The Inside Pitch with Josh Towers: Final Week of the 2024 MLB Season
In the latest episode of The Inside Pitch on September 23, 2024, Scott Seidenberg and former Major League pitcher Josh Towers dive deep into the final week of the MLB regular season. With playoff spots on the line, tension is high as several teams battle for a place in the postseason, while others look to lock in division titles. This episode highlights the playoff push by teams such as the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Houston Astros, and also takes a close look at individual player performances, including the exciting potential for two pitchers to win the Pitching Triple Crown. Betting insights and predictions round out the episode as Scott and Josh share their thoughts on which teams will emerge victorious in this pivotal week.
Yankees on the Verge of Clinching the AL East
One of the focal points of the discussion is the New York Yankees, who are just one win away from clinching the American League East. The Yankees, after a season of ups and downs, are now in a prime position to lock in their division and prepare for the postseason. Towers, drawing from his own experiences as a former player, reflects on how players mentally approach the final week of the season. For teams like the Yankees, the mindset is entirely focused on preparing for the playoffs. Towers shares how during his career, when his team was not in playoff contention, the focus was more on wrapping up the season and getting ready for the offseason, but for teams like the Yankees, there's no such luxury. Every game matters, and players are mentally gearing up for the pressure-filled postseason (1:06).
The conversation also highlights the importance of clinching the division early. If the Yankees win their upcoming series against the Baltimore Orioles, it will provide them a few days to rest key players and reset their pitching rotation ahead of the playoffs. Scott emphasizes that this rest could be crucial for the Yankees, especially given the demanding nature of postseason baseball. With stars like Gerrit Cole anchoring the rotation, the Yankees are poised for a deep run in October.
Orioles' Late-Season Collapse
In stark contrast to the Yankees’ rise is the Baltimore Orioles' dramatic fall in the standings. Once seen as serious contenders for the division, the Orioles have experienced a shocking collapse since August 21. They have dropped to near the bottom of the league in almost every offensive and pitching category. Scott discusses how he placed a preseason bet on the Orioles winning fewer than 90.5 games, a wager that seemed dead in the water earlier in the season, but now looks almost certain to pay off as Baltimore struggles to close out the season (4:11).
The Orioles’ collapse is attributed to a combination of factors, including injuries and a general inability to perform in key moments. Towers explains that for a team like Baltimore, the pressure of being in the playoff hunt can sometimes cause cracks to show, particularly for a younger team that lacks postseason experience. The Yankees, in contrast, have been through these high-pressure situations before, which has allowed them to maintain their focus as the season reaches its climax.
The AL Wild Card Race: Tigers and Royals in a Fierce Battle
One of the most captivating aspects of the final week is the American League Wild Card race, which has turned into a fierce battle between the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. Both teams are tied for the second and third Wild Card spots, and with just a handful of games remaining, every inning matters. The Tigers, who have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since mid-August, have surged into playoff contention. Towers compares their late-season run to that of the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks, who rode a hot streak into the playoffs and made a deep postseason run (6:03).
The Tigers have posted a 14-8 record in their last 22 games, led by strong pitching and timely hitting. Their ace, Tariq Skubal, has been nothing short of spectacular, positioning himself as a potential Triple Crown winner in the American League. Skubal’s dominance on the mound has given Detroit a massive boost, allowing them to make up a seven-game gap on the Royals in just 22 days (12:16). As the final week unfolds, the Tigers look like the team with the momentum to secure one of the final Wild Card spots.
On the other hand, the Royals have experienced a disastrous collapse. After playing well in early September, Kansas City has now lost seven straight games, putting their playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. Despite leading in many of their recent games, the Royals have consistently failed to close them out, a problem that has plagued them in recent weeks. Towers points out that the Royals’ bullpen, once a strength, has struggled mightily, blowing multiple late-game leads.
Houston Astros Clinch the AL West
While other teams are still battling for their playoff lives, the Houston Astros have already clinched the AL West. Towers praises the Astros for their consistency and ability to perform under pressure, which has allowed them to fend off challengers like the Seattle Mariners. Houston’s veteran presence, particularly in high-pressure games, sets them apart from younger, less experienced teams.
Towers notes that the Seattle Mariners, despite being in the playoff hunt earlier in the season, have been undone by fundamental mistakes. In a recent series against the Yankees, the Mariners lost two games due to simple base-running errors, which Towers says reflects their lack of experience in high-stakes situations (8:59). For teams like Houston, with their wealth of postseason experience, those kinds of mistakes are rare, making them a dangerous team heading into October.
Pitching Triple Crown: Tariq Skubal and Chris Sale
The episode also touches on the rare possibility that Tariq Skubal (Tigers) and Chris Sale (Red Sox) could both win the Pitching Triple Crown in their respective leagues. The Pitching Triple Crown is awarded to pitchers who lead their league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA—a rare and prestigious achievement. If Skubal and Sale both secure the Triple Crown, it would mark only the fourth time in MLB history that two pitchers won the honor in the same season (28:08).
Skubal currently leads the American League with 17 wins, 221 strikeouts, and a 2.48 ERA, while Sale dominates the National League with a 2.38 ERA and 256 strikeouts. Both pitchers have two starts remaining, and if they can hold on to their statistical leads, they will make history. Towers and Seidenberg agree that this would be one of the standout stories of the 2024 season, further cementing both pitchers’ legacies.
Betting Odds and Predictions
Scott provides an update on the current betting landscape as the season reaches its final days. The Royals are listed at -155 to make the playoffs, while the Tigers are even stronger favorites at -370. The Mariners, whose playoff chances are dwindling, are a long shot at +1200 (16:50). For bettors, the Tigers seem like the safer bet, given their current momentum and the Royals’ recent struggles.
The hosts also look ahead to potential World Series matchups, with a Yankees vs. Dodgers showdown emerging as the most exciting possibility. A clash between these two iconic franchises, each stacked with star talent, would undoubtedly be a ratings hit and a dream scenario for baseball fans. Both teams have the pitching depth and offensive firepower to make a deep postseason run, making this matchup a realistic possibility (48:32).
Towers also sees the San Diego Padres as a strong contender in the National League. While they aren’t getting as much attention as the Dodgers, the Padres’ recent performances have positioned them as potential dark horses in the playoff race. Scott agrees, noting that the Padres’ depth and consistency could make them a dangerous team in October.
Conclusion
As the final week of the 2024 MLB season unfolds, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Yankees are on the verge of securing their division, while the Tigers and Royals are locked in a fierce battle for a Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Astros have already punched their ticket to the postseason, and all eyes are on Tariq Skubal and Chris Sale as they attempt to win the Pitching Triple Crown.
With the playoffs just around the corner, betting odds favor teams like the Yankees and Tigers, while the Mariners face long odds of making the postseason. Whether it’s a Yankees-Dodgers World Series or an unexpected Cinderella story, the final week promises to deliver excitement, drama, and unforgettable moments as teams fight for their postseason lives.