The 2026 MLB postseason is only one day old, and the pressure has already hit full throttle. Four teams are staring at elimination in Game 2, with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies the only matchup to bring real late-inning drama on Tuesday, Sept.
- The Braves rallied in the eighth to take that one, while the rest of the opening-day action settled in without much suspense.
NBC, Peacock and NBC Sports Network are carrying the entire quadruple-header again on the second day of the Wild Card Series.
Philadelphia is the team in the most immediate spot, handing the ball to two-time All-Star Cristopher Sanchez with its season on the line. The Phillies are 1-3 in Sanchez’s postseason starts over the last three years.
In the other Game 2s, the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros meet after the White Sox grabbed an early lead in Game 1 and cruised from there. The Astros did put the tying run on deck in the eighth, but Yainer Diaz struck out to end the inning.
That matchup features Sean Burke (11-7) against Hunter Brown (6-4) and is set for 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN/Peacock.
The Boston Red Sox were overwhelmed by the Yankees’ power display in their opener. Ben Rice delivered a double and two homers, Cam Schlittler worked 6 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and just two hits allowed, and Boston wound up using a bullpen game while New York held the Red Sox to three baserunners all night.
The Chicago Cubs also have a quick turnaround after the San Diego Padres jumped them early in Game 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado each went deep in the first inning, Michael King followed with seven innings of one-hit ball, and Pete Crow-Armstrong was left sorting out check swings with the umpiring crew.
In Other News...
White Sox Have A Huge Chance To End This In Houston
The White Sox have put themselves in a rare and very real position in Houston, carrying a 1-0 lead into Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series at Daikin Park. After taking the opener, Chicago now has a chance to close the door quickly and turn a tense best-of-three into a short October stay for a Houston club that has spent the week trying to steady itself after a rough start.
Dylan Cease is expected to take the ball for Chicago, while the Astros are set to counter with Framber Valdez in a game that figures to feel far different from Game 1, with both sides adjusting lineups and bullpen availability. For the White Sox, the task is straightforward even if the setting is not: handle the pressure, avoid giving Houston life, and see whether this series can end before it really gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Wild Card Opponent Just Added A Strange New Edge
The White Soxs Wild Card trip to Houston picked up an unusual backdrop this week when chairman Jerry Reinsdorf received a letter from Pope Leo XIV, who offered well wishes and blessings ahead of the series. The exchange came after Reinsdorf reached out about the clubs Pope Night promotion, when fans were handed White Sox-themed Pope hats, adding another layer to a postseason matchup that already had no shortage of attention.
For Chicago, the note only deepened a connection that has become one of the strangest and most enduring storylines around the franchise. Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope and a lifelong White Sox fan, has shown continued support for the team, and now his latest gesture gives the club an unexpected bit of energy as it heads into a series where every detail feels amplified. [Read more 🡒]
Former White Sox Pitcher Just Sparked An October Crowd Debate
The White Sox got the first crack of the AL Wild Card Series off to a strong start, beating the Astros 6-3 at Daikin Park, but the setting drew some attention of its own. The crowd of 34,011 gave the game a quieter feel than a typical October opener, and former White Sox pitcher Bennett Sousa noticed, suggesting the atmosphere did not match the kind of postseason energy usually expected this time of year.
Sousa later apologized for what he said, but the reaction only added another layer to a familiar October conversation about crowd intensity and fan expectations. For Chicago, the result in Houston was the headline on the field, yet the backdrop served as a reminder of how different postseason nights can feel from one city to the next. [Read more 🡒]