Baseball is a weird game. Honestly, if you tried to script the way the 2024 MLB postseason bracket actually unfolded, a producer would probably tell you it was too unrealistic. You had a Detroit Tigers team that was basically left for dead in August suddenly turning into a buzzsaw. You had a New York Mets squad that looked like a disaster in May becoming the "Grimace" fueled darlings of October. And then, you had the heavyweights.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.
The 2024 season felt like it was destined for that collision. It was the first time since the shortened 2020 season that the teams with the best records in each league actually met in the World Series. But getting there? That was a total mess of drama, blown leads, and home runs that felt like they shook the ground.
The Chaos of the Wild Card Round
Before the big boys even took the field, the Wild Card round basically lit the bracket on fire. The Detroit Tigers, led by Tarik Skubal and a manager in A.J. Hinch who knew exactly how to dismantle his former team, swept the Houston Astros. Think about that. The Astros had made seven straight ALCS appearances. The Tigers ended that streak in two games. It was pure "pitching chaos," as Hinch called it.
On the National League side, the Milwaukee Brewers were one out away from moving on. One out. Then Pete Alonso happened. He hit a three-run blast in the ninth inning of Game 3 off Devin Williams, a guy who basically doesn't give up home runs. It was the kind of moment that makes you realize stats don't matter in October.
The Mets won that series 2-1. The San Diego Padres, meanwhile, made quick work of the Atlanta Braves, winning 2-0 and setting up a massive showdown with their neighbors to the north.
Why the Division Series Changed Everything
The ALDS and NLDS in 2024 were historic for one specific reason: every single series was tied 1-1 after two games. That has never happened before. Not once. It meant that by the time the 2024 MLB postseason bracket reached the middle of October, nobody had a clear path.
The ALDS Battles
- Yankees vs. Royals: This was gritty. Kansas City hung around, but Giancarlo Stanton decided he was going to carry the Yankees on his back. They took it in four games.
- Guardians vs. Tigers: This went the distance. It took five games and a massive performance from Lane Thomas and the Cleveland bullpen to finally put the "Gritty Tigs" to bed.
The NLDS Dramas
- Dodgers vs. Padres: This was basically the real World Series for people on the West Coast. San Diego had the Dodgers on the ropes, leading 2-1 in the series. But the Dodgers' bullpen threw 24 consecutive scoreless innings to end the series. They won Game 4 and Game 5 (a 2-0 nail-biter) to advance.
- Phillies vs. Mets: The Phillies were the favorites, but Francisco Lindor had other plans. His grand slam in Game 4 sent Philly home early. It was a 3-1 series win for the Mets that felt like a changing of the guard in the NL East.
The Pennant Races
By the time we got to the League Championship Series, the bracket had distilled down to four massive markets. Yankees vs. Guardians. Dodgers vs. Mets.
✨ Don't miss: What Time Do The Bills Play On Sunday? The Schedule Shift You Need To Know
The Yankees took care of business in five games. Juan Soto hit a legendary three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 to clinch it. It was his first year in pinstripes, and he basically became a legend in that single at-bat.
The Dodgers had a tougher time with the Mets. It went six games. Tommy Edman, a guy the Dodgers traded for at the deadline who most people barely noticed, ended up winning NLCS MVP. Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts were doing their thing, but it was the depth of that LA roster that finally broke the Mets' spirit.
The World Series: A Hollywood Ending
The 2024 MLB postseason bracket culminated in a five-game series that felt much closer than a 4-1 finish suggests. Game 1 was the instant classic. Freddie Freeman, playing on one good ankle, hit the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history. If you're a baseball fan, you've seen the Kirk Gibson highlights from 1988. This was the sequel.
The Yankees struggled. Aaron Judge went cold for a significant stretch. But Game 5 was the real heartbreaker for New York. They were up 5-0. Then, a comedy of errors—literally, three errors in one inning—allowed the Dodgers to tie it up. LA eventually won 7-6 to clinch their eighth title.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2024 Bracket
People love to say that the bye week hurts the top seeds. You hear it every year. "They're rusty!" In 2024, the two teams that had the bye and the best records met in the finals. Rust is a myth if you have the talent the Dodgers and Yankees had.
Also, don't overlook the Tigers' run. While they didn't win it all, they proved that "opener" strategies and aggressive bullpen management can work in a short series. They almost took down Cleveland with a roster that had a fraction of the payroll.
Actionable Insights for Next Season
If you're looking at how to evaluate teams for the 2025 bracket based on what we saw in 2024, keep these things in mind:
- Bullpen Depth over Starters: The Dodgers won a World Series without a traditional "ace" rotation. Their bullpen carried the load.
- The "Vibe" Factor: The Mets and Tigers proved that momentum in September is a real, tangible thing that can carry you through at least two rounds.
- The Top Seeds are Fine: Stop worrying about the layoff. The better teams usually find a way if they can survive the first two games of the Division Series.
The 2024 postseason was a wild ride that reminded us why we watch. It wasn't just about the stars; it was about the errors, the pinch-hits, and the guys like Tommy Edman and David Fry who stepped up when the lights were brightest.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming season, start tracking bullpen usage rates in August. That was the biggest indicator of postseason success in the 2024 bracket, and it's likely where the game is staying for the foreseeable future.