5 Most Dangerous MLB Teams Entering the 2024 Postseason
Grant White
Host · Writer
Los Angeles Dodgers
Everyone expects the Los Angeles Dodgers to make this list, and deservingly so. LA is priced as the odds-on favorite (+350) to claim this year's World Series, and the Dodgers have all the pieces to make it happen.
Opposing pitchers have nowhere to hide, primarily through the top half of the order. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez (three MVPs and a Home Run Derby Champion) are the most dangerous top-four batters in the majors. Of course, Ohtani did most of the heavy lifting, but those batters combined for 393 RBI, 374 runs, and 128 home runs. For perspective, the Washington Nationals totaled 135 homers as a team, and they weren't even the worst squad in the MLB.
While some have discounted the Dodgers' pitching staff, data doesn't objectively support that. Los Angeles pitchers finished in the league's top half in virtually every category, putting together a 2.50 ERA over the season's final week.
With Ohtani potentially coming out of the bullpen later this postseason, there isn't a hole on this roster. Watch them ride that late-season momentum into their sixth NLCS over the last nine years.
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Atlanta Braves
Sure, it took the Atlanta Braves all 162 games to clinch a postseason berth, and they still almost blew it, but they couldn't be entering the playoffs on more sure footing.
The Braves mashed their way into a wild-card spot. Over the past two weeks, Atlanta has swatted 25 homers and 45 extra-base hits, accumulating the second-best OPS in the MLB. More importantly, offensive productivity correlates with elite run production, with the Braves averaging 4.8 runs per game. Likewise, Atlanta's pitching has been superb. Over the same 13-game sample, Braves pitchers have combined for a 3.21 ERA, with 1.01 walks and hits per inning pitched and an opponent's batting average of .196.
As we've seen in years past, the Braves typically reserve their best performances for the playoffs. Don't be surprised if they pull off a surprising upset as +146 underdogs against the San Diego Padres.
San Diego Padres
It's a shame only one of the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres will advance to the NLDS. Like their wild card counterparts, the Padres are riding a wave of momentum into the postseason, and they have all the makings of a potential champion.
As usual, San Diego reserved its best performances for the latter part of the campaign. Since the start of September, the Padres have the seventh-best OPS, ninth-most homers, and sixth-most extra-base hits. However, they're projected to see a massive increase in run production. Across that same sample, the Friars have mustered 13th-fewest runs, supporting increased output at the right time of year.
But even if they don't maximize run production, their pitchers will keep them in games. San Diego's staff has the fourth-lowest ERA and fifth-lowest WHIP over the past couple of weeks, affording them yet another advantage in the postseason.
Installed with the fifth-best odds (+850), the Padres have the confidence of the betting market to make some noise.
Cleveland Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians have become synonymous with pitching. Operating with a stout starting rotation and the best bullpen in the game gives the Guardians every advantage they need to temper the hard-hitting American League bracket.
The 2022 postseason offers a glimpse of what to expect from Cleveland in this year's edition. They needed just three runs to punch their way out of the wild card round against the Tampa Bay Rays. Let's not forget that Game 2 went 15 innings with the Guardians prevailing 1-0 thanks to their elite arms. Subsequently, they pushed the perennial powerhouse New York Yankees to the brink, losing in five games in the ALDS.
Cleveland couldn't be in better shape coming into the 2024 postseason. They earned a first-round bye, affording them the luxury of resting all of their arms ahead of the divisional round. Moreover, their collective 2.18 ERA as a staff over the past two weeks is the best in the majors.
We wouldn't be surprised if they rode their pitching staff to a spot in the World Series, upsetting the futures board as +1100 underdogs.
Kansas City Royals
Our only concern regarding the Kansas City Royals is that they don't have much playoff experience to lean on. This group of young up-and-comers exceeded expectations this season, and they could set the bar even higher with a deep playoff run.
Things couldn't be going better for the Royals. Offensively, they get production from top to bottom. They had six players with at least 14 home runs, and eight accounted for 88 total runs (RBI+runs). Similarly, their pitching staff came together as one of the top units in the bigs. Led by Seth Lugo, Royals pitchers combined for a 3.76 ERA on the season, dropping that to 2.66 over the past two weeks.
That's without even considering their top-end defensive play. Kansas City has playmakers at every position, with nine players finishing with above-average defensive metrics.
Playoff maturity could be the only limiting factor impacting the Royals. But as we saw this year, they're ready to take the next step.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Everyone expects the Los Angeles Dodgers to make this list, and deservingly so. LA is priced as the odds-on favorite (+350) to claim this year's World Series, and the Dodgers have all the pieces to make it happen.
Opposing pitchers have nowhere to hide, primarily through the top half of the order. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernandez (three MVPs and a Home Run Derby Champion) are the most dangerous top-four batters in the majors. Of course, Ohtani did most of the heavy lifting, but those batters combined for 393 RBI, 374 runs, and 128 home runs. For perspective, the Washington Nationals totaled 135 homers as a team, and they weren't even the worst squad in the MLB.
While some have discounted the Dodgers' pitching staff, data doesn't objectively support that. Los Angeles pitchers finished in the league's top half in virtually every category, putting together a 2.50 ERA over the season's final week.
With Ohtani potentially coming out of the bullpen later this postseason, there isn't a hole on this roster. Watch them ride that late-season momentum into their sixth NLCS over the last nine years.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Atlanta Braves
Sure, it took the Atlanta Braves all 162 games to clinch a postseason berth, and they still almost blew it, but they couldn't be entering the playoffs on more sure footing.
The Braves mashed their way into a wild-card spot. Over the past two weeks, Atlanta has swatted 25 homers and 45 extra-base hits, accumulating the second-best OPS in the MLB. More importantly, offensive productivity correlates with elite run production, with the Braves averaging 4.8 runs per game. Likewise, Atlanta's pitching has been superb. Over the same 13-game sample, Braves pitchers have combined for a 3.21 ERA, with 1.01 walks and hits per inning pitched and an opponent's batting average of .196.
As we've seen in years past, the Braves typically reserve their best performances for the playoffs. Don't be surprised if they pull off a surprising upset as +146 underdogs against the San Diego Padres.
