The Tigers and Astros open the 2024 post-season in Houston in one of the best match-ups of the day as Tarik Skubal faces Framber Valdez. Skubal finished 0.01 points behind Chris Sale for the major league lead in ERA. His three true outcomes are truly outstanding. Valdez ranks as one of the best pitchers in the majors over the last four seasons. He ranks third in ERA in that time frame with a 55-30 record. He had his ups and downs in the post-season, however.

The Royals send Cole Ragans against the Orioles in Baltimore with Corbin Burnes taking the mound for the home team. Ragans and his teammate Seth Lugo wound up very close in ERA, with Ragans 0.14 runs higher at 3.14. Ragans did a better job mowing down batters with strikeouts, while Lugo issued fewer walks. Both did a fine job keeping the ball in the park. Burnes is up there with Valdez over the last four seasons, his 2.94 ERA tied with Zack Wheeler for best in the majors.

Luis Severino and the Mets wipe the sleep out of their eyes as they day dream about a win in Milwaukee against Freddy Peralta and the Brewers. Winning game one of the Monday doubleheader gave the Mets a good option in starting Severino. He is good at limiting power, but the Brewers aren’t primarily a power team. Their strength is getting on base, and Severino is less good at stopping that. Peralta blows batters away to compensate for this somewhat high walk and home run rates.

Finally, the Braves have not settled on a starting pitcher for their game in San Deigo. Ian Anderson, who has not pitched in the majors since 2022, is in the mix. The Padres go with the hot hand of Michael King, who owns a 2.02 ERA since 6/29. He allowed four home runs in those 80 innings.

Enjoy!