The 2024 MLB Playoffs are coming to a head after a hard-fought match in the Championship Series where the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees came out on top to advance to the World Series. The series is set to feature 15 former Team USA members with 11 of the players being past members of either the Collegiate National Team or Professional National Team. Let’s take a deeper dive into the Championship Series to see how the 15 alumni punched their tickets to the World Series.

METS VS. DODGERS

Four years after winning their seventh title in the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, the Dodgers find themselves back in the World Series after taking down the Mets in six games in the National League Championship Series. Mookie Betts, a 2023 World Baseball Classic alum, showcased his talent at the plate with a .346 batting average along with nine RBIs and two crucial home runs throughout the series. Jack Flaherty (2013 18U) got the nod in Games 1 and 5, going 1-1, registering a shutout in Game 1 and pitching 10.0 innings with six punchouts. Like Flaherty, Walker Buehler (2014 CNT) helped the Dodgers nab their second shutout in three games against the Mets after he struck out six batters across four innings of scoreless baseball. 2023 World Baseball Classic participant Will Smith’s performance picked up as the series went long, as he collected four RBIs and a homer across the final four games. Two-time USA Baseball alum Freddie Freeman saw action in four games and grabbed a single RBI in Game 1.

Opposite of the Dodgers, the Mets were able to nab two convincing victories over Los Angeles thanks in large part to Mark Vientos (2014 15U). Vientos powered the Mets offense throughout its bout with Dodgers as he launched three home runs and tallied seven RBIs. In Game 2, the first of New York’s victories, Vientos garnered a game-high four RBIs. Two-time alum, Francisco Lindor put forth three multiple-hit contests and homered in Game 2 to propel New York to its first win. On the mound, 2016 Collegiate National Team alum David Peterson tossed six innings and collected five strikeouts while yielding five runs on 10 hits. Ryne Stanek (2011, 2012 CNT) made two appearances on the bump and got the win in Game 5 after striking out four batters across 2.1 frames. 2023 World Baseball Classic teammates Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil had an enormous five RBIs in the Mets’ Game 5 win, when Alonso also crossed the plate a game-high four times.

YANKEES VS. GUARDIANS

After missing the playoffs last season, the Yankees are now headed to the World Series, where they will square off against the Dodgers, after downing the Guardians 4-1 in the American League Championship Series. Team USA alumni filled the box scores throughout the battle between the two squads, which resulted in two of the final three contests going into a tenth frame.

For the Yankees, **Carlos Rodon (**2012, 2013 CNT) posted the first postseason win of his career in Game 1 after he struck out nine batters and yielded one run through six innings of action on the bump to collect a 5-2 win. In addition to Rodon, Gerrit Cole (2009, 2010 CNT) tallied four strikeouts in 4.1 frames to secure the Yankees a win in Game 2. From the plate and key to their run to the World Series, two-time USA Baseball member Giancarlo Stanton collected four homers through five games, which places him atop the 2024 postseason home run leaders as of the end of league championship play. Four-time USA Baseball alum Anthony Volpe provided strategic base-running, scoring on five occasions while Alex Verdugo (2010 14U) and Jose Trevino (2012 CNT) posted three timely RBIs combined. New York pitcher Luke Weaver (2013 CNT) was also a force to be reckoned with from his perch on the mound. In Game 2, Weaver put forth a single inning of one-run baseball and followed it up with two scoreless innings in Game 5.

Meanwhile, 2013 18U National Team alum Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas notched a hit and scored twice in Game 3 and Hunter Gaddis (2017 CNT) made three appearances on the mound. Gaddis hurled 2.2 innings and racked up six punchouts while only yielding two walks.

The 2024 MLB Playoffs continue with World Series action between the Yankees and Dodgers, beginning on Friday, October 25. Be sure to follow @USABaseball on all social media to keep up with Team USA alums in the postseason!