- What: 2024 MLB postseason Wild Card Round
- Who: Houston Astros vs. Detroit Tigers
- When: Game 1 on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas
- How to watch: ABC
Here we go, baseball fans. The regular season is wrapped up and it's time for everyone to get ready for some postseason action. Things are ready to rock for Tuesday and the hunt is on to see which team will be able to come out on top and win the 2024 World Series. First, though, there's some ball to be played to set up the Divisional Round. And to get us going, the Astros are favored to beat the Tigers in the 2024 AL Wild Card Round. Will Joe Espada's men come through?
In the first round of the postseason, the Astros should take care of the Tigers in the Wild Card Round. The Tigers surprised a lot of people by sneaking into the playoffs, but they're going to have a tall mountain to climb going up against Houston. Matter of fact, we think Houston should cruise to a series win and not break a sweat in doing so. This team is simply too talented.
| Wild Card odds |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astros to win | -155 | -155 | -155 |
| Tigers to win | +350 | +350 | +350 |
| Over 2.5 games | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Under 2.5 games | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Houston knows what it takes to have success in the postseason, with Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and others knowing what it takes to create magic in pressure situations. The Astros have broken countless hearts in New York after eliminating the Yankees, and they could end up meeting again soon. Before then, though, Houston will have a short series with the Tigers and they'll need to make a statement.
According to the best sports betting sites, the Astros hold -155 baseball betting odds to take down Detroit and move on to the Divisional Round. The Tigers have been a great story in the MLB this year and their fans are 100 percent loving what the club has been able to get done. It will be interesting to see if they'll make things tight, but look for Houston to take care of business. The Astros are our pick.
Can the Gritty Tigs topple a Houston team that has made SEVEN straight ALCS appearances?
Game 1 of the Best-of-3 AL Wild Card matchup between the @Tigers and @Astros is Tuesday at 2:32 PM ET on ABC. pic.twitter.com/fySSwF2YUT
— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2024
Will the Astros post a 2-0 series sweep in the Wild Card Round?
A big question a lot of fans have right now is will the Astros post a 2-0 series sweep in the Wild Card Round? It's important to remember that in the Wild Card, it's only a three-game series and not an extended version. Because of that, it's imperative for a team to post a victory in Game 1. It sets the tone for the rest of the action, which is why both teams will be sending out their top hurlers for the opening contest.
The Astros and Espada have already announced that superstar pitcher Framber Valdez will be getting the nod for the opening meeting. Valdez is a talented lefty who has given opposing teams problems all year. Now, he's ready to do his thing under the bright postseason lights. Espada has full trust in him to compete at a high level, but the Houston manager also knows the rest of the clubhouse will be focused on operating at a high level to open the playoffs.
Your 2024 AL ERA Leaders:
2.39 - Tarik Skubal DET
2.80 - Ronel Blanco HOU
2.91 - Framber Valdez HOU
2.92 - Corbin Burnes BAL
2.94 - Bryce Miller SEA pic.twitter.com/H93QPelluT— MLB (@MLB) September 30, 2024
“When this team goes in the postseason, that’s where all the teams don’t want to see us," Espada said in a recent interview. "Teams were counting us out. We never count ourselves out. We always push ourselves. We always help each other. And we find ourselves celebrating something.”
So, will the Astros get things over with here quickly, or will the Tigers steal either Game 1 or Game 2 away from them? While yes, Detroit has been impressive throughout the spring and summer, we think that the Astros are going to be too tough for them to break down. We're confident the Astros will win Game 1 on Tuesday and then they'll get things over with on Wednesday too. This will be a quick series win for Bakers and Co.
The Astros would meet the Guardians in the Divisional Round if they advance
While fans don't want to get too ahead of themselves, keep in mind that the Astros would meet the Guardians in the Divisional Round if they advance. Entering the playoffs, Houston is the No. 3 seed in the American League after winning the AL West, while the Guardians are the No. 2 seed after winning the AL Central. Plenty of people are hoping Cleveland and Houston will go to battle in the next round.
The Astros have moved on to the ALCS a mind-blowing seven straight times and they're hoping to reach No. 8 in October. Standing in their way would be Cleveland, who a lot of people are high on. Interestingly enough, Houston holds betting World Series odds per the top MLB betting sites over the Guardians. We'll wait and see if they end up facing off, but if they do, the Astros would be our pick for that series too.
