MLB Players Make Their Mark in the League Division Series -

By Zachary Lichter

The Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason has been in full swing since the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros, the Kansas City Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers, and the San Diego Padres beat the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card series. The Mets and the Padres had a difficult challenge as they took on the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS). The Royals and the Tigers are similar to the Mets and the Padres, as they took on the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Division Series (ALDS).

The League Division Series began on October 5 of this year as the Tigers took on their division opponent, the Guardians, at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Tigers made their first appearance in the ALDS since 2014 when the Orioles swept them in three games. The Guardians struck first in Game 1 as their third baseman, José Ramírez hit a double, their first baseman, Josh Naylor, hit a single, and their right fielder, Lane Thomas, hit a three-run home run, giving the Guardians a 5-0 lead in the first inning and then taking a 1-0 lead in the series as they beat the Tigers 7-0.

Game 2 of the Tigers vs. Guardians series took place on October 7 of this year. Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning, giving the Tigers a 3-0 win against the Guardians. The series was tied at one win a piece as it shifted to Detroit.

The Tigers’ bullpen was key to their success in Game 3 because they pitched a 3-0 shutout against the Guardians, making them one win away from going to the American League Championship Series. Game 4 was decisive for the Guardians the next day, as their first baseman, David Fry, hit a two-run home run, giving them a 4-2 lead. The Guardians beat the Tigers 5-4, returning them to Cleveland for Game 5.

Game 5 of the Tigers vs. Guardians series was intense for both teams on October 12 of this year as they looked to see who would play the Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). The action came down to the fifth inning with the score tied at one run a piece, and Thomas hit a grand slam, giving the Guardians a 5-1 lead. The Guardians beat the Tigers 7-3, sending them to New York to play the Yankees in the ALCS.

David Fritz III, a senior accounting major, commented on the Guardians’ success in Games 4 and 5.

“The Guardians stayed alive in Game 4 by outlasting the Tigers with timely hitting and excellent bullpen work,” Fritz said. “Their offense, led by José Ramírez, found ways to scratch out runs, capitalizing on Detroit’s defensive lapses. Cleveland’s ability to grind out tough at-bats and pitch effectively under pressure set the stage for a decisive Game 5, keeping their playoff hopes alive.”

While the Tigers and the Guardians were competing to go to the ALCS, the Royals took on the Yankees, beginning with Game 1 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. There were five lead changes in Game 1, but it all came down to the Yankees left fielder, Alex Verdugo, hitting a single in the seventh inning to give the Yankees a 6-5 win against the Royals.

While Game 1 was a success for the Yankees, Game 2 was the opposite on October 7 of this year because the Yankees starting pitcher, Carlos Rodón, gave up a solo home run to the Royals catcher, Salvador Perez, a single to the Royals right fielder, Tommy Pham, and also a single to the Royals centerfielder, Garrett Hampson, giving the Royals a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. The Royals beat the Yankees 4-2 as the series shifted to Kansas City.

Game 3 with the Royals playing in Kansas City, was a wake-up call for the Yankees on October 9 of this year because it decided who would be one win away from going to the ALCS. The Yankees’ designated hitter, Giancarlo Stanton, was the hero because he hit a double in the fourth inning, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. He then hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to seal the Yankees’ 3-2 victory against the Royals.

The next day, the Royals were looking to force Game 5, while the Yankees were one win away from going to the ALCS. The Yankees pitcher, Gerrit Cole, threw seven innings, helping the Yankees punch their ticket to the ALCS as they beat the Royals 3-1.

In the National League, the Mets played against their division rivals, the Phillies, in Philadelphia. While the Phillies had a 1-0 lead coming into the eighth inning, the Mets had a five-run rally as their third baseman, Mark Vientos, and their left fielder, Brandon Nimmo, both hit singles to give the Meta 2-1 lead. The Met’s first baseman, Pete Alonso, hit a sacrifice fly, and the Mets designated hitter, Julio-Daniel (J.D.) Martinez hit a single, and the Mets right fielder Starling Marte hit a sacrifice fly, giving the Mets a 5-1 lead and a 6-2 win.

The next day, the Phillies were looking to stay alive in Game 2, and with the score tied at six runs a piece, the Phillie’s right fielder Nicholas Castellanos hit a walk-off single to win the game 7-6 against the Mets and tie the series up at one win a piece.

Game 3 shifted to New York on October 8 of this year, and their pitcher, Sean Manaea, pitched seven innings to give the Mets a 7-2 win. The next day, the Mets were one win away from going to the National League Championship Series (NLCS), and their shortstop, Francisco Lindor, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to punch the Mets ticket to the NLCS for the first time since 2015 as they beat the Phillies 4-1.

As the Mets were waiting for an opponent for the NLCS, the Padres played Game 1 against the Dodgers on October 5 of this year in Los Angeles. The Dodgers struggled against the Padres towards the beginning, but in the fourth inning, the Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run single, giving them a 6-4 lead. The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead as they beat the Padres 7-5.

The next day, the Padres knew they needed to stay alive against their cross-state rival in Game 2, and they did it in grand fashion with the Padres offense hitting six home runs throughout the game. The Padres beat the Dodgers 10-2 against the Dodgers, tying the series up by one win a piece as it shifted down south to San Diego.

The momentum from the Padres hitting continued in Game 3 on October 8 of this year during the second inning, when the Padre’s second baseman, Xander Bogaerts, reached first base on a fielders choice, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. The action continued in the second inning when the Padres right fielder David Peralta hit a two-run double, the Padres catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a sacrifice fly, and the Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a two-run home run. The Padres won 6-5 against the Dodgers, which made them one win away from going to the NLCS.

As the Dodgers’ season was on the line in Game 4, they needed to do something to force Game 5. Fortunately, their shortstop, Mookie Betts, hit a solo home run in the first inning, and then their designated hitter, Shohei Ohtani, and Betts hit two singles in the second inning to grab a 3-0 lead for the Dodgers. The Dodgers shut out the Padres 8-0 as they forced Game 5 in Los Angeles.

Game 5 was decisive for both teams, as they looked to play the Mets in the NLCS. Yoshinobu Yamamato pitched five innings. The Dodger’s third baseman, Enrique Hernández, hit a solo home run in the second inning, and Teoscar Hernández hit a solo home run in the second inning as the Dodgers won 2-0 against the Padres as they advanced to the NLCS.

Fritz commented on how the Dodgers turned themselves around in Games 4 and 5.

“Mookie Betts was instrumental in turning the tide, delivering clutch home runs, and Teoscar Hernández also provided key offensive moments,” Fritz said. “The turning point came when Dodgers pitchers, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto, executed under pressure.”