MLB Playoff Bracket 2024: Updated image after Gerrit Cole, Yankees beat Royals | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

The New York Yankees advance to the American League Championship Series after defeating the Kansas City Royals 3-1 in Game 4 of the AL Division Series on Thursday night.

Here's a look at the updated World Series odds per DraftKings Sportsbook following the Yankees' win.

Gerrit Cole pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out four and giving up six hits. The Yankees' runs came on RBI singles by Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres and Giancarlo Stanton in the first, fifth and sixth innings. Clay Holmes and Luke Weaver each pitched perfect innings to cap the Yankees' ALDS victory, three games to one.

And with that, the Yankees advanced to the ALCS for the fourth time since 2017. New York is seeking its first pennant (and World Series win) since 2009.

The Yanks will have home field advantage in the ALCS against either the Cleveland Guardians or Detroit Tigers.

Cleveland defeated Detroit 5-4 on Thursday to take the ALDS to two games apiece and keep the season alive. David Fry's narrow two-run home run in the seventh inning turned a 3-2 deficit into a 4-3 lead. Later, Fry beat Brayan Rocchio for a safe run in the bottom of the ninth. Cleveland needed it, as an RBI groundout by Jace Jung in the bottom of the ninth made it 5-4. But star closer Emmanuel Clase completed the five-out save.

The Guardians also benefited from a solo home run from José Ramírez and three hits and two runs from Steven Kwan.

Cleveland hosts Detroit in the series-clinching Game 5 on Saturday at 4:38 p.m. ET.

In the National League, the New York Mets secured the top LCS spot after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS in four games. The Mets started the season 0-5 and were later 11 games under .500 in early June before rebounding over the last four months.

The 89-win Mets were ranked No. 6 in the NL and headed to Milwaukee to face the NL Central champion Brewers. The outlook looked bleak when the Mets trailed 2-0 early in the ninth in the deciding Game 3, but a three-run home run from Pete Alonso quickly changed their outlook. Starling Marte's RBI single sparked a 4-2 run.

The NL East champion Phillies were next, and the Mets defeated them through phenomenal hitting (seven home runs, including two each from Alonso and Mark Vientos) and pitching (2.78 team ERA, seven shutout frames from Sean Manaea). .

They await the winner of the heated rivalry between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. These teams are tied in two games each, with Game 5 taking place on Friday at 8:08 p.m. ET in LA.

LA finished the year with the best record in the league (98-64). Shohei Ohtani delivered one of the best seasons in baseball history and became the first MLB player to record a 50-50 season (54 home runs, 55 stolen bases). He was flanked by an impressive offense supported by performances from players such as Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez. Unfortunately, LA's starting pitching was plagued by injuries all year long.

Meanwhile, San Diego finished the season 43-19 after a 50-50 start. The Padres had outstanding performances from the lineup, including superstars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., rookie Jackson Merrill and hitting machine Luis Arraez, who landed with the Padres via trade in May. The pitching staff was also exceptional, with offseason additions Dylan Cease and Michael King particularly standing out.

The Padres advanced to the NLDS after defeating the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round, two games to zero. King had 12 hits in seven shutout frames in a 4-0 win in Game 1, while a five-run second inning lifted San Diego to a 5-4 win in Game 2.