Overview
- The Wild Card Series begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, with four best-of-three matchups hosted by the higher seeds and winners advancing to the Division Series.
- The Yankees will open at Yankee Stadium with Cam Schlittler as their Game 1 starter while Aaron Judge remains day-to-day with a right calf strain and his availability is unresolved.
- The Phillies clinched on the final day after using ace Zack Wheeler, leaving starter availability in flux heading into their trip to Atlanta where Jesús Luzardo was activated and threw a one-inning relief appearance but has an uncertain starting role.
- San Diego arrives hot after a strong September and will host the Chicago Cubs, while the Houston Astros advance as AL West champions despite an 81-81 record — the worst regular-season mark for a playoff team — and will face the Chicago White Sox.
- The short, all-home-site wild-card format sharply increases the value of single dominant starts and bullpen management, so last-day clinches, short rest for aces, and recent injuries could swing any three-game series.