The MLB postseason kicks off today! Four Wild Card Series will be played over the next three days, in which time the Brewers will learn whether they’ll face the Cubs or the Padres in their Division Series matchup. Here’s a quick rundown of today’s action, and where you can find it:
Tigers at Guardians (12:08 p.m. CT, ESPN)
The Tigers, like the New York Mets, had an epic collapse in September. In July, Detroit led the American League Central by 15.5 games, and on the second-to-last day of the season, the Guardians clinched that division after winning 19 of their last 24 games while Detroit went 3-12 in their last 15. But the Tigers, unlike the New York Mets in the NL, still managed to make the postseason, and that epic collapse could be forgotten if they manage to make a good showing against Cleveland this week. It is worth noting that Cleveland won five of six against the Tigers in the last two weeks of the season, while Detroit was in a tailspin. AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal will match up with Cleveland’s Gavin Williams today.
Padres at Cubs (2:08 p.m. CT, ABC)
The winner of this matchup will play the Brewers in the Division Series. The Cubs enter the postseason coming off a sweep of the checked out Cardinals, but they’d lost six of seven before that series, all to teams that were vying for the postseason (the Reds and Mets, including four in a row to the Reds when the Cubs conceivably still had a chance at a division title). The Padres won 14 of their last 20 games, and are hoping to be hitting their stride as they reach the postseason. Nick Pivetta and Matthew Boyd are the starters for this one.
Red Sox at Yankees (5:08 p.m. CT, ESPN)
The old rivalry is back! Though it doesn’t quite feel the same as it once did, this is the first time the Red Sox and Yankees have played in the postseason since the AL Wild Card Game in 2021. It sure feels like the Yankees are heavy favorites in this one, but you never know, and the Red Sox have Garrett Crochet on the mound tonight. His season probably won’t be enough to snag Cy Young honors from Skubal, but it was darn good and could easily have won Cy Young honors in different circumstances. Facing off with Skubal will be the MLB wins leader, Max Fried.
Reds at Dodgers (8:08 p.m. CT, ESPN)
The Reds are going to be viewed as heavy underdogs in this matchup, but they’ve got serious starting pitching, beginning tonight with the flamethrowing Hunter Greene. The guy across from him is no slouch, though, as Blake Snell has looked fantastic in his limited innings this season. The Dodgers are hoping they played this season just right — get everyone healthy just as the postseason arrives, at the expense of the first-round bye. If it works, it works, but the Reds will surely be hoping to play spoiler.
