The Yankees and Royals had a fierce rivalry in the 1970s. Now, it’ll be rekindled in 2024. One of the two 2024 ALDS series will feature a Yankees team looking to end their 15-year title drought, against an upstart Royals team that bounced the Orioles in the Wild Card Round. Here’s our preview of the series.
Scheduled Starters and Start Times
- Game 1 (10/5/24): Michael Wacha (Royals) vs. Gerrit Cole (Yankees) – 6:38 PM ET
- Game 2 (10/7/24): Cole Ragans (Yankees) vs. Carlos Rodon (Yankees) – 7:38 PM ET
- Game 3 (10/9/24): TBD vs. TBD – 7:08 PM ET
- Game 4 (10/10/24): TBD vs. TBD –8:08 PM ET
- Game 5 (10/12/24): TBD vs. TBD – 8:08 PM ET
All five games are scheduled to air on TBS.
A Look at the Offenses
| Stat |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Runs Scored | 735 | 815 |
| Home Runs | 170 | 237 |
| OPS | .710 | .761 |
| Whiff% | 22.8% | 23.7% |
| Hard Hit% | 40.5% | 42.4% |
Kansas City’s offense didn’t excite in the AL Wild Card Round but it was effective. The Royals scored three runs over their two wins against the Orioles. Bobby Witt Jr. drove in the Royals’ lone run in Game 1 and the winning run in Game 2. Vinnie Pasquantino, who came off the IL before the series, notched two hits in the Royals’ series-clinching win.
The return of Pasquantino changes the dynamic for the Royals. Now, Kansas City doesn’t have to be a two-man show. But, their depth will need to show out against a dominant Yankees offense.
The Yankees bring a juggernaut offense to the postseason. The Bronx Bombers finished third in the Majors in runs scored and first home runs. Juan Soto and Aaron Judge were primarily responsible for that.
Judge stayed healthy for all of the regular season and thrived, as he blasted 58 home runs and led the Majors in OPS (1.159). As for Soto, the 25-year-old provided the protection needed for Judge and did outstanding in his own right. Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs in what could be his lone season in The Bronx.
Aside from Judge and Soto, watch Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton. Torres, a pending free agent after 2024, was hot in September. The Yankees infielder hit .333 (.859 OPS) with three home runs and nine extra-base hits over 25 September games. Stanton, meanwhile, will look to continue his postseason excellence. The 34-year-old hit 11 home runs in his first 27 postseason games.
New York (AL), however, will not have Anthony Rizzo for the ALDS after a hand fracture suffered late in the season. Rizzo hit .228/.301/.335 with eight home runs over 375 plate appearances.
A Look at the Pitching
| Stat | | |
|---|---|---|
| Starters’ ERA | 3.55 | 3.85 |
| Relievers’ ERA | 4.13 | 3.62 |
| Strikeouts | 1,339 | 1,457 |
| Opponents’ AVG | .241 | .233 |
| Chase% | 27.2% | 28.7% |
Kansas City’s pitching was outstanding in the Wild Card Round. Seth Lugo and the Royals bullpen held the O’s to one run in Game 2, a day after Cole Ragans struck out eight in six scoreless innings. Midseason acquisition Lucas Erceg shut the door in both games.
Ragans is the X-factor for the Royals in this series. If Ragans can effectively change speeds with his plus changeup, it’ll make life very difficult for the Yankees’ right-handed hitters (ahem, Judge). Kansas City will need Michael Wacha, who has 38 innings of postseason experience, to handle things to start.
As for the Yankees, their rotation will be in the spotlight. Gerrit Cole was not at his best in 2024; his fastball velocity was down on average 0.8 MPH from 2023 and his Whiff% was down 1.2%. His fastball wasn’t a problem pitch, as hitters only batted .186 off it. But at times, Cole can hit the zone too much and leave himself vulnerable to contact.
There are other interesting plotlines. Marcus Stroman was left off the roster in favor of speedy position player Duke Ellis. Nestor Cortes is hurt. Thus, the load will be on Cole, Rodon, and Clarke Schmidt — who had a very good 2024 when healthy.
Our Prediction
This is a tough series to call. The Yankees have a clear advantage in their lineup but not with their pitching staff. Kansas City’s pitchers don’t miss as many bats but can bleed opposing teams thanks to movement and changing speeds. In many ways, the Royals have a “classic” pitching staff.
Expect it to be a tight series. Still, we’ll go with the Yankees to overcome the Royals with their hitting depth.
Be sure to check out our previews of the Tigers/Guardians and Mets/Phillies series.