Series trophy if he can lead the Mets over the Dodgers. In addition to the 341 million dollar man, every hitter in the Mets lineup must work at-bats against the Dodgers depleted pitching staff to increase the workload on the Dodgers bullpen. While Los Angeles’ bullpen worked wonders against San Diego, it will be incredibly difficult to sustain its level of dominance against the pesky Mets’ bats. Lastly, slugger Pete Alonso has showcased an impressive .312 batting average, along with 7 home runs and 18 RBIs at Dodger Stadium. With three home runs already in the 2024 postseason, New York will be counting on him to keep delivering power in their otherwise scrappy lineup.
The Dodgers: In stark contrast to the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024-2025 season with sky-high expectations—perhaps the greatest in franchise history. Their offseason was headlined by the blockbuster signing of Shohei Ohtani, who left the Angels to join the Dodgers on a record-shattering $700 million contract. Adding to the star power, Los Angeles also inked a $325 million deal with Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto, outspending the rest of MLB combined. To further bolster their lineup, the Dodgers signed emerging slugger Teoscar Hernández on a one-year, prove-it deal. Complementing their free agency splash, Los Angeles made a series of trades to strengthen their pitching staff, acquiring arms like Tyler Glasnow, Jack Flaherty, and Michael Kopech. Despite a slew of injuries to key players like Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Brusdar Graterol, and Joe Kelly, the Dodgers still managed to secure their 11th NL West title in the last 12 seasons behind a ferocious offense.
Path to the NLCS: After back-to-back eliminations in the National League Division Series, the Dodgers finally overcame their early playoff struggles to advance to the NLCS. However, their path was rocky, as they were forced to play two elimination games—one in a hostile Petco Park against their newfound rivals, the San Diego Padres, who had just swept the Braves in the Wild Card Series. Los Angeles took Game 1 thanks to a crucial three-run blast from Shohei Ohtani, but they stumbled in Games 2 and 3, with Jack Flaherty and Walker Buehler combining to allow ten earned runs over 10.1 innings. Undeterred, the Dodgers’ pitching staff bounced back to silence the Padres’ high-powered offense, holding them scoreless over the final 24 innings and securing a combined 10-0 margin of victory in Games 4 and 5.
X-Factor(s): While Los Angeles can undoubtedly make excuses for their lack of starting pitching, they will need utter perfection from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jack Flaherty, and Walker Buehler throughout the NLCS. The bullpen dominance displayed in Games 3, 4, and 5 of the Division Series was certainly encouraging, but it will be tested in a potential seven-game series with less rest. The Dodgers should take note of the Mets’ demolition of Philadelphia’s supposedly “imposing” bullpen, which allowed a staggering 16 earned runs over just 12.2 innings of work. Additionally, Los Angeles’ left-handed hitters, in particular, will need to be prepared to face New York’s rotation, which boasts three borderline elite lefty starting pitchers. During the NLDS, the Mets could limit lefties Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, and Brandon Marsh to a combined 9-52 at the plate, suitable for a .173 batting average.
The Pick: Dodgers in 6 – Magic can only get you so far. Los Angeles’ star-studded lineup will overwhelm New York’s pitching staff from A-Z, forcing the Mets’ offense to embrace an unhealthy load of responsibility.
American League Championship Series
Guardians (3) vs Yankees (1)
The Guardians: Alongside the three big-market teams, the Guardians stand in contrast with a payroll of just over $100 million. After a decade under Terry Francona’s leadership, he stepped down, and the Guardians swiftly appointed 39-year-old Stephen Vogt as the new manager. With Vogt at the helm, the Guardians posted their best record since 2019 and clinched a spot in the ALCS for the first time since their 2016 World Series run. However, their journey was far from smooth, as they lost ace Shane Bieber to a season-ending UCL injury weeks into the season, posing a significant hurdle to making the playoffs. Cleveland’s offense wasn’t pretty either, with only five batters hitting above .250 and a measly two batters hitting above .265. The real success for the Guardians was derived from their excellent pitching, with relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis posting sub-2 earned run averages over a combined 152 appearances. Closer Emanuel Clase put on one of the best performances in franchise history, recording 47 saves with a .61 era over 74.1 innings. Additionally, star 3rd baseman Jose Ramirez showcased MVP-like numbers, with a career-high 39 home runs and 41 stolen bases.
