Our expert picks for each Wild Card Series

The 2024 MLB Postseason has arrived, and the stage is set for a thrilling month of October as baseball’s best teams vie for World Series glory.

All four Wild Card Series begin today, starting with the Tigers and Astros (2:32 p.m. ET on ABC) at Minute Maid Park. Later on, the Orioles will host the Royals (4:08 p.m. ET on ESPN2) and the Mets will visit the Brewers (5:32 p.m. ET on ESPN). The action-packed day will conclude with a showdown between the Braves and the Padres (8:38 p.m. ET on ESPN) at Petco Park.

In advance of these intriguing matchups, we asked a number of MLB.com experts to weigh in and make their predictions on how the first round of the 2024 playoffs will turn out. Check out their picks for each series below.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers (6) at Astros (3)

The pick: Astros

In search of their eighth straight AL Championship Series appearance and third World Series title since 2017, the Astros are the clear favorites over the upstart Tigers, who made an improbable late-season run to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Astros clinch the AL West
Sep 25, 2024 · 0:29
Astros clinch the AL West
The Tigers were 10 games out of a playoff spot entering play on Aug. 11, but they closed the season on a 31-13 run to grab the third AL Wild Card berth. Detroit has the momentum on its side, and it also has ace pitcher Tarik Skubal, who won the AL pitching Triple Crown with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts.

However, our voters think the Astros’ home-field advantage and October experience will be too much for the Tigers to overcome, even with the questions surrounding Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez’s sprained right knee. The Astros had a tough road of their own to reach the postseason, coming back from a 10-game deficit in the AL West through June 18 to win the division.

“The Astros know how to turn it on in October, and even with the uncertainty surrounding Alvarez, I just don’t see them losing two out of three at home.” — David Venn, reporter
“The Astros’ home-field advantage and sheer volume of playoff experience give them the edge.” — Michael Reynolds, producer.

“The Tigers are a terrific story. The Astros are battle tested, and the better team.” — Anthony DiComo, reporter
The dissenting view

“The Astros will either be without Alvarez, or have him potentially hampered by a knee sprain. It’s a lot to put on Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker’s shoulders. That, plus some major “team of destiny” vibes gives the Tigers and former Houston manager A.J. Hinch a slight edge in what should be a tight series.” — Casey Drottar, producer.

Royals (5) at Orioles (4)

The pick: Orioles

With superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and All-Star starting pitchers Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo leading the way, the Royals became just the third team in MLB history to reach the postseason the next year after losing 100 games, joining the 2017 Twins and 2020 Marlins.

But our experts give the slight edge to the Orioles, who are looking to avoid another quick postseason exit after being swept by the eventual World Series champion Rangers in the AL Division Series a year ago.