Honestly, if you wrote the 2024 MLB post season as a Hollywood script, a producer would probably toss it out for being too "unrealistic."
Think about it. You had the sport's biggest global icon finally reaching the playoffs. A legendary franchise meltdown in the Bronx. And a guy playing on one healthy leg who somehow outhit the entire world. It was a month where logic went to die, and the Los Angeles Dodgers stood at the center of it all.
By the time the dust settled at Yankee Stadium in late October, the Dodgers were hoisting their eighth World Series trophy. But the scorelines only tell half the story. The 2024 playoffs weren't just about who won; they were about how the game itself felt like it was finally "back" in a way we haven't seen in decades.
The World Series Collapse Nobody Expected
The MLB post season 2024 reached its fever pitch when the Dodgers and Yankees—the two biggest brands in baseball—faced off for the first time in 43 years.
It was supposed to be a heavyweight fight. Instead, it turned into a bizarre case study on why fundamentals matter more than star power. You've probably seen the highlights of Game 5. The Yankees were cruising with a 5-0 lead. Gerrit Cole was carving through the Dodgers' lineup like it was a spring training game in February.
Then, the fifth inning happened.
It started with a dropped fly ball by Aaron Judge. Then a throwing error by Anthony Volpe. Then Gerrit Cole—the reigning Cy Young winner—literally forgot to cover first base on a routine grounder. The Dodgers scored five unearned runs without hitting a single ball particularly hard. Basically, the Yankees handed over the keys to the city and watched the Dodgers drive away with the trophy.
Freddie Freeman and the "One-Legged" Legend
While the Yankees were stumbling, Freddie Freeman was authoring one of the most absurd individual performances in baseball history.
Freeman wasn't even supposed to be effective. He had a severely sprained ankle that made it painful just to walk to the dugout. Yet, he somehow hit a home run in each of the first four games of the World Series.
The peak? Game 1. Bases loaded. Two outs. Bottom of the 10th. Freeman turned on a Nestor Cortes fastball and launched the first-ever walk-off grand slam in World Series history.
- He tied the World Series record with 12 RBIs.
- He set a new record by homering in six consecutive World Series games (dating back to 2021).
- He did all of this while barely being able to run the bases.
It was pure grit. There’s no other way to describe it.
The Wild October That Set the Stage
Before we got to the Dodgers and Yankees, the MLB post season 2024 was defined by chaos in the earlier rounds.
People forget how close the Dodgers came to losing in the NLDS. The San Diego Padres had them on the ropes. In fact, the Padres were one win away from sending Shohei Ohtani home early. It took a massive effort from the Dodgers' bullpen—which threw 24 consecutive scoreless innings at one point—to survive that series.
Over in the American League, the Detroit Tigers were the "Gritty Tigs." They weren't even supposed to be there. They traded away their best assets at the deadline and somehow clawed their way into the playoffs. They swept the Houston Astros, ending Houston’s streak of seven straight ALCS appearances. It was a "pitching chaos" strategy that nearly took them all the way to the pennant.
The Shohei Ohtani Factor
This was the world’s first real look at Shohei Ohtani in October.
He didn't put up his usual "50/50" regular-season numbers. He actually struggled at times, finishing with a .230 batting average across the 16 games. But his presence changed everything. Pitchers were so terrified of him that they often walked him to get to Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman.
Even after partially dislocating his shoulder in Game 2 of the World Series, Ohtani stayed in the lineup. He was a decoy, sure, but he was a $700 million decoy that the Yankees couldn't ignore.
Why 2024 Changed the Game for Fans
The numbers for the MLB post season 2024 were staggering.
Global viewership surpassed 30 million people. In Japan, Game 2 averaged 15.9 million viewers—those are Super Bowl-level shares for a country that small. The 18-34 demographic in the U.S. jumped by 101%.
Why? It wasn't just the stars. It was the pace. Major League Baseball’s rule changes—the pitch clock, bigger bases—finally paid dividends in the high-stakes environment of October. Games didn't drag on for four hours of standing around. They were fast, athletic, and unpredictable.
✨ Don't miss: Philadelphia Eagles Schedule: Why You Won't Find a Game Time Today
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season
If you're a fan or a bettor looking toward next year, the 2024 playoffs taught us a few specific things:
- Bullpen Depth Over Starters: The Dodgers won a World Series while essentially using a three-man rotation and a "bullpen game." High-leverage relievers are now more valuable than traditional workhorse starters.
- Fundamentals Win Titles: The Yankees had more home run power, but their defensive lapses in Game 5 proved that "small ball" and clean fielding are the actual difference-makers in October.
- The "Bye" Week Debate: For the first time in the new format, every Division Series was tied 1-1 after two games. The "rest vs. rust" argument for teams with first-round byes is becoming a major tactical hurdle for managers.
The MLB post season 2024 proved that baseball is no longer a regional sport. It’s a global event. Whether you love the Dodgers or hate them, you can’t deny that the sport feels more alive right now than it has in a generation.
To prep for next season, start watching the defensive efficiency ratings of mid-market teams. As the 2024 Dodgers showed, you can buy the stars, but you win the ring by having a bullpen that doesn't blink when the bases are loaded in the ninth. Keep an eye on the health of the Dodgers' pitching staff heading into 2025, as they'll likely get Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, potentially creating the most lopsided roster in the history of the modern era.