MLB Playoffs: Key Players for ALDS and NLDS Series
The competition for the World Series has now narrowed down from twelve teams to eight. After a long wait, the elite teams are entering the postseason, ready to face the determined underdogs.
Both the American and National League Division Series showcase teams that are well-rounded, featuring strong lineups and solid pitching. There are also a few dark horses in play that could surprise everyone during October.
As the Division Series kicks off, YSL News Sports highlights four critical players whose performances could significantly influence the outcomes of their respective series:
Phillies vs. Mets: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia
It’s rare for the most crucial player to throw the opening pitch, but here we are with Zack Wheeler. The Phillies chased after the best record in baseball for most of the year, but they experienced some setbacks in the latter half of the season. Their powerful lineup can erupt at any moment, yet they face challenges that often arise when teams are forced into a short series following a break.
Meanwhile, the Mets are riding high, having been energized by Pete Alonso’s last-minute home run in Game 3 of the wild card series against Milwaukee. They are entering a round of four games in three days, hoping to both qualify and survive the opening round.
Wheeler’s responsibility is to ensure that their momentum doesn’t last too long.
With Ranger Suarez, the No. 3 starter, pushed further back in the rotation due to health issues and No. 2 starter Aaron Nola set to pitch Game 3, the Phillies are slightly out of rhythm, which is unusual for a team that secured 95 wins. Wheeler remains the most reliable option for Philadelphia.
He has recorded a phenomenal 1.89 ERA in his last 11 starts, allowing two runs or fewer in each of those outings. It’s crucial for him to excel in Game 1 to prevent the Mets from thinking they’ve found their groove again.
Dodgers vs. Padres: Teoscar Hernández, LA
The Dodgers’ lineup is filled with all-stars and intriguing players.
How will Shohei Ohtani perform in his postseason debut? Can Mookie Betts recover from a previous 0-for-11 performance in the ’23 ALDS? Will Freddie Freeman bounce back after hitting just 1 for 10 while dealing with an ankle sprain?
Among the All-Star hitters, Teoscar Hernández has been somewhat under the radar. He belted 37 home runs this season and achieved an .840 OPS. Batting behind Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman provides him with excellent opportunities, and he capitalized on them effectively.
In his last playoff outing, Hernández had a standout game with two homers for Toronto, but has only one hit in 14 playoff attempts otherwise. Against Padres ace Dylan Cease, who is pitching Game 1 and might also start Game 5, he holds a 1-for-11 record.
Though each set of statistics is limited, this is a crucial time of year. While the Dodgers have home-field advantage, they did lose their last three games in the 2022 NLDS, two of which were at the noisy Petco Park. Maintaining their dominance at Dodger Stadium is essential, especially since there are concerns about the back end of their rotation. Getting out of Petco unscathed will be tough.
Hernández’s ability to connect with some pitches could alleviate pressure from several teammates, particularly if runners get on base ahead of him.
Yankees vs. Royals: Austin Wells, New York
Who would dare pitch to Aaron Judge in a tight playoff scenario?
Some have tried and come out unscathed. The Houston Astros managed to limit Judge to one hit in 16 at-bats during the 2022 AL Championship Series, mere weeks after he shattered the AL record with 62 home runs. However, Judge’s playoff batting average of .211 along with a .310 on-base percentage and .462 slugging shines in comparison to his regular season stats of .288, .406, and .604.
This year, Judge has shown an exceptional level of play with a .322 average, .458 on-base percentage, and .701 slugging percentage while hitting 58 homers, likely to collect another AL MVP trophy. He has also tallied 13 postseason home runs out of 171 at-bats and is doing so without Juan Soto batting in front of him.
We’ll see just how aggressive the strong Kansas City Royals pitching lineup can be against the towering 6-7 Yankees player. It seems likely that the Royals will challenge players other than Juan or Aaron to prove their hitting ability before they adjust their strategy.
Wells steps into this scenario. Since August 30, he has been the Yankees’ primary cleanup hitter following Judge, but during this time, he has hit just .148 with 21 strikeouts in 92 plate appearances.
However, Wells doesn’t need to hit a home run every time the Royals avoid Judge—after all, he has hit 13 homers this season. Having solid plate appearances can encourage the Royals to tap into their bullpen sooner than anticipated.
It’s going to rely heavily on several players—Giancarlo Stanton, Jazz Chisholm, maybe Jasson Dominguez or Alex Verdugo—to ensure that Judge spends more time on the base paths than waiting to trot to first base.
Nevertheless, Wells usually serves as the first line of offense. He needs to make the Royals consider him a threat.
Guardians vs. Tigers: Beau Brieske, Detroit
You had to know we would add a twist for this series.
With only one standout starting pitcher for this AL Central clash—Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, who won’t pitch until Game 2 after his impressive outing against the Houston Astros in the wild-card series—the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Cleveland’s manager Stephen Vogt and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch to effectively use their strong bullpens.
This makes the Tigers quite dangerous in this matchup: they have adapted to this kind of game for the last two months. This might explain how they managed a convincing two-game sweep of the Astros: besides an unwise appearance by prospect Jackson Jobe, Detroit’s bullpen covered over 10 innings across two games, allowing only one run.
Brieske could be their most vital asset. After closer Jason Foley struggled to finish up against Houston post-Skubal’s impressive six-inning performance, Brieske stepped in to get the final two outs. The next day, he was called on again with one out and one on in a scoreless game during the fifth inning.
Brieske achieved the next four outs, despite one walk being wiped out by a double play, as Detroit took the lead following a home run by Parker Meadows.
This was a consistent pattern throughout September, during which Detroit finished with a 17-8 record, racing to secure a playoff spot. In that month, Brieske both started five games and completed two others, entering games in the first, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and even the 12th inning while maintaining a stellar 1.06 ERA over 17 innings.
So, if you witness Hinch bringing Brieske in against Cleveland, recognize that it could be a crucial moment in the game, and you can count on Brieske to get the job done.
