Yankees eliminate Red Sox, Padres advance past Cubs as 2026 Wild Card Day Two wraps up

Padres best Cubs 4-1, advance to face Brewers in NLDS

The Padres won Game 2 of their Wild Card series against the Cubs pretty much just how they drew it up; 3 1/3 decent innings from starter Nick Pivetta, followed by 5 2/3 scoreless frames from the bullpen. The lineup managed two runs in the second and two more in the fourth, which was sufficient for a 4-1 victory that propelled the Padres into the NLDS, where they will face the Brewers.

The outcome means there will be just one decisive Game 3 between the Phillies and Braves at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock on Thursday.

Completely shut down in the Padres’ 2-0 series rout were likely NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong and the resurgent Alex Bregman, who, along with PCA, was one of the NL’s top three players in the second half before suffering fractures in his cheek after getting hit by a foul ball in the on-deck circle during the final week of the season. Those two combined to go 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts in the two games, with Crow-Armstrong reaching once in Game 1 on a walk.

Gavin Sheets delivered the biggest blow for the Padres on Wednesday, coming off the bench to crush a 100.8-mph Daniel Palencia fastball for a two-run homer in the fourth. The Padres initially started Austin Hays over Sheets at DH, largely because Hays was 7-for-14 with two homers against Kevin Gausman. However, after Gausman was pulled, the Padres made the switch. Hays, for what it’s worth, had a weak groundout in his one at-bat versus Gausman.

The win means the Padres will face the Brewers in an NLDS series beginning Saturday evening. It’ll be the first postseason matchup between the franchises, which both joined the league in 1969. Of course, the Brewers were an AL team for the first 29 of their 48 seasons.

For the Cubs, it’s a very disappointing end for a team that’s looking at a potentially turbulent winter. Outfielders Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ and starting pitchers Matthew Boyd, Gausman, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson are all set to become free agents. They will have Justin Steele back from Tommy John surgery, but it’s going to be awfully expensive to put together a quality rotation around him.

Gavin Sheets gives Padres 4-1 lead with both starters out of game

With starters Nick Pivetta and Kevin Gausman having already departed after getting 10 outs apiece, the Padres upped their lead on the Cubs to 4-1 in the fourth in a 394-foot homer from Gavin Sheets.

One of the two runs on Sheets’ homer was charged to Gausman, who gave up a Xander Bogaerts double with one out in the fourth before being replaced by Daniel Palencia. It was Palencia, the former closer for the Cubs, who surrendered the homer.

Pivetta allowed his first run on a Seiya Suzuki single, an Ian Happ walk and Nico Hoerner single with one out in the fourth, leading to his exit. Bradgley Rodríguez stepped in and struck out Matt Shaw, hit a batter and got Dansby Swanson to fly out to strand the bases loaded.

Yankees send Red Sox home for second straight season

After dispatching the Red Sox in three games last season, the Yankees were more emphatic in handling their business this year. After a huge sixth inning broke the game open tonight, the Yankees pulled out a 9-2 win, outscoring the Red Sox 18-2 in the series.

The Yankees also outhit the Red Sox 26-7, and their bullpen allowed just one earned run, while the Red Sox bullpen allowed 15.

The Yankees will now move on to face the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday at Tropicana Field, while the Red Sox will make yet another plan to try and find more offense and figure out a way to win a postseason series again.

Padres get to Kevin Gausman, take 2-0 lead in second inning

Ty France, Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts all collected hits off Kevin Gausman in the second inning as the Padres took a 2-0 lead on the Cubs in Game 2.

Bogaerts drove in the first run for the Padres, with Ethan Salas delivering a sac fly to score the second. The rally caused the Cubs to get Daniel Palencia up and throwing in the pen, but Gausman was able to finish the inning without further damage.

Nick Pivetta has opened up with two scoreless frames for San Diego.

