Catching up on the MLB playoffs

We’ve been focused on the Royals, but there are other series out there.

Royals fans have been hyper-focused on Kansas City’s run through the post-season, but now that it’s over, we can take a step back and catch up with the other series this October. The playoffs have been a hit, with dramatic games, big stars, and exciting matchups. The TV ratings are way up with fans tuning in for what seems like a wide-open race for the championship.

The Yankees knocked off the Royals in four games to advance to the ALCS in a quest for their first pennant in 15 years. They’ll have home-field advantage in the next round as they await the winner of the other ALDS series. Game 1 of the ALCS will take place at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

ALDS: Guardians 2 Tigers 2

The Tigers were eight games under .500 on August 10, but won 31 of their last 44 games to storm into the playoffs. They swept the Astros, and are now locked into a tied series with the Guardians that will require a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday.

The Guardians blew up opener Tyler Holton in Game 1 with four runs without him even recording an out. Tanner Bibbee and four relievers kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in an easy 7-0 win. The Tigers fought back in Game 2 with Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal tossing seven shutout innings. But former Tigers starter Matthew Boyd kept his old team from scoring, and four relievers kept the game locked 0-0 into the ninth. Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase, who has been the best reliever in baseball this year, gave up two quick singles and a three-run home run to Kerry Carpenter to give the Tigers a Game 2 victory.

In Game 3, six Tigers pitchers tossed goose eggs against the Guardians, including 3 ¹⁄₃ innings from rookie Brant Hurter. Tigers hitters got to Guardians starter Alex Cobb for a pair of runs en route to a 3-0 win to take the series lead. Then last night it was a back-and-forth affair. Cleveland’s José Ramírez homered in the fourth to give the Guardians a 2-1 lead, but Zack McKinstry homered the next inning to tie the game. Wenceel Pérez singled home a run in the sixth to give the Tigers the lead, but All-Star David Fry hit a two-run home run in the seventh to give Cleveland a lead they would not relinquish, tying the series at two games apiece.

NLDS: Padres 2 Dodgers 2

This has been a contentious series by rivals just two hours apart. In Game 1, the Padres jumped on the Dodgers for three runs in the first, but Shohei Ohtani smacked a three-run homer to tie it. Xander Bogaerts drove home two more for the Padres in the third, but San Diego collapsed in the fourth, giving up four runs in a 7-5 loss.

In Game 2, Jurickson Profar robbed a first-inning home run by Mookie Betts, leading to some interaction with fans. Dodgers fans took issue with Profar and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and began throwing balls and trash on the field, leading to a delay (you can see the NSFW Jomboy breakdown here). Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also accused Manny Machado of tossing a ball at him during warmups between innings. Behind the pitching of Yu Darvish and a two-home run night by Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres evened the series with a 10-2 win.

Tatis homered again in Game 3 as part of a six-run second inning off Dodgers starter Walker Buehler.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a grand slam to pull the Dodgers within one, but the Dodgers could not put up any runs after that, with Ohtani striking out in the eighth in the 6-5 Padres win. Padres starter Dylan Cease continued his struggles in Game 4, and Will Smith and Gavin Lux each hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers as the won in an 8-0 romp to force a Game 5.

The winner will take on the Mets in the NLCS, who needed just four games to knock off the Phillies in a series where Francisco Lindor went 5-for-18 with a home run and 5 RBI. Game 1 of the NLCS will take place on Sunday at the winner of the Dodgers/Padres series.