The MLB playoffs begin on October 1st! The Dodgers face the Reds in the Wild Card showdown, needing 13 wins to defend their title.

The 12 MLB playoff teams are set, and the Wild Card series kicks off tomorrow Beijing time. The Dodgers, as the NL’s third seed, have to play an additional round. To repeat as World Series champions, they must win 13 games.

Since 2022, the playoffs have included a best-of-three Wild Card series. In 2023, the Rangers, seeded fifth in the American League, won four consecutive rounds, becoming the first team in history to capture the World Series with 13 wins. Last year, the Dodgers defeated the Padres, Mets, and Yankees in the Division Series, NLCS, and World Series, respectively, achieving 11 wins and claiming their eighth title. This year, having to play an extra Wild Card round means winning two more games, making the championship defense even tougher.

The top two seeds from the National and American Leagues — Brewers, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mariners — will rest and start their Division Series on October 5th. Tomorrow, the Dodgers will host the NL’s sixth seed Reds in Los Angeles. If they advance, their next opponent will be the Phillies.

All four Wild Card matchups will begin simultaneously tomorrow: Guardians vs. Tigers, Cubs vs. Padres, Yankees vs. Red Sox, and Reds vs. Dodgers. If this year’s World Series goes the full seven games, the champion won’t be decided until November 2nd.

The Mets finished the season with the same record as the Reds but lost four of six head-to-head games, placing fourth in the NL Wild Card standings and getting eliminated on the last day of the regular season. Despite a team payroll exceeding $340 million, second highest in the league, the Mets missed the playoffs. The New York Post called it “the most expensive failure in history,” a disgrace fans won’t forget.

Mets star Juan Soto achieved a “30 home runs + 30 stolen bases” season this year, hitting 43 homers and stealing 38 bases (leading the NL in steals), yet his season ended early. He said, “Failing to reach the playoffs or win a championship at any time is a failure.”