The four MLB wild-card series are locked in, featuring several compelling matchups heading into the postseason.
Wild-Card Series: Chicago leads 1-0
Game 1: The White Sox jumped out to a 5-0 lead and cruised to a 6-3 win to open the series. Munetaka Murakami contributed one RBI and two runs.
Game 2 Matchup: Hunter Brown (HOU) vs. TBD
What To Know: Chicago had at least 100 losses in each of the three seasons prior to this year. Their last playoff series win came in 2005 — the same year they captured the World Series. Meanwhile, Houston won the Fall Classic in 2017 and 2022, while falling short in 2019 and 2021.
Season Series: The Yankees went 7-6 against the Red Sox in the regular season.
Game 1 Matchup: Cam Schlittler (NYY) vs. Payton Tolle (BOS)
What To Know: New York and Boston faced off in the wild-card round just last season, with the Yankees winning in three games. Before that, Boston won the 2021 AL wild-card game and took the 2018 ALDS 3-1.
Season Series: Chicago went 5-1 against San Diego during the regular season.
Game 1 Matchup: Michael King (SD) vs. Matthew Boyd (CHI)
What To Know: The Cubs defeated the Padres 2-1 in last year’s wild-card round, but that series was at Wrigley Field. This time, the series shifts to Petco Park. While Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as a potential MVP candidate, San Diego has been one of baseball’s hottest teams, owning MLB’s best record since July 24.
Wild-Card Series: Atlanta leads 1-0
Game 1: The Braves secured a 5-3 victory behind a 3-run homer from Austin Riley in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Game 2 Matchup: Cristopher Sanchez (PHI) vs. Tyler Mahle (ATL)
What To Know: Atlanta and Philadelphia have a well-established rivalry that has carried into the postseason. The Phillies beat the Braves 3-1 in back-to-back division series in 2022 and 2023 and won all three postseason series between the clubs. The Braves are looking to reverse that trend and hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three wild-card series.
