Wednesday’s MLB playoff slate is built for chaos.
Four games. Four different series.
Four teams trying to survive. From the opener in Chicago at 4 p.m.
Eastern to the late game in San Diego at 10 p.m., the day is loaded with elimination pressure and clinching chances. Cleveland, Atlanta, New York and San Diego all have their backs against the wall, while Chicago, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and Milwaukee can punch their tickets to the next round.
The broadcast schedule stretches the action from afternoon into the night, with Cleveland at Chicago and Tampa Bay at New York on TBS, plus coverage also listed on TruTV and HBO Max. Los Angeles at Atlanta and Milwaukee at San Diego are set for FS1. All times are Eastern and subject to change.
Chicago is first up, and the White Sox have a shot to end this thing quickly. They bring a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 after taking the first two in Cleveland, 3-0 and 4-3.
One more win would finish an ALDS sweep and send Chicago to the American League Championship Series. Cleveland, meanwhile, needs a victory just to buy another day and force Game 4 on Thursday.
The Guardians’ task starts with offense. ESPN identifies Daniel Espino as Cleveland’s opener, and José Ramírez is not fully healthy, which puts even more weight on Steven Kwan, Jo Adell, Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana.
Chicago also has a little history working in its favor: ESPN says Wednesday will be the White Sox’s first home playoff game in half a decade. They already swept Houston in the wild-card round, and now they’re trying to close out a second series without a loss.
The Dodgers get their chance in the 6 p.m. game in Atlanta, where they carry a 2-1 edge after Tuesday’s 3-1 win. A victory sends Los Angeles to the National League Championship Series. A Braves win forces Game 5 back in Los Angeles on Friday.
Tyler Glasnow is lined up to start for the Dodgers, with Tyler Mahle going for Atlanta. ESPN notes that Mahle put together a 1.99 ERA over nine regular-season starts after coming over at the trade deadline. That gives the Braves a starter who has been getting real results at the right time.
Atlanta’s job is bigger than simply staying close. The Braves need to push Glasnow and get into the Dodgers’ bullpen before Los Angeles can take over with its pitching. ESPN pointed to Atlanta’s ability to get Blake Snell out early in Game 2 as a possible template.
At 8 p.m., the spotlight shifts to the Bronx, where Tampa Bay has New York on the edge. The Rays lead the series 2-0 after a 1-0 win and a 5-2 win, and they can complete the sweep with one more victory. The Yankees need to win to keep the series alive and earn a return game Thursday at home.
Nick Martinez is set to start for Tampa Bay against Max Fried. The bigger issue for New York is what’s happening at the plate.
ESPN says the Yankees managed only five hits through the first two games, the fewest through two games of a playoff series in franchise history. Both of their runs came on Ben Rice homers, while the third through fifth spots in the order went a combined 0-for-21.
Aaron Boone is weighing changes for Game 3.
That puts even more pressure on New York to strike early. Tampa Bay has already shown it can win a tight, low-scoring game and also handle one with a little more cushion.
The night ends in San Diego, where Milwaukee and the Padres wrap the schedule at 10 p.m. San Diego stayed alive Tuesday with a 4-3 win, trimming Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1.
Another Padres victory would send the series to Game 5 in Milwaukee on Friday. A Brewers win ends it and sends Milwaukee to the NLCS.
Walker Buehler is scheduled to start for San Diego, while ESPN’s Wednesday preview lists Milwaukee’s starter as undetermined. The Padres are also watching the status of closer Mason Miller, who is on paternity leave, and Adrian Morejon, who is dealing with shoulder stiffness.
By the end of the night, four championship-series berths could be locked in. Or four teams could drag this thing one more day. Either way, Wednesday is set up as a full-on October marathon.
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