Andy Du
The Commissioner’s Trophy is awarded to the World Series winner.
As the 2024 MLB season nears a close, four teams still remain in contention for the World Series title: the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Cleveland Guardians. Each team brings its own strengths, storylines, and challenges to the table, highlighting the unpredictability of this year’s MLB postseason.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been one of the most revered franchises in all of baseball, and their big-time offseason acquisitions of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as well as trade-deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty, have powered this team through the 2024 playoffs. Provided with a deep roster, exceptional pitching, and tremendous offensive power, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts has to like his team’s chances of hoisting the franchise’s eighth World Series trophy this season. Offensively, the bats of Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman will no doubt power the Dodgers’ postseason run. If their bullpen can stay sharp to help out their outstanding starting rotation, the Dodgers are my favorites to win the 2024 World Series.
New York Yankees
It is to no one’s surprise that the most historic, successful franchise in all of professional sports yet again finds themselves in contention to hoist their 28th franchise World Series banner. Up 2-1 against the Cleveland Guardians, the Yankees have shown the offensive consistency that powered their successful regular season. The addition of big-time slugger Giancarlo Stanton returning from injury has helped the Yankees in big moments, but their team captain, Aaron Judge, has struggled this postseason, hitting just .154 with no home runs. If Judge can regain his regular-season form and Stanton stays hot, the Yankees could have what it takes to punch their ticket to the World Series behind their ace, Gerrit Cole.
New York Mets
The Mets have had a rollercoaster season but have proven to be incredibly resilient in the playoffs. Even though they trail 3-1 in the NLCS to the Dodgers, they have a deep pitching rotation and an uncanny ability to shock opposing teams early in games with their powerful offensive superstars, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Yet, the Mets continually struggle with playing consistent baseball, and their offense has proven to have trouble keeping up with the Dodgers’ flamethrowers, but stranger things have happened in October baseball​.
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians have been the definition of a gritty team this postseason. Although they are down 2-1 in the ALCS, I believe that they have a chance to knock off the Yankees with a surprising underdog story. Their pitching, supported by one of the best bullpens in the league, has continuously kept them in close game situations, while their timely offense led by José Ramirez and Steve Kwan has pushed them through tough games. If the Guardians are able to push the Yankees to a game seven, I like their chances to win the series through their gritty offense and stellar bullpen.
Editor’s Note: This article was written before the conclusion of the 2024 MLB season.
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