The 2024 MLB playoff picture is set and will begin tonight as 12 teams begin the final stretch of the year and look to end it with a title. The playoffs are threaded with many entertaining story lines from the bottom to the top. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are finishing fantastic seasons with the Yankees and Dodgers, respectively. Each have led their club to the top seed in their leagues and hope to earn their first title. The Detroit Tigers snuck their way in as the 6th seed in the AL bracket, snapping a 9-year playoff drought. They finished the final 42 games with a MLB best 31-11 record to make their push. The Braves and Mets were set to play a double header on the last day of the regular season with heavy playoff implications. If the games were split, both teams would make the NL playoffs. If one team swept, the other would be left out and replaced with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The division rivals, who have deep hatred for one another, did in fact split the double header, and oddly enough celebrated on the diamond together after the two games.

No matter the story, the 2024 World Series chase will be highly entertaining. The Ohtani-led Dodgers are the favorites to win the pennant followed closely behind Judge's Yankees. The Dodgers await the winner of wild-card series winner between the Padres and Braves, while the Yankees await either the Royals or Orioles.

The number two seeds in the AL and NL respectively are the Guardians and Phillies. Cleveland will meet the winner of the hot Tigers and perennial contender Astros. The Phillies on the other hand will await the Brewers and Mets.

For the wild card matchups, I project that the Tigers will pull off the upset. The Astros have the advantage in experience, but the run has been undeniable for over a month now and Houston enters the series banged up. I think that the Brewers should handle the Mets with the stronger bullpen as well as the idea that New York is exhausted. Sure, hype can generate energy, but it is certainly hard to do. Lindor is the biggest factor for the Mets and will be the story line if they are able to pull it off. Personally, I do not believe in the Royals yet. While they have a rested Cole Ragans, I believe Baltimore is much too talented to lose this early and will hold KC off. Lastly, I believe is the easiest wild card pick: the Padres will beat the Braves. Atlanta is severely injured, including Chris Sale, who has yet to show signs of returning. The Padres boast the best record since the All-Star break and should be able to leverage a deeper bullpen to move on.

An exciting and young Baltimore Orioles team should meet their end in the ALDS in a face-off with the Yankees. They certainly have an argument to be made with their pitching, but the Yankees are the better team. The Tigers will also meet the end to a Cinderella run in the ALDS and the Guardians pitchers are why. They should win a low scoring series and move on to New York.

The Phillies will take care of Milwaukee behind their massive home field advantage. Philadelphia will be a hectic atmosphere and I believe they will take care of business on the field. This Phillies team will hit hard and often and have the benefit of one of the least used reliever rooms in the MLB, which will give them steady and healthy backing for a deep playoff run. The other NLDS series will be highly interesting. The Padres won the season series against the Dodgers 8-5, but LA came out with the division win by taking the last two games. I believe that even though the Dodgers proved something in those two games, the Padres are simply a better team this year. San Diego will have to overcome star power to do so with the likes of Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, Hernandez, and more. It won't be easy, but I think it will be done.

This leaves the AL with the Yankees and Guardians and the NL with the Phillies and Padres. The ALCS matchup has two very different teams face off in my bracket. New York is watching a historic season from Aaron Judge, and a loud one. Judge is only somewhat outshined even by the likes of Ohtani. Cleveland is gritty and wins narrow games without flash. I believe the Yankees finally return to the World Series this year in a difficult battle with Cleveland. This is potentially the hardest series I have had to predict, however. On the other hand, the NLCS sees a rematch of the 2022 version of the series. The Phillies took that one 4-1 and I think they do the same here, avenging last year's NLCS loss to Arizona. The Padres are a great team this year, but I think the Phillies are simply too good all around.

This means my pick for the 2024 World Series comes down to two major east coast teams. New York vs Philadelphia. The Yankees and the Phillies. Both teams have had fantastic years, and should they find themselves in this position, it's even better than the time that I am writing this. The Phillies have been so close the last two years. The Yankees fans continuously believe every year is their year. Who finishes this time? The Phillies are the popular pick. The Yankees are the flashy, exciting pick. Aaron Judge finally hoists his trophy and caps off a historic year as a World Series champion. Juan Soto continues a remarkable young career. Rodon, Cortes, Gil, Cole, Stroman, all pitch their way to the top with baseball's most successful club. It's a wild image. Not this year. The Phillies are the best team in the league. They are rested and will not run out of steam this time like they have in the past. Bryce Harper will finally win a championship and do so, slugging next to Schwarber. The Phillies are my 2024 World Series Champions.