The 2024 MLB postseason has arrived, and the excitement kicks off with the Wild Card Series, a best-of-three showdown that promises intense competition. A highlight of the series will be the faceoff between the Baltimore Orioles, who secured the No. 4 seed, and the Kansas City Royals, holding the No. 5 seed. The stage is set at Camden Yards, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday, October 1 at 4:08 p.m. ET.
Pitching Matchups
Headlining Game 1 is Baltimore's ace right-hander, Corbin Burnes, who boasts an impressive 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA. Burnes has been a cornerstone for the Orioles throughout the season, and his performance will be crucial as Baltimore seeks to advance beyond the Wild Card. Opposing him on the mound for Kansas City is left-hander Cole Ragans, who posted solid numbers with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA. Ragans' consistency will be key for the Royals as they make their first postseason appearance since their World Series triumph in 2015.
Team Journey and Performance
For Baltimore, this marks their second consecutive postseason berth. The Orioles ended their regular season with a 91-71 record, finishing second to the Yankees in the AL East. Last year, Baltimore's postseason run was cut short when they were swept out of the ALDS by the Texas Rangers. However, they've shown resilience, scoring 56 runs in their final 10 games of this season, signaling their readiness for another playoff push.
On the other side, the Royals have experienced a remarkable turnaround after enduring 106 losses last season. Kansas City becomes the third team in the Expansion Era to make the postseason following a 100-loss season, joining the 2017 Minnesota Twins and the 2020 Miami Marlins. Their journey has been fueled by key players like Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, Cole Ragans, and Seth Lugo. Both Ragans and Lugo are contenders for the top five in this year’s Cy Young voting.
Key Players
One player worth keeping an eye on is Vinnie Pasquantino, who has been making his way back from a broken thumb that has kept him out since August 29. Pasquantino has resumed workouts and hitting, which could be a significant boost for the Royals, who have demonstrated their prowess on the bases, ranking third among postseason teams in stolen bases. However, they will have to contend with Baltimore’s defense, which has caught 20% of base stealers this season.
Series Outlook
The betting odds have Baltimore favored at -155, while Kansas City sits at +130. The over/under for the series is set at 7.0 runs, indicating a potentially close and tactical series. If the series extends to a decisive Game 3, Baltimore’s Michael Wacha is slated to take the mound, adding another layer of intrigue to this Wild Card matchup.
The stakes are undeniably high, as the winner of this series will advance to face the formidable New York Yankees in the ALDS. With both teams having unique and compelling narratives, fans can expect a thrilling start to the MLB postseason. The Orioles' quest to build on their recent success and the Royals' dramatic resurgence set the stage for a captivating series that showcases the unpredictability and excitement of playoff baseball.