After a chaotic 162-game sprint, four best-of-three wild-card series kick off today. The Tigers and Guardians face off after Cleveland’s miracle September comeback, the Red Sox and Yankees renew baseball’s most storied rivalry, the Reds look to ride their young pitching into Dodger Stadium, and the Padres bring their elite bullpen to take on the Cubs.
The Tigers looked like the AL’s best team at the break before collapsing down the stretch, while Cleveland roared back with a 19-4 September to steal the division tiebreaker. Tarik Skubal will give Detroit a shot in Game 1, but the Guardians’ pitching, defense, and JosĂ© RamĂrez-fueled swagger make them dangerous. Cleveland in three feels like the play.
In Boston vs. New York, the Red Sox survived an up-and-down year behind Garrett Crochet, but the Yankees come in with the league’s most explosive lineup and a rotation led by Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. Boston may snag an early edge, but Aaron Judge and company should be too much. Yankees in two.
The Reds and Dodgers are a clash of pitching vs. star power. Cincinnati rides Hunter Greene and a strong rotation, but the Dodgers’ depth and Shohei Ohtani’s MVP bat loom large. Roki Sasaki could be the October X-factor out of L.A.’s bullpen. Dodgers in three feels right.
Finally, the Padres and Cubs meet in a battle of experience vs. youth. San Diego leans on its lights-out bullpen and stars like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Merrill. The Cubs have relied on Michael Busch and their breakout core, but losing Cade Horton hurts. Playoff-tested San Diego looks ready to move on. Padres in two.
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