Path to the ALCS: While the Guardians didn’t clinch the best record in the American League, they avoided the Wild Card round, awaiting the Tigers vs. Astros series winner. In a surprise upset, the surging Tigers swept Houston, ending their streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances. With a week of rest, the Guardians came out strong in Game 1, knocking out Detroit’s starter before he could record an out, cruising to a 7-0 win. However, the gritty Tigers bounced back in Game 2, as Tarik Skubal delivered seven scoreless innings and a pinch-hit three-run homer in the 9th stunned Cleveland for a 3-0 victory. In Detroit, the Tigers shut out Cleveland in Game 3, pushing the Guardians to the brink of elimination. In Game 4, with Cleveland trailing 3-2 in the 7th inning, pinch-hitter David Fry hit a dramatic two-run homer, forcing a decisive Game 5 back in Cleveland. Detroit’s ace and likely Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, started Game 5 and dominated through four scoreless innings. However, Cleveland broke through when Skubal allowed his first run in 28 innings via an RBI hit-by-pitch, and on the very next pitch, Lane Thomas launched a grand slam over the left-field wall, sending the crowd into a frenzy and sealing the Guardians’ dramatic comeback.
X-Factor(s): After scoring seven runs twice and being shut out twice, the only reliable constant for Cleveland remains their pitching staff. Second-year pitcher Tanner Bibee has posted a stellar 2.03 ERA over his last 22.1 innings, and Matthew Boyd delivered a clutch 6.1 scoreless innings in the ALDS. However, one concerning development for the otherwise dominant staff was closer Emmanuel Clase surrendered four earned runs after giving up just five throughout the regular season. If Cleveland hopes to beat the Yankees, they will need Clase to return to his regular-season form. Offensively, third-year standout Steven Kwan drove Cleveland’s success in the Division Series, racking up 11 hits in 21 at-bats. While Kwan maintained his near -.300 average from the regular season. The biggest surprise came from shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who hit .375 against the Tigers despite barely batting above .200 during the regular season.
The Yankees: Like the Mets and Dodgers, the Yankees are another big-spending franchise, driven by a determined owner in Hal Steinbrenner, who is eager to bring a World Series trophy back to the most decorated team in MLB history. The 2023 season ended in disappointment, with the Yankees missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. In response, they made one of the offseason’s most significant moves—second only to the Dodgers’ signing of Shohei Ohtani—by pulling off a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres to acquire 25-year-old star Juan Soto. Along with Soto, the Yankees bolstered their outfield by striking a deal with the Boston Red Sox for Alex Verdugo. They also added veteran starter Marcus Stroman on a one-year contract and made their biggest splash at the trade deadline by acquiring Jazz Chisholm from the Marlins. The flashy young star hit .273 with 11 home runs in 46 games with the Yankees, posting some of the best numbers of his career. After a scorching 49-21 start, the Yankees hit a rough patch, falling to 60-45 following three straight losses to the Mets and Red Sox. However, they rebounded to claim the AL East crown and finish with the best record in the American League.
Path to the ALCS: Having clinched a first-round bye, the Yankees awaited the winner of the Royals vs Orioles Wild Card series. New York had a 5-8 record against Baltimore during the regular season, compared to a 5-2 record against Kansas City. The Orioles’ potent offense went cold in the postseason, managing just one run over 18 innings against the Royals. Although Kansas City’s starting pitching made the Division Series competitive, the Yankees were able to back up their low-scoring offense with stellar bullpen performances. In their Game 1 win, New York overcame a postseason record five lead changes. The Royals bounced back in Game 2 to salvage a split in the Bronx, but the Yankees’ pitching, led by Gerrit Cole, combined to allow only three runs in Games 3 and 4, sending the Bombers to the championship series.
X-Factor(s): The answer is quite simple: the bullpen. Over their four postseason games against Kansas City, the Yankees’ relievers threw 15.2 shutout innings. The critical move was Aaron Boone’s decision to shift Clay Holmes from his usual closer role and insert Luke Weaver. Since recording his first save on September 6th, Weaver has been lights-out, allowing no earned runs over 15.1 innings. Meanwhile, the demoted Holmes dominated the Division Series, allowing just four baserunners over five innings of work. Though team leader Aaron Judge went 2-for-13 in the series, he showed signs of life in Game 4 with an extra-base hit and two walks. The unexpected catalyst, however, was veteran Giancarlo Stanton, who hit .375 and delivered a heroic Game 3 performance that shifted the momentum in the Yankees’ favor.
The Pick: Yankees in 7 – The Guardians are lucky to have squeaked by Detroit, and they’re running into the Yankees at the wrong time. Aaron Judge is finally destined to break out of his prolonged postseason slump, and the MLB will secure one of the most-watched World Series of all time regardless of who wins the National League pennant.