Garrett Crochet’s inning turns into disaster; Yankees take 8-1 lead

Even though not much of it was his own doing, Garrett Crochet‘s return to game action after a five-month absence due to a shoulder injury was a major bust, as the Yankees scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth. Cody Bellinger punctuated the inning with a three-run homer, though that was after Crochet had departed.

Crochet’s four-batter return produced no outs. The first batter reached against him on a strikeout/wild pitch that was originally called an out but correctly overturned. Two singles followed, scoring the first run. Trent Grisham then went to bunt two runners over, but Caleb Durbin, seemingly not realizing how slow Grisham was running in his first start back from the IL, tried to get too fancy on his exchange and botched the throw to first, resulting in no outs on the play.

Crochet was pulled in favor of Garrett Whitlock afterwards, but Boston’s fortunes did not change. Whitlock walked one and gave up two hits, including the homer that made it 8-1.

Willson Contreras gives Red Sox their first run of the playoffs

After the Red Sox were gifted an opportunity to stay in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series by a highly questionable send from the Yankees’ third base coach, Willson Contreras put the Red Sox on the board with a home run to right-center field.

It was the team’s first run of the postseason and put the Red Sox within one run heading into the bottom of the 6th.

Yankees tack on another run in the fifth inning

It’s deja vu in the Bronx. After Red Sox manager Chad Tracy pulled Payton Tolle in Game 1 after 4.2 innings and went to Erik Miller out of the pen, the Red Sox manager decided to pull Sonny Gray at 4.2 innings with runners on the corners. On Tuesday, Ben Rice crushed a solo home run off Miller. On Wednesday, Cody Bellinger laced a single off of Miller to score a run. The damage could have been worse too, but the Yankees gifted the Red Sox an out with a poor send from the third base coach Luis Rojas after yet another single off of Miller.

The decision kept the Yankees’ lead at 2-0 and may have saved Chad Tracy from having even more scrutiny placed on his bullpen decisions this series.

Yankees get the scoring started with a Luis Garcia home run

After three and a half innings of a dominant pitching duel, the Yankees drew first blood in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series when Luis Garcia took a sweeper and deposited it into the right field bleachers to give New York a 1-0 lead.

On Tuesday, that would have been enough to secure a win. The Red Sox now have to finally solve the Yankees’ pitching to ensure that’s not true on Wednesday as well.

White Sox sweep Astros, advance to ALDS

The White Sox completed their two-game sweep of the Astros with a 7-3 victory in Houston on Wednesday afternoon.

The White Sox jumped on the Astros for four runs in the opening inning – helped out by a pair of defensive miscues from the Astros – and held onto that advantage throughout the ballgame. They chased Astros’ ace right-hander Hunter Brown in that opening frame after throwing only 36 pitches.

Things got tight in the middle innings as the Astros got solo homers from Jeremy Pena, Cam Smith and Jose Altuve to pull to within one run at 4-3, but Anthony Kay did some fantastic work out of the bullpen in the fifth inning, stranding the bases loaded to keep the lead intact.

The next half inning, Chase Meidroth clubbed a three-run homer off of Bryan Abreu that increased their advantage to four runs and basically put the game out of reach. Neither team would score from that point forward.

Sean Burke worked the first four innings for the White Sox, striking out eight batters, but allowing three runs on four hits along the way. The White Sox’ bullpen kept the Astros off the scoreboard over the final five innings — with Huascar Brazoban, Anthony Kay, Jordan Hicks and Erick Fedde all doing strong work, allowing a combined one hit and one walk over five frames while striking out seven.

Next up for the White Sox will be a showdown against the divisional-rival Guardians in Cleveland, beginning in Cleveland on Saturday afternoon.

Chase Meidroth blasts three-run homer

After jumping out to an early 4-0 advantage in the opening inning, the White Sox watched the Astros claw back into the game with three solo home runs over the next four frames.

The Astros nearly went ahead with their rally in the home half of the fifth inning, but wound up stranding the bases loaded.

