Arlington, Texas – October 1, 2024

The crack of the bat, the chill in the late-summer air, the smell of popcorn and possibility Major League Baseball’s postseason begins Tuesday, and with it, America’s oldest pastime

reclaims its place in our collective imagination. But as the playoffs ignite, a deeper question lingers beyond stats and standings: Who should you root for? Not just who’s most likely to win but who deserves it most? Whose story would make the trophy feel earned, not just awarded?

This year’s field is rich with narratives. But three teams stand out not just for their talent, but for what their victory would mean beyond the diamond.

The Guardians: Small Market, Giant Heart

Cleveland’s Guardians haven’t won a World Series since 1948 the longest active drought in baseball. Yet they’ve built a contender without billionaire owners or blockbuster free-agent splashes. Their payroll ranks 28th in MLB, yet their farm system is a masterclass in development. Rookie sensation Gabriel Arias, just 21, grew up playing stickball in Caracas with a taped-together glove. Now he’s anchoring their infield. “We don’t have flash,” says veteran pitcher Shane Bieber. “We have grit. And sometimes, that’s enough.”

A Guardians title wouldn’t just be a win for Cleveland it’d be a defiant anthem for every small-market team told they can’t compete in baseball’s new economic order.

The Dodgers: Redemption After Years of Near-Misses

Yes, they spend big. Yes, they’re often labeled “villains.” But this Dodgers squad feels different. After the heartbreak of 2021 (the blown 3–1 lead) and the quiet collapse of 2023, this team carries a quiet urgency. Shohei Ohtani playing through a torn UCL with no ligament left to tear has become a symbol of transcendent dedication. “I came here to win,” he said after Game 162, sweat mixing with rain. “Not for fame. For the guys in this clubhouse.”

If they win, it’s not just another ring it’s closure for a generation of players who gave everything and came up just short.

The Brewers: A City That Never Stops Believing

Milwaukee hasn’t hosted a World Series game since 1982. Their fanbase, loyal through decades of rebuilds, still packs American Family Field in 40-degree October nights, waving gold towels like prayers. This year, led by 39-year-old closer Devin Williams whose changeup looks like it’s “thrown by a ghost,” according to one scout they’ve clawed their way back from last place. “This city raised me,” Williams said, voice thick with emotion. “If we win, it’s for every kid who dreamed under those stadium lights.”

Their victory would be a love letter to blue-collar baseball, to communities that treat the local team like family.

Of course, there are others: the young Orioles, reborn after years in the wilderness; the Astros, seeking to rewrite their legacy; the Phillies, with Harper’s grit and Wheeler’s fire. But in a sport where history echoes in every inning, the best champion is the one whose win makes us feel something deeper than excitement something like justice, or joy long overdue.

So as the first pitch nears, ask yourself: Do you root for the underdog who defies odds? The star chasing redemption? Or the city that never stopped hoping?

Because in October, baseball isn’t just played it’s felt. And whoever lifts that Commissioner’s Trophy should make us all believe, just a little more, in second chances.