The 2024 Major League Baseball playoffs are in full swing, and as we make our way to the midpoint of the championship series in both leagues, Caplin News will look back on the lessons learned so far. From wild-card upsets to a miracle New York Mets run, an entire summer’s worth of storylines are set to converge the rest of this October.
Here’s five things we’ve learned so far, as the National League Championship Series continues Wednesday in New York:
MEET THE METS’ BREAKOUT STAR, MARK VIENTOS
The Mets were not even supposed to be here. It took a nine-game win streak in late August through early September some doubleheader shenanigans on the day after the last day of the season for New York to squeak into the NL playoff bracket as the sixth seed. But they’ve made it count.
Enter Mark Vientos, the 24-year old third baseman from American Heritage School in Plantation who solidified his place in the Mets lineup earlier this year. In a postseason with names like Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Bobby Witt Jr., it’s Vientos, in his first ever postseason who’s outshining them all, hitting .378 with three homers and 11 RBIs before Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday night at Citi Field.
He’s even had his first signature playoff moment when he crushed a grand slam in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Dodgers that helped the Mets split the series in Los Angeles.
Vientos is making it tough for teams to try and pitch around Fransicso Lindor or Pete Alonso, and if all three of those bats get humming at the right time, the Mets are tough to beat. New York’s postseason success now hinges on Vientos and his emergence as a star.
“That’s the one thing that Mark doesn’t lack,” Lindor said after Game 2, “and that’s confidence. He’s a very confident baseball player. He believes in himself. That’s who he is.”

THE DODGERS DON’T NEED THEIR STARS (YET)
The Dodgers might have the most potent offense in the sport. The Dodgers spent a lot of money to secure Ohtani, Betts and Freddie Freeman, a trio that should terrorize opposing starters in the playoffs. But that hasn’t been the case so far.
Headed into Game 3 on Wednesday night, Ohtani had struck out 12 times in nine games, and Betts was hitting .192. Freeman had been the best of the bunch, but he hasn’t yet recorded an extra base hit.
Still the Dodgers have found their way into the NLCS after a hard fought series win against San Diego. The reason? The bullpen.
The starters have been serviceable, save for Jack Flaherty, who has put himself in the shop window with two good starts ahead of his impending free agency, but it’s the relievers who have stolen the show for Los Angeles. Before Game 3, seven Dodger relievers had thrown at least 3.0 innings this postseason without surrendering a run.
If the bullpen keeps up this performance and the stars start to shine, the Dodgers may be unbeatable.
THE ORIOLES STILL NEED TIME TO MATURE
Baltimore Orioles fans thought the rebuild was over last season as the team won 101-games in 2023. The team made its first playoff appearance in eight years, but were then swept in the ALDS 3-0 by the Texas Rangers.
This year? Another playoff appearance, another sweep. This time, 2-0, in the wild-card round by the upstart Kansas City Royals.
The Rangers series could be forgiven, the Orioles were beaten by a team that spent exorbitant resources to get good quickly, unlike the O’s who built a team up the right way with draft capital and prospects.
But in 2024 there were no moral victories, they were swept by a rebuilding team that spent money smartly and jumped the line.
The Orioles have the talent to be a World Series team, but now they need the postseason performances.
Since 2017 when the rebuild started in earnest, the lowly Miami Marlins have the same number of appearances and more postseason wins than the O’s. Miami just began another rebuild, looking to mimic Baltimore’s path back to relevance. These last two postseasons should give those fans a sense of just how long that can take.

JUAN SOTO IS ADDING ICING ON THE CAKE
Of all the pending free agents playing in the MLB postseason this year, Soto is by far the biggest fish in the October pond. The 25-year-old has already turned in arguably the best season of his now 8 year career hitting .288, smashing 41 home runs, and walking more than he struck out.
Based on those numbers alone, the pending free agent was going to get paid. But all he’s done so far in the postseason is add to the number that will be on that contract this offseason. He has been stellar so far for the Yankees, hitting to a tune of .350 and launching a moonshot to open the scoring in the Yankees ALCS Game 1 victory.
In Game 2, another Yankees win, the Cleveland Guardians were so intimidated of Soto’s prospects, they intentionally walked him to get to Judge with the bases loaded.
“I can’t say i was totally shocked there,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “You’ve got to pick your poison sometimes and they were up against it. You need something to go really well to keep yourself in the game sometimes. You’ve got to take a shot with something that’s a little unconventional.”
Soto may get north of $500 million dollars, which severely limits the market for him, but one of the teams that could afford him are these Yankees, and with his postseason play so far, they’ll welcome him back with open arms.
POSTSEASON BASEBALL IS A POPULAR PROPOSITION
Just two seasons ago, Major League Baseball made drastic changes to its rules. Facing a dwindling fanbase, the pitch clock, banning the shift, and larger bases were incorporated to reduce game time and make the game more exciting.
It’s certainly paid off this postseason. Viewership is up 18% over last season, averaging 3.3 million per game through the divisional round. The game 5 matchup between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers was the most watched divisional day game in 17 years, and the Padres and Dodgers game 5 was the most watched divisional matchup since 2017.
With the opportunity of a Yankees and Mets or Yankees and Dodgers World Series, those numbers could keep getting higher.