The difference between a great September story and a great October story is that if a great September story doesn't have any goddamned starting pitching, it's never gonna become a great October story.
The Tigers were fun to watch, and it was wonderful to see them take out the Astros, but eventually you realize that all they really have right now in terms of viable starting options is Tarik Skubal. Aside from that, many of the other starters made appearances during Game 1 against Cleveland. Reese Olson, Keider Montero. Neither did especially well. Olson gave up the homer to Lane Thomas.
The Guardians also have some starting depth issues, but they at least had someone like Tanner Bibee ready for today, and he absolutely delivered. And then once he's out, you just give it to the bullpen and...forget it. The Tigers will have Skubal on Monday, and that will help, but aside from that...they kinda have to hope the lineup comes through, and against a more uniform pitching staff, I dunno if it will.
The Guardians' bats really came out today, though. Thomas, Ramirez, Kwan, Fry, the whole bunch basically. They're hungry and ready, and they want an ALCS. The Tigers could rally, as they tend to, and I think Game 2 will go better for them, but they don't have enough to outlast the Guardians in 5 games.
Mets-Phillies Game 1 was all about pitching leverage. How do you utilize good pitching, and when does it steer you wrong. Kodai Senga only needed a couple innings, but aside from a leadoff Schwarbomb he had the Phils right where he wanted them. Save with David Peterson. The Phils' hitters would later complain that the shadow coverage at 4 PM made it difficult to really see anything for the first 7 innings, and it's a viable complaint, but the Mets' pitching was also very good.
Zach Wheeler also made it difficult for the Mets for 7 innings, mostly due to his own consistency today. It was a truly excellent postseason performance, and I wish the bullpen hadn't spoiled it for him. Ultimately, the Phils let it get away from them, and the still-strong Mets pounded away in the 8th. We did it to ourselves, and it's not a position we want to be in for Game 2 tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Yanks-Royals was tense as hell. Two really good teams just going back and forth. Cole gave up some runs early, the Royals' bullpen gave up some late. The big heroes had moments to deliver and didn't. People like M.J. Melendez, Gleyber Torres, Garrett Hampson and ALEX VERDUGO SOMEHOW were the heroes. Torres had a sharp homer early to get things rolling. I wish that Judge wasn't off tonight, because we got very lucky walking 2 guys home and he could have given us a hand at any point, but I'll still take the win. We fought for it, we earned it. I can breathe easy. The next one, with Cole Ragans on the mound, won't be much easier.
Similarly back-and-forth was the Padres-Dodgers Game 1, a match between two teams with history who both want to one-up each other. It didn't shock me at all that this was a competitive one. Machado would do something huge, Ohtani would do something huge, Bogaerts would add on. I kinda figured Dylan Cease would hold down runs a little better but all things considered it's not solely the reason the Padres lost.
I think the Dodgers were a little bit more successful in their late-game rallying. Tommy Edman would come on and bat some people home. Anytime the Padres would be in position to do so, they...wouldn't. And believe me, they tried. Michael Kopech loaded the bases, Blake Treinen made it sticky late, but the bullpen remained spotless. As good as the Padres' bullpen was this season, the Dodgers' bullpen already is having the better October.
We'll see if the Padres strike back tomorrow, along with the Phillies. But man, this was a fun start to the proper postseason opening.
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