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...
Padres Fans Have Every Reason To Hate This Wild Card Broadcast Choice
As the Padres get ready for their wild-card series against the Cubs, NBC Sports is adding a familiar face to the broadcast mix for Game 1. Clayton Kershaw will be part of the networks Inside the Pitch crew, a choice that instantly stands out to anyone who followed his long run with the Dodgers and the years of tension that came with it from San Diegos side.
NBC Sports has said the assignment came down to scheduling and Kershaws recent work in analyst roles, not any direct tie to either team in the series. Still, for Padres fans, seeing a recently retired Dodger on the microphone for the opener is the kind of detail that can color the broadcast before the first pitch is even thrown, especially with a rivalry that has hardly faded just because Kershaws playing days are over. [Read more 🡒]
Former Padres Roster Piece Quietly Closed The Book On His Career
Tyler Wade has quietly closed the book on a nine-year major league career, announcing his retirement after a run that took him from the Yankees to the Angels, Athletics and eventually the Padres. For San Diego, he was one of those versatile roster pieces whose value often lived in the margins, the kind of player a team leans on for depth, defense and lineup flexibility as the season wears on.
Wades final MLB appearance came in 2025, and he tried to keep the career going with a minor league deal from the Rangers in 2026. But after 16 games in Triple-A, he was released and never made it back to the majors, bringing an understated end to a path that never drew much attention but still left him a place in the Padres recent roster history. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Just Sent A Serious Wild Card Message
The Padres opened the Wild Card series in emphatic fashion, rolling past the Cubs 8-0 and setting the tone for a matchup they know could hinge on every inning. Michael King delivered the kind of start San Diego needed, working seven strong frames and coming within a hit of a no-hitter, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado gave the offense an immediate jolt with early home runs.
Joe Musgrove handled the ninth to finish off the shutout, and the all-around performance left San Diego looking every bit like a team that expects to keep playing deep into October. Game 1 was not just a win, but a statement about how sharp the Padres can look when their rotation and power bats show up together. [Read more 🡒]