The White Sox’ offense then went to work in the sixth. Andrew Benintendi worked a leadoff walk and was lifted for pinch-runner Luisangel Acuna who promptly swiped second base. Tristan Peters also worked a walk, leading Astros’ manager Joe Espada to pull Peter Lambert and turn to Bryan Abreu.

As soon as Abreu entered, the White Sox executed a double steal that put both runners in scoring position with nobody out. Chase Meidroth then strolled to the dish and obliterated a 3-1 slider for a 390-foot (102.0-mph EV) three-run shot that completely changed the complexion of the ballgame, increasing a 4-3 lead to 7-3.

The Astros have 12 outs remaining to make up at least four runs, or their 2026 season will come to an end.

Anthony Kay escapes bases-loaded jam in fifth

The Astros put serious pressure on the White Sox in the fifth inning as Cam Smith was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Jeremy Pena added a one-out single off of Huascar Brazoban, putting the tying run in scoring position for Yordan Alvarez.

That lead White Sox’ skipper Will Venable to go to his bullpen, getting left-hander Anthony Kay. After falling behind Alvarez 3-0, Kay battled back and ultimately got the likely American League MVP to fly out to left field. He then walked Isaac Paredes to load the bases before retiring Jose Altuve on a fly ball to right field.

We’re through five innings in Game 2 in Houston with the White Sox still clinging to a 4-3 advantage over the Astros.

Jose Altuve leaves the yard, Astros pull to within one

The Astros continued to flex their muscles in the fourth inning as Jose Altuve turned on a 1-1 slider from Sean Burke and launched a 353-foot (98.0-mph EV) solo shot into the Crawford boxes in left field — pulling the Astros to within one run at 4-3.

It’s the 28th postseason home run in the illustrious career of the 36-year-old second baseman. That puts him just one behind Manny Ramirez for the most postseason homers in MLB history.

The Astros certainly aren’t going down without a fight.

Matt Shaw enters Cubs’ lineup for Game 2

After an anemic offensive performance in Game 1 against the Padres on Tuesday evening, the Cubs aren’t making any major changes to their starting lineup as they fight to extend their season for at least one more game.

The only change that skipper Craig Counsell has made to his lineup is starting Matt Shaw at third base in place of Pedro Ramirez. Everything else will be exactly as it was in Game 1.

Expect superstar center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong to lead the charge in a must-win game for the Cubs.

Don’t forget, that all games are available to stream live on Peacock, with multi-view available so you can catch multiple games at the same time!

How to Watch 2026 MLB Wild Card Multiview on Peacock: Wed, Sept 30

10PM ET – Streaming Live on Peacock (TV, Web, Desktop and Tablet)

• New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
• Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres

Sean Burke strikes out the side in third

Sean Burke delivered an awfully impressive showing in the third inning on Wednesday, striking out Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes in succession.

After serving up solo homers in each of the first two frames, Burke wasn’t messing around in the third, going right after the heart of the Astros’ order.

He has allowed two runs on three hits while racking up six strikeouts through his first three innings of work. Burke’s pitch count sits at 56 (38 strikes) heading into the fourth inning.

Padres make minor lineup changes for Game 2

After drubbing the Cubs 9-0 in Game 1 of their Wild Card series on Tuesday night, the Padres opted to make only a couple of minor changes to their lineup for Game 2 on Wednesday evening.

Dustin Harris will start in left field and bat second for the Padres, replacing Samad Taylor who started there in Game 1. 20-year-old phenom Ethan Salas will make his first career postseason start behind the dish in place of Luis Campusano and will bat seventh for the Friars.

Xander Bogaerts will move up from seventh to sixth while Austin Hays drops from sixth to eighth against a right-hander. Jake Cronenworth also moves down in the lineup from eighth to ninth.

