MLB Wild-Card Recap: Tigers, Royals, Padres Advance, Brewers Force Game 3
Three MLB wild-card series concluded on Wednesday, while one series is heading to a decisive Game 3. The Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals pulled off surprising sweeps, while the Milwaukee Brewers rallied to force an elimination game against the New York Mets. In the National League, the San Diego Padres knocked out the Atlanta Braves with a sweep of their own. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from each matchup.
Detroit Tigers 5, Houston Astros 2
Tigers win series 2-0
The Detroit Tigers continued their remarkable postseason run, sweeping the American League West champion Houston Astros with a 5-2 win. The highlight of the game came in the eighth inning when pinch hitter Andy Ibañez, a part-time player batting .175 over the past two months, delivered a game-changing three-run double against Astros closer Josh Hader. The clutch hit propelled Detroit into the next round and ended Houston’s impressive streak of seven consecutive trips to the ALCS.
Despite using seven different pitchers throughout the game, the Tigers maintained control and never let the Astros find their rhythm. With this victory, Detroit advances to face their AL Central rival, the Cleveland Guardians, in the Division Series. The Tigers’ improbable journey continues as they look to carry this momentum forward.
What’s Next: Detroit will face Cleveland in the AL Division Series. The Astros head into an offseason filled with questions, especially regarding star third baseman Alex Bregman, who is set to hit free agency.
Kansas City Royals 2, Baltimore Orioles 1
Royals win series 2-0
The Kansas City Royals are heading to the American League Division Series after sweeping the Baltimore Orioles with a 2-1 victory. As in Game 1, the Royals relied on their formula of excellent pitching, strong defense, and timely hitting. Bobby Witt Jr. once again delivered the game-winning hit, driving in a crucial run that helped secure the victory.
Starting pitcher Seth Lugo wasn’t as dominant as in Game 1, getting pulled in the fifth inning, but Angel Zerpa and the Royals’ bullpen delivered 4 ⅔ scoreless innings to close out the game. This was Kansas City’s first postseason series win in nearly a decade, and they will now face the top-seeded New York Yankees in the next round.
What’s Next: The Royals move on to face the Yankees in a five-game series, hoping to repeat their 1980 ALCS sweep of New York. With Cole Ragans leading the pitching staff and a solid defense backing him up, Kansas City is ready for the challenge.
Milwaukee Brewers 5, New York Mets 3
Series tied 1-1
The Milwaukee Brewers fought back from a deficit to even their wild-card series against the New York Mets. Down 1-0 in the eighth inning, Milwaukee’s offense erupted with back-to-back home runs from young stars Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, turning the tide and propelling the Brewers to a 5-3 victory.
Milwaukee’s bullpen shut the door after their offensive outburst, and the series now heads to a decisive Game 3. The Brewers showed resilience in forcing an elimination game, something they failed to do in last year’s wild-card series, where they were eliminated by the Arizona Diamondbacks. With momentum on their side, the Brewers are hoping to advance to the next round.
What’s Next: Game 3 will feature a pitching showdown between Mets veteran Jose Quintana and Brewers rookie Tobias Myers, who has been stellar over the past few months. Expect a tightly contested battle as both teams fight to keep their postseason hopes alive.
San Diego Padres 5, Atlanta Braves 4
Padres win series 2-0
The San Diego Padres continued their postseason hot streak, sweeping the Atlanta Braves with a 5-4 victory to move on to the National League Division Series. Michael King delivered a dominant pitching performance, though Padres fans will keep a close eye on Joe Musgrove, who left Game 2 with an injury.
San Diego’s lineup, featuring a mix of power and contact hitters, came through once again. Rookie sensation Jackson Merrill played a key role in the series, delivering in critical moments. The Braves, who were plagued by injuries to key players such as Chris Sale, Ronald Acuña Jr., and Spencer Strider, couldn’t overcome their depleted lineup and rotation.
What’s Next: The Padres will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, setting up a highly anticipated matchup. Expect fireworks as two of the National League’s best teams go head-to-head.