Huffman Sports Wire News Break · MLB · Reporting · Published · Huffman Sports Wire
The second day of the Wild Card round began with Philadelphia trying to keep its season alive in Atlanta. By the afternoon checkpoint, two eighth-inning home runs had forced extra innings and a third homer had put the Phillies in front.
At 5:16 p.m. ET, Philadelphia was leading in extra innings and the White Sox had moved ahead early in Houston. Boston and the Cubs faced elimination games later Wednesday, with four Division Series opponents still to be determined.
Schwarber and Harper bring Philadelphia back; Bohm puts it ahead
Atlanta entered Game 2 at Truist Park with a 1–0 series lead after Tuesday’s 5–3 win. The Phillies therefore needed a victory Wednesday to force a third game rather than see their postseason end.
Drake Baldwin’s RBI double and Matt Olson’s sacrifice fly gave the Braves a 3–1 lead in the seventh. Philadelphia answered in the eighth with solo home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, bringing the score to 3–3.
Alec Bohm supplied the next lead change with a solo homer in the top of the 10th. At the 5:16 p.m. ET checkpoint, Philadelphia was ahead 4–3 with Atlanta batting in the bottom half.
Sources: MLB official game feed · MLB.com
The White Sox apply immediate pressure in Houston
Chicago carried a 1–0 series advantage into Daikin Park after taking the opener 6–3. Houston, the AL West champion, faced elimination in Game 2.
Kyle Teel’s first-inning RBI single scored Sam Antonacci and gave the White Sox a 1–0 lead. MLB’s game feed still showed the top of the first at the afternoon checkpoint.
Sources: MLB official game feed · MLB.com · MLB.com
New York seeks a sweep while Judge continues rehab
The Yankees won Tuesday’s opener 9–0 and entered Wednesday one win from advancing. Game 2 at Yankee Stadium was scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, leaving Boston with the task of forcing another day in the series.
Aaron Judge was left off New York’s Wild Card roster while recovering from a right calf strain, according to MLB.com’s reporting. He continued rehabilitation with hopes of returning for a potential Division Series appearance if the Yankees advanced.
Sources: MLB.com · MLB.com / Bryan Hoch
The Cubs need a response after King’s seven scoreless innings
San Diego’s 8–0 Game 1 victory put the Cubs in the same elimination position as Philadelphia, Houston and Boston. Michael King allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings and struck out eight, according to MLB’s official box score.
Wednesday’s Petco Park game was scheduled for 10 p.m. ET, with Nick Pivetta listed as San Diego’s starter against Chicago’s Kevin Gausman. Pete Crow-Armstrong gives the Cubs a hitter to watch after a regular season with at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases, a milestone confirmed in MLB.com’s Game 2 preview.
Chicago needed a stronger offensive showing to keep its season alive.
Sources: MLB official box score · MLB.com · MLB.com
The Division Series field takes shape
MLB’s announced postseason field gives first-round byes to the AL’s No. 1 Tampa Bay Rays and No. 2 Cleveland Guardians, and the NL’s No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers and No. 2 Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Division Series round is scheduled to begin Saturday, October 3. Tampa Bay awaits the Boston–New York winner, Cleveland the Chicago White Sox–Houston winner, Milwaukee the Chicago Cubs–San Diego winner, and Los Angeles the Philadelphia–Atlanta winner.
A Game 2 victory by a team that lost the opener would force a deciding third game.
Sources
- MLB official game feed — Philadelphia–Atlanta Game 2 play-by-play; checked at 5:16 p.m. ET · Checked
- MLB official game feed — Chicago White Sox–Houston Game 2 play-by-play; checked at 5:16 p.m. ET · Checked
- MLB.com — Official postseason results, game times and Division Series schedule · Checked
- MLB.com / Bryan Hoch — Aaron Judge’s Wild Card absence and rehabilitation outlook · Checked
- MLB official box score — Cubs–Padres Game 1 pitching totals · Checked
- MLB.com — Cubs–Padres Game 2 starters and Crow-Armstrong’s 40–40 season · Checked
- MLB.com — MLB’s announced 2026 postseason seeds and first-round byes · Checked