Astros inch closer on Cam Smith home run

The Astros continued to chip away at the White Sox’ lead in the second inning as Cam Smith walloped a 440-foot solo homer off of Sean Burker in the bottom of the second inning.

What looked like a massive four-run deficit in the top half of the first inning is now down to a manageable two-run difference heading into the third inning.

The Astros aren’t ready to go away just yet.

Astros get one back on Jeremy Peña homer

After a disastrous top half of the first inning, the Astros clawed a bit closer in the home half of the frame as Jeremy Peña clobbered a leadoff home run off of White Sox’ right-hander Sean Burke.

They still face a major uphill climb if they’re going to come back and force a Game 3, but they’re now one run closer heading to the second.

White Sox jump on Astros early in Game 2

The White Sox jumped out to another early lead against the Astros in Game 2 of their Wild Card series on Wednesday, ambushing right-hander Hunter Brown for four runs on four hits in the opening inning — with the Astros making a pair of defensive miscues to help the White Sox’ cause.

Sam Antonacci got the party started with a leadoff double, then raced around to score on an RBI single by Kyle Teel that gave the White Sox an advantage before an out had been recorded.

Miguel Vargas then reached on an error by third baseman Nick Allen — who was inserted into the Astros’ lineup on Wednesday to improve their infield defense. After Munetaka Murakami struck out, Andrew Benintendi delivered an RBI single and a second run scored as Lucas Spence made a throwing error on the play.

Tristan Peters then added another RBI single that increased the White Sox’ edge to 4-0 before right-hander Sean Burke even took the mound.

It’s an absolutely nightmarish start for the Astros who are going to have to stage a major comeback if they’re going to stave off elimination and force a Game 3.

Phillies outlast Braves to force Game 3

The Phillies outlasted the Braves in Game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, using late home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper to tie the game in the eighth inning and then a go-ahead solo shot from Alec Bohm with two outs in the 10^th inning to go ahead.

The two sides will now meet again in a do-or-die Game 3 on Thursday with the winner advancing to the NLDS and the loser heading home for the winter.

Aaron Nola is scheduled to take the ball in Game 3 for the Phillies with Grant Holmes likely to work in a bulk role for the Braves. The start time of that matchup has yet to be determined and will depend on how many other series go to a third and deciding game.

Alec Bohm gives Phillies lead in 10th

Alec Bohm delivered the Phillies’ biggest hit of the season on Wednesday, crushing an opposite-field solo shot off of Didier Fuentes with two outs in the top half of the 10th inning.

Can the Braves answer in the home half of the inning?

Braves and Phillies head to extra innings

Nine innings wasn’t enough for the Braves and Phillies to decide Game 2 of their Wild Card Series on Wednesday afternoon, so we’re heading for bonus baseball.

Didier Fuentes is on the mound for the Braves while Andrew Painter figures to go as long as he can for the Phillies.

Stay tuned, as this series could change dramatically at any instant now.

Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper go back-to-back to pull Phillies back into tie

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper delivered back-to-back bombs off Dylan Lee to draw the Phillies back even with the Braves in the eighth inning Wednesday.

Just minutes after miscue in right field opened the door for the Braves to take a two-run lead in the seventh, Harper tied the game. It was a stunning result against Lee, who had faced 102 left-handed hitters this year and given up homers to none of them. He had a 3.09 ERA and 31 holds in his setup role, blowing just two leads all year.

Red Sox to remove Roman Anthony from roster

The Red Sox plan to replace Roman Anthony on their roster for their Wild Card series after he was diagnosed with damage to muscles in his wrist.

Jeff Passan of ESPN notes that it’s a different injury that the finger issue that cost him three months earlier in the season. The Red Sox are working to get approval to make a roster move before Game 2 against the Yankees on Wednesday night.

Jahmai Jones will start in Anthony’s place atop the Red Sox’ lineup and will function as their designated hitter against Yankees’ southpaw Max Fried on Wednesday evening in New York.

