The Major League Baseball postseason heated up on Wednesday, as several Wild Card matchups set the stage for decisive Game 3s while the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to advance.
In the American League, the Cleveland Guardians kept their season alive with a dramatic late-inning rally. Trailing the Detroit Tigers in the series, Cleveland exploded for five runs in the eighth inning, powered by a three-run homer from Bo Naylor, to secure a 6–1 win. The victory evened the series at 1–1, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3. The victor will meet the Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series (ALDS).
At Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees fought back to edge the Boston Red Sox, 4–3, forcing another Game 3. Austin Wells delivered a go-ahead liner in the eighth inning, bringing Jazz Chisholm Jr. home for the decisive run. With the series now tied, the Yankees and Red Sox will battle for the right to face the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.
The San Diego Padres extended their playoff run with a 3–0 shutout of the Chicago Cubs. Facing elimination, the Padres’ bullpen delivered a stellar performance, and an early sacrifice fly paired with a Manny Machado home run gave them the cushion they needed. With the series tied 1–1, the deciding game will determine who moves on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.
The National League saw its first elimination of the postseason as the Los Angeles Dodgers overpowered the Cincinnati Reds, 8–4, to complete a two-game sweep. Behind dominant starting pitching and an offense that broke the game open, the Dodgers ended Cincinnati’s season and secured a spot in the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, beginning on Saturday. Game time will be at either 6:00 or 6:30 p.m.
Source: MLB