This is the best month of the year for baseball fans like me because the 2024 MLB power rankings playoffs are here. We’ve had a thrilling regular season of surprises, great acts, and storylines we didn’t see coming. Now it’s time to consider which teams have the best chance of winning the world series. At times, every playoff team has been great, but the truth is that none of them are perfect. There aren’t any teams with 100 wins this season, which makes the 2024 playoffs very uncertain.
The 2016 Chicago Cubs, 2017 Houston Astros, and 2018 Boston Red Sox have dominated the regular season and won the postseason in the past year. Things are different this year. With 98 wins, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the team with the most wins. This is the lowest number for an MLB winner since 2014. Anyone’s team, even the ones with the fewest wins, could make it to the playoffs in baseball. In 2021 and 2022, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies did that.
This blog will rank playoff teams by world series odds based on their current form, roster strength, and postseason performance. The 2024 MLB Power Rankings for Playoff Teams show how each team is set up for a deep run, not exactly everything they did during the regular season.
Top 12 Teams in the 2024 MLB Power Rankings
1 New York Yankees
They are starting with the New York Yankees, ranked first in the 2024 MLB Power Rankings. It’s hard to ignore their promise when players like Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are on the team. Judge has had a great season and is still one of the best hitters in the league. He is a candidate for AL MVP. The Yankees’ attack is now one of the most dangerous in the playoffs, thanks to Soto’s extra power.
With Luke Weaver taking over as their closer, the Yankees have also made their bullpen better, which gives them more trust in late-game situations. Their star pitcher, Gerrit Cole, has returned to being the Cy Young candidate he used to be. The Yankees have a lot of good starting pitchers. Carlos Rodón finished the regular season strong, and Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt joined the group.
But it’s still unclear if the Yankees are ready to win it all. They have yet to be very consistent all year, but our rankings still show that they are the most likely team to win it all, thanks to their stars and a few key changes.
2 Los Angeles Dodgers
In the 2024 MLB Power Rankings for Playoff Teams, the next team on the list is the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were the best team for most of the season, but their pitching staff is a big worry going into the playoffs. Along with Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers have a good 1-3 rotation. But, it could be better than what the teams have had in the past. Late in the season, their bullpen has come together, which gives them more choices when games are close.
The Dodgers are still very scary when they’re on the attack. They have a group that can destroy other teams, led by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers could hide some problems with their pitching and go all the way to the playoffs if their lineup plays as well as it can. But, as we’ve seen in the past, the Dodgers’ attack can sometimes go silent. If that happens, they might be in trouble. Still, this team was made for baseball in October.
3 San Diego Padres
The third-best team is the San Diego Padres. They might have been at the top of the 2024 MLB Power Rankings for Playoff Teams a week ago, but a bad series against the Dodgers worried people. Still, the Padres are a team that is designed to do well in the playoffs. With Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and up-and-coming stars like Jurickson Profar and Jackson Merrill, the Padres have enough power to beat anyone.
Another thing that works in their favor is their starting staff, which includes Dylan Stop, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, and Michael King. They have a strong relief with Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, and Jason Adam in the back end. But Suarez has been having a bad run lately, which makes me wonder how steady he will be in the playoffs.
The Padres are a team that could either make the playoffs or give up early. A lot will depend on how their stars perform and how well their bullpen performs when things get tough.
4 Philadelphia Phillies
Before the playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies were among the most interesting teams. In the last two games, they’ve shown that they’re better suited to the fast pace of the playoffs than the slow pace of the regular season. They looked like a real threat at times this year, but recent problems make people worry.
The Phillies’ rotation is good, and they could have four aces. Ranger Suárez, so, has had a terrible time lately. In his last four games, he has had an ERA of 7.79. The Phillies might have trouble if he doesn’t get back on track. There is still a chance that the Phillies could turn things around and make another run to the world series. They have a strong bullpen and a deep lineup.
5 Houston Astros
The Astros have been to every ALCS since 2017 and have been a regular in the playoffs. After a slow start to the season, they’ve been playing some of the best baseball in the league since May. Framber Valdez, Yusei Kikuchi, and Ronel Blanco lead the rotation, but Justin Verlander’s role is unclear. Verlander looks different from the player he used to be, but his experience could still be useful.
The Astros have a top-heavy offense but enough power to stay in any game. However, they don’t feel as strong as they did in previous seasons. They are still a strong favorite to win it all thanks to their experience and recent good play.
6 Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians are an interesting team in the playoffs. The other teams in the race have stronger lineups, but they do have two stars in José Ramírez and Josh Naylor. So, a weak starting lineup could be a big problem for them in the playoffs.
The Guardians’ strength is their relief. They had the best bullpen in baseball this year, which helped keep games short and eased the load on their starts. The Guardians can make a strong run if their relievers can stay healthy. But because they don’t have any strong players, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they left early.
7 Milwaukee Brewers
They won their division but don’t look as good as other playoff teams, like the Guardians. Their rotation is a worry, especially since Christian Yelich’s illness could make them less offensively productive. The Brewers, have a strong attack that can score runs, and they steal bases very often.
They have a chance to make a run because their bullpen has been great in the second half of the season. However, there are few big stars on this team, which could be their weakness and cause them to lose early on.
8 New York Mets
These playoffs have been strange for the New York Mets. Since June, they’ve been one of the best baseball teams, but injuries and a doubleheader caused by a storm have slowed them down. Edwin Díaz will probably not play in Game 1, and their relief is already not very strong. They’ve shown an amazing ability to come back from behind late in games, even with these problems. That toughness could help them go a long way.
9 Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles have had a rough second half of the season. Since the beginning of July, they are 34–38. But they had a good finish to the season, and Corbin Burnes and Zach Eflin are a great pair at the top of their rotation. The Orioles’ relief is a worry, but they might surprise some people if everything works out.
10 Kansas City Royals
The Royals were almost a top-five team in these ranks a month ago. But two losing streaks of seven games each at the end of the season have lowered hopes. Still, they have a strong bench with stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, who could help them get to the playoffs. But because of their current problems, they aren’t very likely to win.
11 Detroit Tigers
What a “team of destiny” the Detroit Tigers are in this year’s playoffs. They’re riding a 33-15 record down the stretch into the playoffs. They have less power or depth than some other teams, but Tarik Skubal, who is in the running for Cy Young, leads their rotation. Their run is one of the most exciting to watch, but it’s not likely that they’ll win it all.
12 Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves have had a lot of illness and bad luck this season. They did well to make the playoffs, but they only have a few pitchers left, and they look like they’re barely getting by. It’s not possible that this team will make it past the first round, even though they have the skills to do so.
Who Will Prevail?
There will be drama, excitement, and a few shocks in the 2024 MLB power rankings for playoffs. Multiple teams can hit home runs, which shows how unpredictable the playoffs baseball is. According to The Power Rankings (TPR), the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres are the current favorites. However, the playoffs are very unpredictable, so anything could happen.
As we prepare for what looks like an amazing playoff season, keep in mind that each game can change the story. Moments that make or break a title run often happen when you least expect them. They could be a clutch home run, a great pitching performance, or a defensive play that changes the game.
As the playoffs go on, check back with The Power Rankings for the latest news, analysis, and views. As your favorite teams and players try to win the world series, the biggest prize in baseball. We promise to give you accurate scores based on data. Start the games!
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