Nick Allen joins Astros’ lineup for Game 2

The Astros will roll out a nearly identical lineup on Wednesday as they attempt to stave off elimination in Game 2 of their Wild Card series against the White Sox.

The top eight in the lineup remain the same, with the only change coming as Nick Allen will start at third base and bat ninth instead of Taylor Trammell who hit ninth in Game 1. To make things work, Isaac Paredes will function as the team’s designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez will start in left field.

With their backs against the wall, the Astros will need a strong offensive performance to back ace right-hander Hunter Brown.

Braves take 3-1 lead after misplay from Bryce Harper in right field

Though little fault of his own, Cristopher Sánchez was knocked out of Wednesday’s game in the seventh inning, with the Braves scoring two runs on a walk, a sac bunt that resulted in no outs, a fly to right that Bryce Harper misplayed and a Matt Olson sac fly. That gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead while needing just six more outs to advance to the NLDS.

Harper’s misadventure in right field came on what seemed like a pretty routine flyball from Drake Baldwin. Of course, Harper has tons of experience in right field, but he moved to first base in 2023 after elbow surgery and only returned to the outfield this year as a result of the Luis Arraez acquisition at the trade deadline. What the Phillies really needed then was an outfielder, but they thought Arraez’s bat was too good to pass up and moved Bryson Stott from second to third, Alec Bohm from third to first and Harper from first to right in order to make room for him. They’ve mostly maintained that new alignment even with Arraez out for the Wild Card series because of an ankle injury.

Phillies escape bases-loaded jam, keep game 1-1

Cristopher Sánchez got a double play from Michael Harris II with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to preserve a 1-1 tie between the Phillies and Braves.

The Braves got singles from Ozzie Albies, Mauricio Dubón and Austin Riley in the sixth, but Albies decided to hold up at third on the third hit. Harris then hit a sharp grounder to first that Alec Bohm handled. Bohm threw home, causing Harris to let up a bit for no good reason. J.T. Realmuto got the first out and then made the throw back to first just in time to retire Harris.

Roman Anthony (hand) held out of Game 2 lineup

Roman Anthony (hand) is not in the Red Sox’ starting lineup for Game 2 of their Wild Card Series against the Yankees on Wednesday evening.

The 22-year-old outfielder was pulled from Game 1 on Tuesday in the sixth inning after aggravating a hand injury that cost him three months earlier in the season.

The Red Sox are still assessing whether or not they’ll replace Anthony on their roster for the Wild Card series, which would make him ineligible for the ALDS should they come back to advance.

Jahmai Jones will function as the team’s leadoff hitter and designated hitter against Yankees’ southpaw Max Fried. Nate Eaton will also draw a start in left field and bat ninth while Jarred Duran will start the day on the bench for the Red Sox.

Yankees shake up Game 2 lineup

Even after a 9-0 drubbing of the Red Sox in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series on Tuesday, the Yankees are mixing up their lineup against right-hander Sonny Gray in Game 2 on Wednesday evening.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. returns to the Yankees’ lineup, as do Luis Garcia Jr., Trent Grisham and Ryan McMahon with Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, Heliot Ramos and Anthony Volpe taking a seat for the Bombers.

Ben Rice moves up to the leadoff spot after his monster day at the plate in Game 1.

Ronald Acuña Jr. makes history on bases

As the venerable Sarah Langs noted, Ronald Acuña Jr. made some history on the basepaths with his two stolen bases in the opening inning of Game 2.

He became just the third player in franchise history with multiple stolen bases in a single innings in the postseason, joining Rafael Furcal (2005) and Ron Gant (1991).

He also became just the seventh player overall in MLB postseason history to swipe two bases in the first inning of a playoff game. The last time that feat was accomplished, was by Trea Turner in Game 2 of the 2024 NLDS.

Braves and Phillies deadlocked through 3

The Braves and Phillies remain in a 1-1 tie through three innings as both starting pitchers have settled in nicely.

