The 2024 MLB postseason kicked off this week with the best-of-three Wild Card Sequence. The No. 4 Baltimore Orioles are internet hosting the No. 5 Kansas Metropolis Royals at Camden Yards The winner of this collection will advance to play the New York Yankees within the best-of-five ALDS. That is Baltimore’s second straight postseason berth and Kansas Metropolis’s first since 2015. The Royals held off the Orioles to win 1-0 in Recreation 1 Tuesday due to an RBI single from Bobby Witt Jr. Baltimore will attempt to maintain its season alive on Wednesday.

You will discover the total 2024 MLB playoff bracket right here. And right here is the Wild Card Sequence schedule:

The place to observe Recreation 2

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 2 | Time: 4:38 p.m. ET
Location: Camden Yards (Baltimore)
Channel: ESPN | Stream: Fubo (Attempt at no cost)
Possible pitchers: RHP Seth Lugo (16-9. 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Eflin (10-9, 3.59 ERA)
Odds: BAL -160 | KC +135; over/underneath: 7.5

The Royals will flip to workhorse Seth Lugo to attempt to get them to the ALDS. He had a 2.28 ERA in September, permitting only one dwelling run in 27 2/3 innings. The Orioles, with their season on the road, will counter with Zach Eflin, who they added on the commerce deadline. After the commerce, Eflin was dominant, good for a 2.60 ERA in 55 1/3 innings. He did not permit greater than three runs in any of his 9 begins with Baltimore.

Right here now’s what you could learn about every workforce heading into the Wild Card Sequence.

Orioles: Reality be advised, this was a disappointing season for the O’s. They’re within the postseason, so it is not prefer it was a dangerous season, however after profitable 101 video games final yr and having the sport’s high farm system, they had been anticipated to take a step ahead, or no less than stay among the many sport’s actually elite groups. Moreover, the Os’ had been swept out of the ALDS by the eventual World Sequence champion Texas Rangers final yr, which needed to go away a foul style of their mouths. Slightly than construct on final season, Baltimore went 91-71 and completed second to the Yankees within the AL East.

Issues behind anew within the postseason, nevertheless, and the O’s enter the postseason with a robust 1-2 punch atop the rotation (Burnes and Eflin) and one of many deepest lineups within the sport. Eight Orioles batted no less than 400 occasions this season and all eight had no less than a 106 OPS+. Jordan Westburg returned from his damaged hand close to the top of the common season and his presence transforms the offense. Baltimore scored 56 runs of their ultimate 10 video games. With a shaky bullpen and a few rotation questions behind Burnes and Eflin, the offense should paved the way for Baltimore.

Royals: A yr in the past, Kansas Metropolis misplaced 106 video games, probably the most in franchise historical past. Now they seem to be a postseason workforce. The Royals are the third workforce within the Growth Period (since 1961) to achieve the postseason a yr after dropping 100 video games, becoming a member of the 2017 Minnesota Twins and the 2020 Miami Marlins within the COVID-shortened season. That is their first postseason berth since their 2015 World Sequence championship yr. Heck, it is the primary time the Royals have posted a profitable document since then.

Led by the peerless Bobby Witt Jr. — severely, what’s his flaw? — the Royals stole the third most bases amongst postseason groups, which can be one thing they’ll exploit towards the Orioles. Baltimore had a barely beneath league common 20% caught stealing fee. Kansas Metropolis will lean on Witt, Salvador Perez, and the 1-2 punch of Ragans and Lugo. These two each determine to complete within the high 5 of the Cy Younger voting.