ESPN experts' MLB Playoffs predictions continue roller coaster season for Yankees

Aaron Judge's New York Yankees might own the East in 2024, but will they own anything else when the dust settles? The experts are split.

ESPN dropped their expert predictions for the MLB playoffs on Tuesday morning, and any Yankee fan doing some casual scrolling likely got excited, then very excited, then finally hit with a bag of bricks.

According to the survey, the Yankees are heavily favored by the mob to defeat either the Baltimore Orioles or the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. Only nine voters believe KC will advance to face New York (vs. 18 who back Baltimore), but when it comes down to crunch time, 24 of the 27 experts surveyed foresee the Yankees moving on. That means zero folks who picked KC believe in their chances to advance, and only three O's backers have faith in their squad moving on to the ALCS.

When pressed, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel -- who picked Baltimore -- claimed Corbin Burnes is the "best pitcher in the series." We know someone who just licked their lips and stared blankly out into the Connecticut wilderness at that assertion.

ESPN's MLB Playoffs predictions for Yankees are a wild ride

McDaniel may disagree, but the vast majority of ESPN's fleet of commentators are backing Gerrit Cole and the Yankees. When it comes to the World Series, though, the field slightly edges the Yanks.

While New York is the team that earned the most votes to win the AL pennant (13), the Astros (seven), Guardians (five) and Orioles (two) add up to 14, toppling the Yanks. And, once ESPN advanced to the ultimate showdown, nearly every Yankees preferrer finally relented and ran for the hills.

Just three folks picked the Yankees to go all the way: Dean Demers, Liz Finny and ... Yankees announcer Michael Kay. No bias detected.

Kay and the YES crew won't get to call the remainder of the Yankees' 2024 run, no matter how long it lasts; the voice of the Yanks will be headed to Houston instead to call Astros-Tigers alongside Todd Frazier. Perhaps he can sway some of his ESPN colleagues while he's down there? Maybe ol' Dean Demers can work some magic? Otherwise, it seems the Yankees are going to enter the second half of October with some serious odds to beat -- and some folks to prove wrong.