A Sportsish Guide to Pick Your MLB Wildcard Team
October is finally here, bringing some of our favorite fall season staples: pumpkin spice lattes, an annual 'Gilmore Girl' rewatch, and the MLB playoffs. We already know our signature orders and that Rory should've picked Jess, but baseball teams are a bit more challenging to choose from. If you'd like to support a baseball team in the upcoming weeks but feel uncertain about which one is the best fit for you, here's a quick guide to help you know them better. The postseason kicked off on October 1st with the Wild Card games, so as these are some of the best teams in the league, we decided to take a sports-ish approach and tell you more about what makes them great off the field.
Detroit Tigers vs. Houston Astros
The Tigers secured a wild card spot in the playoffs with their 86-76 record and are now set to face the 88-73 Houston Astros. This is Detroit's first postseason appearance since 2014, which makes this achievement an exciting moment for them, while the Astros have attended seven times in the last eight years.
As they prepare to meet each other for their first game of three on Tuesday at Houston's Minute Maid Park, plenty of celebrities are eager to see their teams show up. The Tigers' fan base includes Detroit's own Eminem. He has even collaborated with the team as an avid lover of his hometown and all of its sports teams. Meanwhile, on the Astros sidelines, fellow rapper and Houston native Travis Scott is repping the team.
Kate Upton & Justin Verlander after winning the World Series
An added interesting invisible sports-ish string between the teams is that Justin Verlander was a star pitcher for the Tigers before signing with the Astros, with whom he'd go on to win the World Series. Justin, as much as he is known for his precise throws, has also been widely recognized as Kate Upton's husband, making the Sports Illustrated model a part of the Astros' WAG Royalty.
Riley Greene
If the WAG route isn't your thing, perhaps one of Detroit's star players, Riley Greene, might persuade you to root for the Tigers. He has been a critical player in the team's rebuilding process, joining the team in 2019. He excels at both offensive and defensive plays, with an impressive left-handed swing that makes him one of the team's stellar players. And if he says, 'Baseball is fun,' we'll definitely take his word for it.
Kansas City Royals vs. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles have been slowly but surely building up to this moment. After an impressive 101 wins last season, their best since 1979, they kept the momentum going long enough to have a 91-71 record in this one. As for the Royals, their trajectory to this playoffs was the other way around. They returned stronger after losing 106 games last year, finishing with an 86-76 record this time.
Boog's BBQ in Camden Yards
They will now face each other at Baltimore's Camden Yards, the perfect excuse to make it a thrilling and interactive game day. You can try Boog's BBQ, a concession restaurant owned by former Orioles first baseman Boog Powell, or even find a seat in the 'Splash Zone,' a special section of the stands where fans have the chance to get sprayed by water every time there's a home run, giving the celebrations a playful twist. The best part is that the players join in on the celebratory fun, doing their own funny take on 'the sprinkler' and making every game have a joyful environment.
Michael Phelps at the Oriole's batting practice (AP Photo)
As for the fandom you could join, the Orioles have the support of the legendary swimmer and Baltimore native Michael Phelps, while one of the Royals' most notable supporters is Ant-Man himself, Paul Rudd.
Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets
As the third seed in the league, the Brewers are set to receive the New York Mets for their wild-card games. The last seasonal game for Milwaukee was a loss against them, which will make this playoff round an exciting rematch. Since they will be locals, though, the fans will be able to experience a lot of fun traditions that the Brewers have for game day. Just like the Orioles, the Brewers also have their own way of commemorating a home run. Their mascot, Bernie, will ring the bell and come down from the top of the stadium through a giant slide, landing right next to the pitch to celebrate, making him the ultimate hype man for the team.
Racing Sausages at the Brewers game
As a bonus fun treat to fully sell you in on the Brewers, every home game features the 'Racing Sausages,' where inflatable sausages run around the field at the sixth inning of every game for no apparent reason other than doing it for the –vibes–.
The Mets don't fall too short either on reasons to love them. They have a reputation as one of the league's underdogs, but this season, they shouldn't be underestimated, with an 88-73 record to vouch for them. Proving the haters wrong is always fun, making this a perfect opportunity to support their journey and watch them defy an outdated perception of what this team can do. If you need an extra push, it doesn't hurt that their TikTok has great content from both on the field and behind the scenes, giving us the kind of baseball material we're into.
San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves
The San Diego Padres are on their way to reach the World Series for a third time, never having won it before. This year, they cemented their playoff position with an impressive triple play that ended the game against their longtime rivals, the LA Dodgers. This special night marked the end of a regular season that saw an improved squad compared to last year's, as this year, their record was one of their franchise's best ever. As Joe Musgrove said, last year, there was a lack of unity between the team, which affected their game.
This year, their success can be significantly attributed to strengthening their communication and friendship bonds amongst the players, which is captured in their wholesome TikToks. Between Tatis Jr.'s amazing shoe game and Yuki Matsui being the only knowledgeable swiftie on the team, there are plenty of reasons to keep up with them.
The Atlanta Braves are one of the most established teams in the National League, dominating the East division. One of their biggest accomplishments was winning 14 consecutive division titles from 1991 to 2005. Their most recent championship success was in 2021, the franchise's fourth title win.
Usher throws out the first pitch at a Braves' game
It's no secret that Atlanta is the capital of hip-hop, with the best rappers in the game being locals in the city. Therefore, a large part of their celebrity fandom consists of some of the best names in the industry. Outkast, Ludacris, the Migos trio, and 2 Chainz are some of the avid supporters of the team, repping their merch and attending their games often. Some stars, like Ludacris and Usher, have even been invited to throw the first pitch at games, opening their doors to the city's local icons and incorporating their love for music into the game. With a city with such a strong presence in both industries, the Atlanta Braves are the perfect team to support if you want the best of both worlds.
The playoffs began Tuesday, October 1st when the Detroit Tigers visited the Houston Astros and kicked off what is sure to be a Wild Card stage filled with exciting duels and memorable celebrations. The Tigers secured their first win of the playoffs, 3-1.