The second day of the 2024 MLB postseason was the first day of possible eliminations, thanks to the best-of-three format in the wild card round.
The Tigers, Royals, Mets and Padres all took a big step toward the Division Series with wins in Game 1 on Tuesday, and they wanted to get an extra day of rest ahead of the Division Series, which starts Saturday.
The Tigers and Royals each started the day with a sweep, ending the Astros and Orioles’ seasons of advancing to the ALDS. On the NL side, the Brewers became the first team to force a Game 3 in the wild-card round with a thrilling victory over the Mets. The Padres then ended the night with a third sweep, defeating the Braves.
It looked like the Padres would cruise to a win on Wednesday after a dominant start, but it just wasn’t that easy.
The Padres, who scored five runs in the second inning on a home run by Kyle Higashioka and two RBI hits by Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill, held on to claim a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of their wild-card series. . They had to fend off a late push from the Braves, who pulled within a run in the eighth on a two-run shot from Michael Harris, but that was as close as the Braves could get.
The Padres take the third sweep of the day against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brouwers 5, Mets 3
Last year’s wild card round consisted of four sweeps. This year’s first two series ended in sweeps (see below).
Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell made sure the Brewers didn’t suffer the same fate. Chourio hit a leadoff homerun and, with the Brewers trailing 3-2 in the eighth inning, tied the game. A few batters later, Garrett Mitchell came through with a two-run homer to put his team ahead in a 5-3 victory.
The Brewers and Mets meet in Milwaukee on Thursday in a winner-take-all Game 3.
Royals 2, Orioles 1
The Royals scored a total of three points in the wild-card series and swept the Orioles.
After taking Game 1 with a 1-0 win, the Royals again showed off their impressive pitching staff in a 2-1 victory to complete a sweep of Baltimore. The score: singles by Vinnie Pasquantino and Bobby Witt Jr. to offset a homer by Cedric Mullins.
The game was likely decided in the fifth inning, when the Orioles got on the board with the Mullins homer, then loaded the bases with no outs against Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo. Kansas City brought in Angel Zerpa, who struck out Colton Cowser and got a groundout from Adley Rutschman to tie the game.
Tigers 5, Astros 2
The Detroit Tigers shocked the Houston Astros in the wild-card series on Wednesday, defeating the AL giant 5-2 on their home court to advance to the ALDS.
The Tigers struck first, with a Parker Meadows solo home run in the sixth inning, then survived an Astros comeback with two runs in the seventh and broke out in the eighth to secure the victory. After a series of miscues by Ryan Pressly and Josh Hader, Andy Ibáñez played hero for Detroit with a bases-clearing double that gave the Tigers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Astros’ elimination ends their streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances. The Tigers, meanwhile, earned their first playoff series victory since 2013.
Here’s a look at the wild card schedule for Wednesday’s Game 2s:
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Finals: Padres 5, Braves 4
The Padres hold on and take a one-run win to complete the sweep. The Braves, who sneaked into the playoffs with their doubleheader victory on Monday, are going home.
It will be Padres-Dodgers in the NLDS.
ATL-SD: Padres is three zeros away
The Padres enter the ninth inning with a 5-4 lead and are just three outs away from completing the sweep and setting up an NLDS vs. the Dodgers.
ATL-SD: Here come the Braves
Well, there’s the move the Braves needed. Michael Harris opened the eighth with a deep two-point shot. The Padres now lead 5-4.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2
After three quick outs from Atlanta, we go to the eighth. If the Braves want to do something, it has to be now.
ATL-SD: Joe Musgrove out due to right elbow tightness
We have official news tonight of Joe Musgrove’s early departure.
Update from the Padres trainer’s room: Joe Musgrove left tonight’s game with stiffness in his right elbow.
Although the Braves put two on base in the inning, Tanner Scott came in and got the Padres out of the inning without any damage. Their 5-2 lead remains intact as we move into the bottom of the sixth inning.
NYM-MIL: Brewers avoid elimination with 5-3 win
The first two wildcard series ended in sweeps. Not this one. After home runs from Jackson Chourio and Garrett Mitchell, the Brewers even the series 1-1 and force a Game 3 on Thursday.
NYM-MIL: The Mets threw the one pitch you shouldn’t throw to Garrett Mitchell
Garrett Mitchell’s xSLG on four-seamers this season: .366
Sliders: .233
Sinker: .192
Changes: .280
Curveballs: .661
You can probably guess what pitch Mets reliever Phil Maton threw to Mitchell on that home run.
NYM-MIL: Brewers take 5-3 lead on Garrett Mitchell HR
Garrett Mitchell blows the roof off American Family Field with a two-run homer to take the lead. This is playoff baseball.
Until Jackson Chourio tonight, only one player had hit multiple home runs in a postseason game before his 21st birthday: Andruw Jones in Game 1 of the 1996 World Series.
NYM-MIL: Jackson Chourio hits 2nd HR to tie the game
Jackson Chourio is 20 years old. He has two home runs tonight. The second tied the game at 3-3.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 2
Jorge Soler just hit a deep solo shot to cut the Padres lead in the fifth.
NYM-MIL: Brewers on the ropes
After a 1-2-3 seventh inning, the Brewers have six outs left to save their season.
ATL-SD: Padres withdraw Musgrove
Joe Musgrove’s day is over. He leaves the game with a trainer due to an apparent elbow injury. Bryan Hoeing will now replace him in the fourth.
NYM-MIL: Brewers escape jam full of bases
The Mets had runners on second and third base with two outs, then loaded the bases on an intentional walk by Francisco Lindor. The gamble paid off with Joel Payamps striking out Jose Iglesias
NYM-MIL: Brewers get one back
The Brewers fell behind in the fifth inning on a sac-fly by Blake Perkins. The Mets were now up 3-2 going into the sixth.
ATL-SD: Padres 5, Braves 1
Make it two more for the Padres on a Jackson Merrill triple that reached all the way to the center field wall. San Diego has completely blown this game open.
ATL-SD: Padres 3, Braves 1
After Higashioka’s home run, the Padres quickly loaded the bases and set up a two-RBI double from Manny Machado. That marked the fifth consecutive two-out hit for San Diego.
In the second they are now leading 3-1.
ATL-SD: Padres 1, Braves 1
So we have a draw. Kyle Higashioka drilled a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Padres on the board in the second.
