The 2024 MLB playoffs began with some high drama across the country, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets and Cleveland Guardians all coming out on top in Game 1 of their Division Series.
Here’s how it all went down:
Dodgers 7, Padres 5
The Dodgers and Padres capped a chaotic day with another dramatic game, with the Dodgers coming out on top 7-5.
It started with a three-run inning from the Padres against Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Shohei Ohtani responded with a three-run homerto introduce himself to the MLB postseason. Both teams had another rally in them from there, but the Dodgers were the team that held firm after both starting pitchers left the game.
The Dodgers bullpen combined to throw six scoreless innings, though they were adventurous, with four walks total in the eighth and ninth innings.
Yankees 6, Royals 5
In their first postseason matchup since 1980, the Kansas City Royals and New York Yankees traded the lead five times, which had never happened before in a postseason game, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. The Yankees went on top 6–5 in the seventh inning on an Alex Verdugo RBI single off Michael Lorenzen and made the lead stick.
Luke Weaver closed out the win with a four-out save, striking out three Kansas City batters while allowing no runs or hits. Gleyber Torres and Austin Wells each drove in two runs for the Yankees, and Verdugo and Anthony Volpe each had one RBI.
For the Royals, MJ Melendez and Garrett Hampson both had two RBI, with Tommy Pham driving in the other. Michael Lorenzen took the loss, allowing one run.
Mets 6, Phillies 2
The Phillies and Mets played two games on Saturday.
The first was a Zack Wheeler gem. The Phillies starter mowed down the Mets lineup for seven straight innings, striking out nine and allowing only one hit. After a Kyle Schwarber leadoff homer, it was looking like that was all the Phillies would need, thanks to their ace and their stacked bullpen.
Then that bullpen took over in the eighth inning and got ground into a fine paste. Jeff Hoffman (2.17 regular-season ERA), Matt Strahm (1.87 ERA) and Orion Kerkering (2.29 ERA) allowed seven straight Mets to reach base and/or drive in a run. By the end of the frame, the Mets were up 5-1, and Citizen Banks Park had gone from raucous to silent.
Cleveland started the game strong, with a five-run first inning highlighted by Lane Thomas’ three-run homer. Thomas sent Reese Olson’s first relief pitch over the left-field wall. Olson calmed things down over the next several innings, but the Guardians got to reliever Sean Guenther in the bottom of the sixth, when David Fry’s two-run double extended their lead to 7-0.
Guardians starter Tanner Bibee went 4 2/3 innings and allowed zero runs on four hits while striking out six batters.
Here’s a look at the four Game 1s:
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SD-LAD: Dodgers 7, Padres 5
The Dodgers take a chaotic Game 1 behind a Shohei Ohtani homer, an outstanding bullpen performance and some timely hitting later in the game.
Both teams wanted this one and now might have to navigate a fatigued bullpen in Game 2, which will be Jack Flaherty vs. Yu Darvish.
SD-LAD: Tanner Scott prevents insurance runs for Dodgers
The southpaw shows why the Padres brought him in at the trade deadline. He strikes out both Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman to send the game to the ninth with the Dodgers up two runs. Now we see if the San Diego lineup can vindicate Mike Shildt’s aggressive bullpen strategy.
Blake Treinen has pitched more than 1 IP just twice all year, most recently August 29. Does not appear to be anyone warming in #Dodgers bullpen
SD-LAD: Padres bring in Tanner Scott in the eighth
We have a seventh-inning pitching change. This time, the Padres bring in left-handed ace Tanner Scott after a leadoff single by Tommy Edman. They might be down two runs, but they’re taking no chances with Shohei Ohtani on deck. At bat now, though: Miguel Rojas.
SD-LAD: Blake Treinen loads the bases, but preserves the lead
Blake Treinen got Xander Bogaerts out, needing a great play from Miguel Rojas to prevent a bloop hit (see below). Treinen then walked Jake Cronenworth to load the bases and struck out Donovan Solano to end the threat.
All those baserunners guarantee the Padres will send at least Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. to the plate in the ninth.
