2024 MLB Division Series Update

We are midway in the 2024 MLB Division Series, and all the series are tied at one game each as they shift locations.

The New York Yankees head to Kansas City, looking to steal at least one game from the Royals, while the Cleveland Guardians face the same task against the Detroit Tigers.

In the National League, the Mets return to Citi Field with the chance to eliminate the team with the second-best record in the league, the Philadelphia Phillies, if they can win both games at home.

Lastly, the Dodgers, with Shohei Ohtani, need to defeat the San Diego Padres to ensure they return home for a potential Game 5.

MLB Division Series betting odds

2024 MLB Division Series: New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies

The Mets did their job by stealing at least one game on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies, giving them the opportunity to clinch a spot in the American League Championship Series at home.

The responsibility will fall on the arm of Sean Manaea, who had a strong performance in the Wild Card series, pitching five innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. On the offensive side, things are clear, thanks to the excellent form of Pete Alonso, who has hit two home runs in the Postseason, and Mark Vientos, who is batting .400 in 20 at-bats.

For the Phillies, the visit to New York must result in at least one win to force a fifth and deciding game back in front of their home crowd. The problem is that if they don’t beat Manaea on Tuesday, they’ll have to face José Quintana on Wednesday, and the Colombian has already proven he’s built for big performances.

Philadelphia’s best hitters, Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper, are the only ones batting .400. Both have hit a home run and two RBIs. Their starter will be Aaron Nola, who finished the regular season with a 14-8 record and a 3.57 ERA in 33 starts.

Mets vs. Phillies Betting Pick: Phillies

2024 MLB Division Series: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego Padres can complete an incredible feat at home, as eliminating the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the upset of the season. They return to Petco Park with the series tied at one game apiece, so a stellar outing from Michael King could be enough to eliminate their rivals in Game 4, also at home.

King had a crucial start against the Atlanta Braves, pitching seven innings, striking out 12, and allowing no runs. Fernando Tatis Jr. is on fire offensively, with a .643 average, three home runs, and five RBIs, but Jackson Merrill, with a .429 average, and Kyle Higashioka (.364) are also performing well.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are under pressure to win against San Diego this Tuesday after losing the second game at home. The good news is that they will have the experienced arm of Walker Buehler, who only pitched in 16 games this season with a poor ERA of 5.38.

However, he is a pitcher with seven years of experience, and that kind of factor is crucial in the Postseason. This lineup includes hot hitters Tommy Edman and Gavin Lux, as well as Shohei Ohtani, who hit his first October home run in Game 1.

Padres vs. Dodgers Betting Pick: Padres

2024 MLB Division Series: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians

The Detroit Tigers enter this game with confidence. They eliminated the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round and managed to return home with the series tied 1-1, so they need to secure their spot in the next round in front of their home crowd.

Their best hitter has been Jake Rogers, with a .308 batting average over 13 at-bats. However, the player with the most RBIs is Kerry Carpenter, with three, all coming from his ninth-inning home run in Game 2 against Cleveland.

Given their season, the Cleveland Guardians are favored to reach the American League Championship Series, but they must win at least one game in Detroit. They need José Ramírez to heat up, as he has only one hit in six at-bats over the two games so far.

The Guardians’ starter will be veteran Alex Cobb, who had limited action this year, pitching in only three regular-season games with a 2.76 ERA, two wins, and one loss. However, he is a 13-year MLB veteran who knows these decisive moments well.

Tigers vs. Guardians Betting Pick: Guardians

2024 MLB Division Series: Kansas City Royals vs. York Yankees

The Kansas City Royals achieved their goal of stealing a game in New York and can secure their place at home if they win both games. Veteran Seth Lugo will take the mound for this game. He performed well in the Wild Card round, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing just one run.

However, for the Royals to win this series, they need Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino to step up. Between the two, they have only managed five hits in 35 at-bats.

The New York Yankees have a powerful offense, but in the last game, they were only able to produce two runs. Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are hitting below .200, and the only ones delivering are Alex Verdugo, Juan Soto, and Austin Wells.

Clarke Schmidt will be the starting pitcher for this team. In the regular season, he finished with a 5-5 record in 16 starts, a 2.85 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP.

Royals vs. Yankees Betting Pick: Royals