Four teams already have one foot in the next round, and four others are staring at elimination as MLB’s wild-card slate rolls into Wednesday.
That’s the reality of the three-game format: one night can change everything. On Tuesday, the White Sox, Yankees, Braves and Padres all grabbed Game 1, putting themselves one win away from moving on. Now the pressure shifts to the rest of the bracket, with every game carrying the full weight of a season.
In Chicago-Houston, both clubs opened with bullpen games on Tuesday, and it was the White Sox who got the better end of it in a 6-3 win. The Astros only managed 2/3 of an inning from AJ Blubaugh. For Game 2, both sides are turning to starters, with Burke bringing a 3.34 ERA across 32 games, including 27 starts, and Brown posting a 3.19 ERA in 20 starts this season.
Philadelphia’s season is on the line, and the Phillies are handing the ball to one of the best pitchers in the sport in Sanchez. He is expected to finish second in the National League Cy Young voting behind Jacob Misiorowski, and he has been that dominant all year. The Braves will counter with Mahle, who has put together a 1.99 ERA in nine starts.
In Boston, the Red Sox are down to Gray against his former team after the Yankees took Game 1 in convincing fashion Tuesday night. New York now turns to Fried as it tries to close out the series and punch its ticket to the American League Division Series.
The final matchup sends Pivetta to the mound for the Cubs. He made just eight starts in the regular season and finished with a 2.86 ERA.
San Diego will go with Gausman, who made nine starts for Chicago and had a 4.83 ERA after the trade deadline. For the Cubs, the season now runs through Gausman.
In Other News...
Red Sox Playoff Opener Turned On One Pitching Decision
The Red Sox spent the early innings of their Wild Card Game trying to keep things within reach against the Yankees, but the discussion afterward centered on one fifth-inning pitching move. Payton Tolle was pulled and Erik Miller took over, a switch that quickly changed the tone of the night when Ben Rice connected for a home run as New York added its second run and Bostons offense still could not answer.
It was the kind of decision that can loom larger once the game is over, especially with Millers recent struggles already part of the conversation. The move also left the Red Sox leaning on a bullpen that never really settled in, and as the late innings slipped away, the decision to go away from Tolle only looked more consequential. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Anthony's Early Exit Just Raised The Stakes For Boston
Roman Anthonys night ended early in Bostons Game 1 loss to New York after discomfort in his right hand forced him out of the lineup. Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said the hand flared on him following a few check-swings, a frustrating development for a player the club has been counting on as it tries to get itself moving in this series.
Now the focus shifts to Game 2, where Anthonys status is still up in the air. For a Boston lineup already looking for better footing, even a minor hand issue can loom large, and the Red Sox will be watching closely to see whether he can be back in the order or whether they have to adjust again. [Read more 🡒]
Roman Anthony Exit Leaves Red Sox Facing A Brutal October Problem
Roman Anthonys night ended early in the Red Soxs Wild Card Series opener against the Yankees after he re-aggravated the right hand injury that had already cost him several months during the regular season. The issue surfaced on a check swing, and Boston had to turn to Andruw Monasterio as the designated hitter in the sixth inning while the game was still unfolding in a difficult direction.
The bigger concern for Boston is what this could mean over the rest of October, because Anthony had only just returned from the injured list and the Red Sox were counting on his bat to help steady the lineup in a tense postseason setting. Instead, they were left to absorb a 9-0 loss and wait to learn how much more time their young outfielder might miss at the worst possible moment. [Read more 🡒]