Mahle has allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three batters over his first three frames, throwing 50 pitches (31 strikes).

Sánchez has been a bit less efficient, needing 54 pitches (34 strikes) to record his first nine outs – four of them via the strikeout. After allowing a leadoff walk to Ha-Seong Kim in the third inning though, he really dug in and fanned Ronald Acuña Jr. and Drake Baldwin before getting Ozzie Albies on a weak pop out to end the inning.

The Phillies are going to have to get much better work from their bullpen if they’re going to stave off elimination on Wednesday.

White Sox run back similar lineup for Game 2

Flying high off of their 6-3 victory over the Astros in Game one on Tuesday, the White Sox will run back almost an identical starting lineup as they look to advance to the ALDS on Wednesday.

It’ll be the same starting nine backing right-hander Sean Burke, with the only change being that Chase Meidroth and Braden Montgomery will swap spots in the lineup, with Meidroth batting seventh and Montgomery batting eighth.

The Braves struck right back in the home half of the first inning. Superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. worked Cristopher Sanchez for a seven-pitch walk to open the inning. He then swiped second base as Drake Baldwin went down on strikes and stole third base uncontested while Matt Olson was at the dish with two outs.

Olson battled the Phillies’ southpaw until poking the eighth pitch of the at-bat into right field to plate Acuña with the equalizer. It looks like we’re going to have a battle on our hands in Game 2.

Phillies strike first in Game 2

The Phillies wasted no time getting on the board first in Game 2 as Trea Turner smacked a leadoff double off of Tyler Mahle. He then advanced to third on a ground ball off the bat of Kyle Schwarber. Bryce Harper followed with a run-scoring single that gave the Phillies an early 1-0 advantage for the second straight game.

Let’s see if they can hold on this time.

Mahle battled back to get out of the inning, but the Braves will be facing a 1-0 deficit when they come to bat in the home half of the first inning.

Braves look to Tyler Mahle to advance to NLDS

Braves fans were hoping for a major addition for their rotation at the August 2 MLB Trade Deadline, with Tarik Skubal and Jacob deGrom among the big names connected to the club, but they ended up acquiring Tyler Mahle from the Giants.

Mahle struggled to the tune of a 5.13 ERA through 13 starts with the Giants, so expectations were rather low. A veteran who could provide some innings for a shaky group, but not much more. Instead, the veteran right-hander ended up being one of the most important deadline additions across the entire league.

With an increased focus on his splitter, Mahle put up a sparking 1.99 ERA over nine starts with Atlanta to finish out the regular season. In 54 1/3 innings, he issued just nine walks while registering 48 strikeouts. A true game-changer for this hobbled rotation where Chris Sale was the only sure thing.

Mahle threw at least six innings in eight out of his nine starts. The lone exception was his final start against the Reds on September 24. In that start, he was tagged for two homers while allowing five runs in five innings.

What version of Mahle are the Phillies going to get today in his first ever postseason start? The one who posted a 2.24 ERA in four starts against them this season, or the one who stumbled in his final regular season start? The answer could be the difference between the Phillies going home or not.

Braves and Phillies announce lineups for game 2

The Braves and Phillies are just a half hour away from Game 2 of their NL Wild Card series. The Braves will be trotting out mostly the same lineup as they look to end the Phillies’ season, with one adjustment: Ronald Acuña Jr. is leading off.

This may not seem noteworthy, but Acuña Jr. has led off just three times since September 8th. That role is mostly held by Drake Baldwin. Baldwin will DH and hit second in this one, with Sean Murphy entering the lineup as the catcher and hitting eighth.

The Phillies made one major adjustment as well in their outfield, with Brandon Marsh entering the lineup.

Marsh sat out Game 1 with the Braves throwing left-hander Chris Sale, but he’ll be back in against Tyler Mahle. Marsh hit a career-high 18 home runs this season while stealing 11 bases and posting a .260/.304/.408 slash line.