MLB Postseason 2024: Orioles and Royals Set for Wild Card Clash
As the 2024 MLB postseason officially gets underway, fans are eagerly anticipating the Wild Card Series matchup between the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals. This best-of-three contest, set to begin at Camden Yards, marks a pivotal moment for both franchises.
Orioles' Postseason Persistence
The Baltimore Orioles have secured the No. 4 seed in the American League, earning a second consecutive postseason berth. After finishing with a 91-71 record, second to the Yankees in the AL East, the Orioles are keen to advance beyond the disappointment of last year, where they were swept out of the ALDS by the Texas Rangers. Baltimore's offense appears to be peaking at the right time, having scored 56 runs in their final 10 games of the regular season.
Leading the charge for Baltimore is their ace, right-handed pitcher Corbin Burnes, who is set to start Game 1. Burnes boasts an impressive 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA, making him a formidable adversary for any lineup.
Royals' Dramatic Turnaround
On the other side, the Kansas City Royals are making their first postseason appearance since their World Series triumph in 2015, a monumental turnaround considering they suffered 106 losses last season. This remarkable improvement makes Kansas City the third team in the Expansion Era to clinch a postseason spot following a 100-loss season, joining the ranks of the 2017 Minnesota Twins and the 2020 Miami Marlins.
The Royals, who secured the No. 5 seed, will rely heavily on a core group that includes Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Perez, and pitchers Cole Ragans and Seth Lugo. Ragans, the scheduled starter for Game 1, finished with an 11-9 record and a 3.14 ERA. Both he and Lugo are anticipated to be in the top five of this year's Cy Young voting, adding to the excitement around Kansas City's pitching staff.
Game 1 Matchup
The series opener on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 4:08 p.m. ET at Camden Yards will be a significant test for both teams. Burnes' performance on the mound will be critical for the Orioles, while the Royals will look to Ragans to set the tone. Kansas City's aggressive baserunning, which saw them swipe the third-most bases among postseason teams, will be countered by Baltimore's defense, which has managed a 20% caught stealing rate.
X-Factors and Bench Depth
Key to Kansas City's hopes will be their ability to generate offense without Vinnie Pasquantino, who has been sidelined with a broken thumb since Aug. 29. Pasquantino has been working out and hitting, but it remains uncertain if he will be available for this critical series. In his absence, the Royals will need contributions from across their roster to challenge Baltimore's defense and pitching staff.
Should the series extend to a decisive Game 3, the Royals have Michael Wacha ready to take the mound, further underlining the depth of their pitching rotation.
Betting Odds and Series Outlook
The current odds favor Baltimore as the series favorite (BAL -155 | KC +130). The over/under is set at 7.0 runs, indicating a potentially tight and competitive series. Both teams' strengths and weaknesses could make for a fascinating postseason showdown.
The winner of this Wild Card Series will earn the right to face the New York Yankees in the ALDS, setting the stage for even higher stakes. For Baltimore, it’s a chance to build on recent success and make a deeper playoff run. For Kansas City, it's an opportunity to complete an astonishing turnaround and reignite the postseason hopes of a fanbase that remembers the glory of 2015.