SD-LAD: After Michael Kopech walks 2, Dodgers bring in Blake Treinen for 5-out save
Kopech, the closest thing the Dodgers have to a closer, opens his appearance by walking Jurickson Profar on four pitches, striking out Manny Machado, then issuing a 10-pitch walk to Jackson Merrill. That will be it for him, as the Dodgers are turning to Blake Treinen for a five-out save.
This is the sixth mid-inning pitching change of the game.
SD-LAD: Michael Kopech in for the Dodgers
After a scoreless bottom of the seventh for the Dodgers, Michael Kopech comes in to face Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill in the playoffs. Pretty wild sentence for a guy who posted a 4.74 ERA with the White Sox this year (he holds a 1.13 mark with the Dodgers after joining them at the trade deadline).
SD-LAD: Evan Phillips stays in to throw a scoreless inning
After coming in last inning, former Dodgers closer Evan Phillips stays for the seventh and puts down pinch-hitter David Peralta, Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres are down to their last six outs, with the score 7-5.
SD-LAD: Jason Adam throws Padres’ first 1-2-3 inning
That was an impressive showing from Jason Adam, who posted the first perfect inning of the game for San Diego, against the top of the Dodgers rotation. He struck out Shohei Ohtani and got groundouts from Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. That changeup, combined with his wonky mechanics, is a weapon.
SD-LAD: This is going to be a long game
This game started at 5:39 PT. We’re now well into hour three of the game, and it’s still the top of the sixth. Two inefficient starters, four mid-inning pitching changes (like this one replacing Alex Vesia with Evan Phillips) and a bunch of offense will do that.
The longest nine-inning game of the pitch clock era, regular season and postseason, is three hours and 45 minutes.
SD-LAD: Dodgers add a run on a double play
Edman hits a grounder to short. Xander Bogaerts thinks about going for the runner at home, but opts for an easy double-play ball instead. It’s now 7-5 Dodgers.
SD-LAD: Dodgers threatening after Manny Machado error
Will Smith reached second base after a rare Manny Machado throwing error, then Gavin Lux hits a bloop single to left. The Dodgers now have runners on the corners with no outs, and Tommy Edman up.
Curiously, Edman, a switch-hitter, is hitting right-handed against Estrada, a right-hander (Edman has bad splits hitting lefty).
SD-LAD: Dodgers have now matched the offensive output of their entire 2023 postseason
Max Muncy strikes out to end the fourth. With six runs, the Dodgers have now equaled their run total from their 2023 NLDS loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks — in the span of four innings.
Having Shohei Ohtani helps.
SD-LAD: Teoscar Hernandez gives the Dodgers the lead
Teoscar Hernandez comes through with the bases loaded and two outs, hitting a liner to center. Jackson Merrill also misplays the bounce, allowing an extra run to come in. We’ve got a game here.
SD-LAD: Padres get the runner at home
Freeman hits a soft grounder to first and Donovan Solano juuuuust gets the ball to home to get Rojas. The Dodgers challenge the call at home and it’s predictably confirmed.
The Padres are now swapping out Morejon for Jeremiah Estrada
SD-LAD: Dodgers score a run on passed ball, Padres IBB Mookie Betts
That’s one way to cut the lead to 5-4. Edman scores from third on a pitch that got past Kyle Higashioka. Now the Padres intentionally walk Betts on a 2-2 count and have Morejon face Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded again and one out.
SD-LAD: Ohtani hits single with RISP, but no run
Ohtani reaches base on a broken-bat bloop single center, but it wasn’t enough to score Edman from second. Mookie Betts will get the bases loaded with one out against the lefty Morejon.
SD-LAD: Padres pull Dylan Cease with Shohei Ohtani up to bat
Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas both hit one-out singles, and that will do it for Dylan Cease after 3 1/3 innings and 82 pitches. The Padres bring in left-hander Adrian Morejon to face the top of the Dodgers order, starting with Shohei Ohtani.
SD-LAD: Ryan Brasier posts scoreless inning out of bullpen
Ryan Brasier comes in and works around a Kyle Higashioka double for a scoreless inning of relief work. With how the Dodgers rotation is shaping up, this series could hinge on their bullpen.
