The wild card round is already over, and the highlight was most certainly the Mets-Brewers series. An epic win-or-go-home Game 3 featured an intense pitchers’ duel, back-to-back Milwaukee homers in the 7th, and a slump-busting 3-run shot from Pete Alonso to keep the Mets alive. 

The Padres swept the injury-plagued Braves in the National League. In the American League, both road teams upset higher seeds. The Tigers ended the Astros ALCS streak with a comeback win in Game 2, marking the first time Houston has missed the ALCS since the Obama administration. Since 2017, the Astros had reached every ALCS, winning four pennants and two World Series titles in that span. 

In Baltimore, the bats went silent for the Orioles. The upstart Royals won games by the score of 1-0 and 2-1, respectively. For Baltimore it’s another disappointing October – the Orioles have not won a playoff game since 2014, losing 10 straight postseason contests. Kansas City will rekindle their rivalry with the favored Yankees in the ALDS, marking the first time the two have met in the playoffs since their rivalry peaked with four matchups in five years between 1976 and 1980. 

Since MLB expanded the postseason format in 2022 to six teams and four best-of-three wild card series, the round has mostly lacked drama with 10 of 12 series ending in 2-0 sweeps. Thankfully, this year delivered at least one thrilling conclusion to set up the division series. Below are our picks for the round, along with updated World Series predictions from the Duck on a Rock staff.

Division Series

ALDS

No. 5 Kansas City Royals vs. No. 1 New York Yankees

Colin’s pick: Yankees
Matt McD’s pick: Yankees
Matt O’s pick: Yankees
Diamond’s pick: Royals

No. 6 Detroit Tigers vs. No. 2 Cleveland Guardians

Colin’s pick: Tigers
Matt McD’s pick: Guardians
Matt O’s pick: Tigers
Diamond’s pick: Guardians

NLDS

No. 6 New York Mets vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies

Colin’s pick: Mets
Matt McD’s pick: Mets
Matt O’s pick: Phillies
Diamond’s pick: Mets

No. 4 San Diego Padres vs No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers

Colin’s pick: Padres
Matt McD’s pick: Padres
Matt O’s pick: Padres
Diamond’s pick: Padres

World Series

Colin’s pick: Yankees over Mets
Matt McD’s pick: Guardians over Padres (amended) 
Matt O’s pick: Phillies over Yankees
Diamond’s pick: Padres over Guardians (amended) 

We’ll check back in to see who wins, and who was right, next week. Until then, enjoy postseason baseball.